Category Archives: Volvo

Polestar 2

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This totally electric vehicle starts at a price of just under 40k, which is a true bargain for an electric vehicle that is this well-built. The Polestar 2 is extremely solid, making even simple things like shutting the door have a nice, concrete feel to them. 

The car accelerates well, and the electric drive terrain provides instant torque, which is a nice feature for smooth driving. The vehicle also comes equipped with 408 horse power, so it’s a powerful drive for an electric vehicle. I tried the long-range, dual motor version, which can spring from 0-60 in 4.5 seconds. This was surprising for the heaviness of the car, which weighs in at 4680 pounds, though it doesn’t feel heavy when going around a corner because it’s surprisingly well-balanced and composed. 

The Polestar 2 can achieve about 270 miles per charge, which isn’t bad, though it’s no Tesla; speaking on Tesla, while they do offer superior range and are quicker off the line, I would say the build quality, fit, and finish of Polestar 2 is lightyears ahead of its main competitor, the Tesla model 3 or Y. 

The only thing I didn’t like about this car was the infotainment center, which was clunky and not intuitive. For example, the tire pressure monitor system came on, but instructed to open an app to check which tire was low instead of showing the correct tire on the display. Other than this minor inconvenience, however, this was a great vehicle for anyone considering buying an electric car. 

I am in love with the 2016 Volvo XC90

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There are few cars that I fall in love with after driving them for only a week. They usually tend to be small little sports cars that are meant to be driven on Sunday afternoons when the weather is nice.

So I was a little surprised when I started missing the 2016 Volvo XC90 when it left my garage after testing it for a week. It is the perfect luxury SUV! The exterior and interior design make it stick out from the crowd at the country club, while offering a conservative approach when offering a ride to clients, co-workers, and employees. Plus with the advanced safety features, it is a strong choice for hauling the family to soccer practice.

  

  
The interior of the Volvo XC90 is inviting. It’s Swedish design is elegantly simple. Open pore wood and real aluminum accents the doors, center consol and dash. The seats look futuristicly modern, but they were extremely comfortable. The contour of the seats do a great job of supporting your back. I took a day trip from Ft Lauderdale to Naples and back, and enjoyed every minute of it.

 
 The Volvo XC90 features an innovative iPad like infotainment system. The driver (or front passanger) can tab icons to control the car’s navigation system, make calls via Bluetooth, and control media options. A familiar home button rests at the bottom of the screen. To get even more Apple-like, the XC90 I tested featured Apple CarPlay. CarPlay allows iPhone users to plug their phone into the car (via USB) and control core iPhone functions though the car’s display – such as calling, music, and Apple Maps navigation. My only real complaint about CarPlay is that you have to plug the phone directly into the car versus using Bluetooth technology.

 It is no wonder why Volvo has a reputation for safety; the XC90 is packed with safety technology that actually works. The lane keep assist is spot on, the dynamic cruise control smoothly controls the car’s throttle, and the blind spot monitors are very senesitive. I didn’t get to try it, but the Volvo XC90 also offers emergency breaking. So, if the vehicle in front of you slams on the breaks, the XC90 will do the same while coming to a complete stop. Another nifty safety technology feature that I got to try out is pilot assist. The system allows the car to steer it self while applying the gas or break during heavy traffic – this was priceless while sitting in rush hour Miami traffic.

  
Sadly, all things must come to an end. But fortunately with a starting price of around $50,000, the 2016 Volvo XC90 has the potential to be sitting in my driveway.