2016 Volvo XC90

Volvo recently unveiled its new 2016 XC90 in celebrity-laden, sunny Southern California where beautiful people and beautiful cars are plentiful.
 
The XC90 has a gorgeous, flowing shape, like a contemporary sculpture you’d see from Swedish artist Eva Hild. It’s an enormously comfortable, commanding vehicle with luxury interior replete with more leather and wood than a Renaissance festival. For maximum comfort, opt for the contour seats, which are the most comfortable I’ve experienced in any vehicle.
 
The new XC90 is offered in two models: the regular T6 and T8, a twin-engine plug-in hybrid. Identical in appearance, they are completely different vehicles under the hood, even though the same supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-liter engine powers both. The T6 delivers 318 horsepower to all four wheels and is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. On the T8, the engine is paired with an 82-horsepower electric motor to deliver a total of 400 horsepower. This model occupies an unusual spot in the luxury segment as the world’s first seven-passenger, plug-in hybrid, and can be driven up to 20 miles in all-electric mode.
 
The XC90 is delightful to drive. Steering is light, brakes superb, and handling nimble, responsive, and controlled at highway speeds or on twisty two-lane roads. All the while, the cabin remains blissfully silent.
 
The 2016 Volvo XC90 checks all the boxes with class-leading comfort, interior room, a wowing list of driver-assist tech and safety features, and killer good looks.