A year on from its launch and Volvo鈥檚 widely acclaimed big new SUV is still turning heads and still winning awards. The previous version of the XC90 had a strong following thanks to its durability, space, safety and comfort and it remained a big seller in its final year. The all-new car isn鈥檛 just a step up, it鈥檚 a game-changer. The XC90 has to be good because it鈥檚 up against the new Jaguar F-Pace, Audi Q7, Range Rover Sport and Land Rover Discovery Sport, plus the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE. First impressions count and the XC90 is mightily imposing with a highly distinctive front end featuring Volvo鈥檚 bold new signature grille and those dramatic 鈥淭hor鈥檚 hammer鈥?LED headlights. While its clean side profile also sets it apart, its rear isn鈥檛 a million miles away from the old XC90. It鈥檚 just as good inside - innovative too. There鈥檚 an enormous sense of space and light up front, combined with a commanding driving position. The dashboard is refreshingly minimalist.
Most of the car鈥檚 functions are controlled via the impressive 9-inch portrait-orientated tablet, or touchscreen infotainment system, dominating the centre console, which is responsive and intuitive. Thankfully this means that Volvo鈥檚 irritating sat nav, complete with daisy wheel letter/number selection, has now been sent to car hell. The XC90 is well equipped. Standard equipment across the range includes sat nav, cruise control, rain sensors, LEDs, climate control and leather interior trim. However, the enormous options list is worth scanning too because it includes some gems too, but go easy. The quality of the materials, the build quality and the shades of colour used give the cabin a premium feel with a Scandi twist. I tested the entry level XC90. Priced from 拢46,850, my D5 AWD Momentum came in Osmium Grey with Blond Leather no less. Optional extras including the 12.3-inch digital driver鈥檚 dashboard, heated front seats, adaptive cruise control and even heated washer nozzles pushed it over the 拢50,000-mark. Under the bonnet is a powerful 2.0-litre 222bhp four-cylinder diesel engine which is capable of 0-60mph in 7.8 seconds, a top speed of 137mph and 149g/km of CO2 emissions.
Volvo claims it鈥檚 capable of 49.6mpg, though realistically I think you鈥檙e looking at closer to 35-40mpg in everyday driving. A little noisy under initial acceleration, the XC90 soon settles down into a relaxed, refined cruiser. The eight-speed automatic gearbox is slick, the steering relaxed and well judged, while the ride is smooth and the all-wheel-drive grip superb. There鈥檚 no getting away from the fact that it is a big, relatively tall car, so if it鈥檚 pushed on challenging country roads, there鈥檚 a fair amount of body lean, though it is well controlled. Like all UK spec XC90s, my car was a seven-seater. Unfolding seats 6-7 is easy, though best left to children and 鈥榗ompact鈥?adults. Otherwise it鈥檚 very spacious in seats 3-5 on the second row (they slide, recline and fold flat individually), while the luggage capacity ranges from 451 litres to 1,951 litres, depending on how many seats are folded down.
Since the new 2019 Porsche Macan is out, soon we could expect the GTS to arrive. Well, the SUV could see the debut, while it is not going to be available for sale for a while. Probably until next year we won鈥檛 see Macan GTS in salons. Also, the company did not release its version for the last season. We seriously doubt that Porsche will make a two-year break with such a model. The GTS is the most expensive Macan. 90,000. We will find only Macan Turbo more expensive than 2019 Porsche Macan GTS. However, it uses a special and bigger engine, unique drive system, and all premium features that we will see optional in GTS. As for its base model, the 2019 Porsche Macan GTS will have similar competitors and their higher trim packages. From German carmakers, the main rivals are Audi Q5 and BMW X3. In the US domestic vehicles are positioning well. Buick made a serious impact with its Envision luxury SUV, and Cadillac XT5 is among the leaders in the segment. Luxury divisions of Japanese companies are preparing new models as well. Honda鈥檚 premium branch Acura will be there with RDX compact SUV, Nissan launches Infiniti QX50, and Lexus NX is Toyota鈥檚 response. For the bigger share of the market, Jaguar F-Pace and Land Rover Discovery are also in the game. Since the Porsche is the company with a high reputation in the premium segment, their efforts are always causing a lot of interest. Of course, their previous work and vehicles are giving the boost, since everyone knows what to expect from their products. On the other hand, these expectations are always higher, so the carmaker must keep up with innovations and high demands. The 2019 Porsche Macan GTS is going to be one of the vehicles that will definitely satisfy the luxury SUV market.
Of all the cars on the road, family hatchbacks have one of the hardest jobs. They have to be reliable, spacious enough for a family, easy to park, cheap to run and buy, and have a great safety rating. Yet, the best hatchbacks also need to cater for a range of drivers, often coming in a wide range of formats, including automatic, manual, petrol, diesel and, more recently, hybrid and all-electric configurations. Naturally, the selection of hatchbacks on offer is enormous, so we鈥檝e rounded up our ten favourites. While the latest SUVs and crossovers may well steal the limelight these days, the traditional small family hatchback still makes up a large proportion of the UK new car sales. Evergreen favourites such as the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra and VW Golf continue to sell in their thousands thanks to their clever combination of size, space, and price. Below you鈥檒l find the top 10 best family hatchbacks on sale today according to our team of seasoned reviewers.
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