Follow me on either twitter or Instagram @DanielCalbacho

It’s been a long wait - the arrival of the new Volvo XC90. The outgoing model has had its day in the sun, arriving in 2002. 12 years, it’s a long life – “elephant long” in car years. Now showing its age, like our president - it’s time for a successor.

Volvo, the Swedish car brand, began in 1927. In celebration of this momentous occasion - 1 927 new generation XC90’s were produced to honour this year of birth. This first batch was sold to customers globally, via an online ordering system and labelled, the “First Edition”. This batch was snapped up in a flash. Speaking of flashes: ex soccer player, Lucas Radebe, was one of the local “First Edition” purchasers. His decision to order the car came after being invited to the annual Volvo Ocean Race. While at the event, he along with media was asked if they would like to go for a spin on one of the large-scale boats. He replied no thanks and spent hours in the Volvo pavilion, where the new XC90 was on display. So taken with the vehicle, he ordered one.

The wait is over. Although the first edition is all sold out, the rest of us are in luck, because the XC90 is in full production and it hits our roads now.

Available initially in only T6 petrol and D5 diesel variants, an entry level D4 front wheel drive only version is following shortly as well as the T5. The range topping T8 petrol/hybrid combo arrives in the first quarter of 2016, offering more than exuberant performance from its combined 300kW of power - sprint to 100km/h in 5.6 seconds.

The XC90 is the first all Volvo designed and produced since their split from Ford some years ago. Unlike a bride - nothing is borrowed, but a lot is new and blue. The car’s revolutionary SPA chassis for one, which enables the Volvo to be lighter than any of its competitors, together with a plethora of technology to long to mention, which takes care of its passengers and the environment.

Volvo’s philosophy is people. To create for people first and with people being placed first in all aspects of their products.

You’d think this would be something all car companies would do, but not in practice. The proof is in the pudding when doing an analytical comparision. Think of a Porsche for a moment - performance is the primary engineering factor when designing and producing a Porsche. Switch to a Range Rover, specifically and Evoque - it’s unique and unrivalled in design lines, but you can’t see out the back window! Clearly form was placed over function with that Range Rover. Volvo’s are different.

Driving a Volvo, especially the new XC90, ignites a host of feelings. The first can be felt when sitting behind the wheel: Volvo makes the most comfortable seats in the business. They are designed orthopedically. Taking all aspects of the seats very seriously and you can feel it - they are sublime. The second is safety: XC90 is laden with a Smorgasbord of active and passive safety features that make you feel protected.

During the launch, we were given the opportunity to take the XC90 back and forth over the Franschhoek Pass - visually spectacular, but hazardous by virtue of its hairpin bends and cliff faced drops. A dream test-drive route for a sports car launch - something like a Carrera S4 Porsche, not a large luxurious SUV. Wrong! The XC90 is also supremely confident on the road - the sensation is palpable: feeding directly into the driver. It is amazing how stable and planted this big family car is. Perhaps it can be attributed to its new SPA chassis, or replacing its rear coil spring suspension for a highly advanced and flexible trailing arm? More than likely it is a combination of Swedish genius engineering. Either way, it is overtly obvious. Like its prodigious handling, so too is its hugely practical cabin: seating seven in comfort and their luggage - it is a class act. But it’s covert in its way, and much more: swift, economical, silent, agile, extremely comfortable, highly intelligent and intuitive to use. The Volvo XC90 is the most confident car the brand has produced - made with love and designed with the future in mind. This can be felt in the car’s infotainment tablet. Comparable to no other. It is the most intuitive yet stylish system experience by myself to date. A simple example of its design prowess is its positioning - it is fitted within the dashboard in a vertical fashion, a position followed by no another brand, yet a position used by every person with a smart phone on a daily basis. The screen is positioned to fall to hand as part of a natural movement – its genius.

The XC90 has every right to feel confident - doing so without ever being arrogant about its endowments, while making you feel loved.

The XC90 is now available in Volvo dealerships nationally. All XC90 come standard with a 5 year/100 000km Warranty and Maintenance Plan (Volvo Plan), and a 5 year/unlimited mileage Roadside Assistance (include a Skytrax tracker unit - hardware and installation).

Pricing

All new Volvo XC90

XC90 D4 Geartronic FWD Momentum - R 804,000 (arrival end 2015)

XC90 T5 Geartronic AWD Momentum - R 827,400 (arrival end 2015)

XC90 D4 Geartronic FWD Inscription - R 844,600 (arrival end 2015)

XC90 D5 Geartronic AWD Momentum - R 853,200 (arrival end 2015)

XC90 T6 Geartronic AWD Momentum - R 867,000

XC90 T5 Geartronic AWD Inscription - R 868,000

XC90 T5 Geartronic AWD R-Design - R 888,700

XC90 D5 Geartronic AWD Inscription - R 893,900

XC90 T6 Geartronic AWD Inscription - R 907,600

XC90 D5 Geartronic AWD R-Design - R 914,600

XC90 T6 Geartronic AWD R-Design - R 928,300

XC90 T8 Twin Engine Geartronic AWD Momentum - R 1,005,100 (arrival in the 1^st quarter of 2016)

XC90 T8 Twin Engine Geartronic AWD Inscription - R 1,042,000 (arrival in the 1^st quarter of 2016)

XC90 T8 Twin Engine Geartronic AWD R-Design - R 1,066,400 (arrival in the 1^st quarter of 2016)

www.volvocars.com/za