Volvo XC90 SE Sport 3.2 (2006) CAR review

Looks like Volvo’s succumbed and added some attitude to the XC90

That’s right, this new pumped up SE Sport is clearly aimed at people who might have found the XC90 a bit too reserved and instead walked right into their local Audi or BMW dealer for a Sport-trim X5 or S-Line Q7. It’s part of a facelifted XC90 range, which in case you’d forgotten isn’t that fresh – having been launched in 2003.

So what’s so special about the SE Sport?

SE Sport cars are loud. Visually loud that is, and most un-Volvo-like. It’s got 19in alloys, twin chrome-plated tailpipes, extended body-colour wheelarch extensions and various bits of satin silver trim. Roof rails are not fitted. That makes it look sportier says Volvo although you can have them back if you want. Inside there are chunkier sports seats with bigger side supports to keep you upright on all those trackdays, some new leather coverings and the instrument faces feature chronograph watch-style faces. You can match the trim to every engine from the distinctly un-sporty but very useful D5 diesel (11.5sec 0-62mph, 31.4mpg) to the ballistic new petrol V8 (6.9, 20.9mpg). But we drove the new 235bhp 3.2litre straight six petrol which the XC90 shares with the latest Land Rover Freelander and lies between the old 210bhp 2.5 T and 272bhp T6 petrols it replaces.

Article Source:Car Magazine