Volvo XC90 Wins 2016 Motor Trend SUV of the Year

Motor Trend was proud to announce the Volvo XC90 as 2016 SUV of the Year

Motor Trend’s Car of the Year Award has been awarded in one capacity or another ever since Motor Trend was founded back in 1949. Since 1999 to recognize the rise and popularity in SUV’s an SUV of the year award was added.

For 2016, the Volvo XC-90 won this year’s Motor Trend Truck of the year award. Competition was fierce as usual with the 2016 Honda Pilot, Lincoln MKX, Mercedes- Benz GLE-Class and Nissan Murano all finalists vying for that coveted spot, but when all testing was said and done the 2016 Volvo XC 90 took top honors.

Click here to read the full press release and announcement for yourself

Like the SUV of the Year and Truck of the Year, the same six criteria are used in judging which allows a level playing field for all cars competing regardless of class. Those six criteria according to Motor Trend include,

"Advancement in Design- Well-executed exterior and interior styling, innovative vehicle packaging, and a good selection and use of materials.Value- Each vehicle’s price and equipment levels compared with those of vehicles in the same market segment.Performance of Intended Function- How well the vehicle does the job its planners, designers, and engineers intended it to do.Efficiency- Fuel efficiency and carbon footprint size relative to the vehicle’s competitive set.Safety- The ability to help avoid a crash, plus secondary safety measures to protect occupants during an accidentEngineering Excellence- Total vehicle concept and execution; clever solutions to packaging, manufacturing, and dynamics; and cost-effective technology that benefits consumers."

Last year it was the Honda CR-V that took top honors with Motor Trend more than impressed with Honda’s styling language, fuel efficient 2.4-liter engine, plenty of “utility” from such a small package as well as overall being such a refined product.

For 2016 what impressed judges this time around drew parallels to the Honda CR-V of last year. For one, the design of the XC-90 was likened to a work of art. This being the first major redesign of the XC90 since it was first introduced in 2002, Volvo’s designers made sure to get it right the second time around.

Even though a four-cylinder was the only engine option, a turbocharger made sure that 316 HP and 295 lb-ft of torque was more than enough to move this 4,720-pound Swedish beast.

You’d be surprised but MT’s judges actually described this XC90 as having somewhat sporty handling.

And it goes without question that Volvo’s XC90 always has safety as its number one priority, from a company standpoint, so when it came to other finalists, the XC90 took the cake.

Gamechanger was a word floated around in the conclusion and we couldn’t agree more.