Volvo XC90 named 2016 SA car of the year
The all-new Volvo XC90 has been named the 2016 WesBank South African Guild of Motor Journalists (SAGMJ) Car of the Year (COTY)
POLOKWANE – This is the second Volvo to walk away with the prestigious accolade in the competition’s 31-year history. This accolade comes at a time when the Volvo brand is undergoing a complete rejuvenation which started with the all-new XC90.
The latest local motoring accolade joins the impressive XC90’s long list of international awards, a total of which now exceeds 60. Other significant awards include the Women’s World Car of the Year, North American Truck of the Year, European Car of the Year, Best SUV (Scottish Car of the Year) and Icelandic Car of the Year awards.
The all-new XC90 follows in the footsteps of the Volvo S40, which received the coveted award in 2005.
The XC90 is powered by new-generation 2.0-litre turbocharged Drive-E petrol and diesel engines, which are mated to an eight-speed geartronic automatic gearbox. The XC90 mixes Swedish luxury and classy, minimalistic design with supreme road manners and efficient driving dynamics.
Volvo’s all-new Sensus Connect infotainment system, which is presented as a nine-inch tablet-like touch screen interface, is also setting new precedents for design and functionality thanks to its intuitive usability and long list of functions.
Safety of course, as with any other Volvo, takes top priority. The all-new Volvo XC90 received a full five-star Euro NCAP safety rating in 2015 thanks to its highly-advanced safety systems, which include pedestrian and cyclist detection with forward collision warning and full auto brake, run-off-road protection and other driving assistance features like adaptive cruise control and active lane-keeping assistance.
In fact, so advanced is the XC90’s pedestrian detection system that independent safety regulators have yet to develop suitable testing protocols. The all-new XC90 was applauded by Euro NCAP for Best in Class Safety (Large Off-road and Overall) in 2016. It has also been awarded the Top Safety Pick+ award by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the United States.
This relentless drive on safety forms part of Volvo’s Vision 2020 programme which seeks to ensure nobody is seriously injured or killed in a new Volvo by 2020.
