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Have current cars been fully developed in terms of their driving characteristics and can therefore no longer be improved? To answer the question, a look into the past with one might help Volvo Review.
Volvo has invited to a generation meeting - a rather special generation meeting of cross-country models. These are chic lifestyle station wagons with all-wheel drive and slightly increased ground clearance as a preliminary stage to the SUV. For drivers who are not necessarily interested in a real SUV, for example. The upper middle class 850, which debuted in the nineties, is considered to be the founder of this segment at Volvo - later advanced to the V 70 in the course of the facelift and then also available as a higher variant (XC).
The candidates
The V 70 XC competes here with a 2,4-liter five-cylinder turbo and 142 kW / 193 hp, and transmits its power via a five-speed manual gearbox. The middle class V 60 is available as the second cross country model - it debuted in 2010 and gave way in 2018 to the successor that has been built to this day. In comparison, a 2015 V 60 Cross Country competes as a T5 AWD with 187 kW / 254 PS. The current candidate for comparison is a V 90 Cross Country with a 145 kW / 197 PS diesel engine and mild hybridization (starter generator).
All three candidates are quite different characters despite having a similar segment. The sonorous sounding five-cylinder combines the V 70 XC and V 60 Cross Country, and the diesel naturally sets itself apart from this in terms of sound.
Definitely better driving characteristics
But our fundamental question is: How have cars developed since the XNUMXs and how will they continue to develop in the future? As far as the pure driving characteristics are concerned, one could assume a priori that current cars have reached the top - it couldn't be better.
Future cars will no longer be quieter and no longer necessarily more comfortable - and also not necessarily more dynamic. The improvement of these properties was the focus of engineering art for many decades. But such classic virtues have long since reached their zenith - the main objects of today's progress are the further development of driver assistance and infotainment plus, of course, driving efficiency, i.e. reducing CO2 emissions in particular.
Noticeable development in the Volvo review
And the improvement of the compromise is a focus: How can a dynamically designed car with trendy low-profile tires be both comfortable and fast? In terms of driving dynamics, modern cars have developed massively in the last two decades and have become noticeably safer - they are more comfortable on the road.
Nevertheless, the roughly 25-year-old V 70 is a lot of driving fun. The all-wheel drive with its 193 hp does not look phlegmatic, it even acts relatively lively. The turbo unit develops its power relatively linearly, on the other hand - it could easily have a bit more bite. Or maybe we're just spoiled by today's performance orgies. You shouldn't overdo it in the hairpin bends with the aged V 70, corners approached quickly produce howling tires together with a tendency to understeer.
At that time still with manual transmission
Enough stolen, now moderate cruising is the order of the day. The old Swede is good at that, creaks a bit and effectively cushions bumps. Its manual gearbox engages smoothly - also a sign from bygone times, because today people in this league no longer shift gears themselves. A look at the contemporary LCD odometer reveals that the Test-V 70 from the Gothenburg Museum has already covered 205.000 kilometers. And for that he drives well.
Around thirteen years later and one league lower, the ravages of time can also be felt. You can tell that the V 60 (the model was introduced in 2010) has aged half a decade. The speedometer with the conventional mechanical displays is no longer conventional today, and the navigation screen appears puny. After all, the connection of the mobile phone via Bluetooth works perfectly - however, the model we drove also dates from 2015.
Nowadays with automatic transmission
Starting the five-cylinder is a bit sad. The mature engine sounds downright beguiling in comparison with today's almost irrelevant four-cylinder goods. Drive level "D" and off you go. The V 60 drives really great, looks noticeably more defiant than the thin-walled V 70. It skilfully shields its passengers from the outside world, offers comfort and safety. In terms of driving dynamics, too, the Volvo, which is equipped with the steering wheel, which has turned out a size too large, is somewhat carefree. It's great how the middle grader competes and produces a lot of pressure. The express Swede knows no traction problems with its quite smooth shifting six-speed dual clutch transmission - however, all-wheel drive is also necessary with 254 hp.
Then the switch to the new V 90 Diesel - also competing here as a Cross Country, of course. Volvo's decision to contribute a diesel to the five-cylinder duo is quite wise - you don't even expect it to sound great. Rather, it has to be quiet, and the technicians haven't skimped on insulation. The four-cylinder then also whispers and acts like a bear. No wonder, after all, 1.750 Newton meters are available from 420 revolutions, which a smooth automatic converter is able to split eightfold.
The steering wheel has become smaller compared to the V 60, and the seating position in the spacious V 90 is particularly pleasing. The chassis engineers achieved a good compromise, because none of the two comparison cars circles the winding country roads of Upper Bavaria as safely as the large station wagon - at the same time, it is also the most comfortable vehicle in the trio, to which not only the suspension but also the cuddly armchairs should contribute. The 197 hp diesel is also efficient (5,3 liters / 100 km according to NEDC) and sufficiently spirited, if not quite as stormy as the five-cylinder.
Board computer
In the end, the most modern trio member (V 90 Cross Country B4 AWD, from 64.150 euros) is also the most balanced - but its basic price makes you sit up and take notice. However, the gracefully aged V 70 is also fun because it looks a bit nostalgic with its controls and the woodcut-like, clunky architecture at the time. His on-board computer with the rotary switch on the dashboard is legendary. The V 60, on the other hand, as a decidedly dynamic driver, makes petrolheads especially happy - sound and acceleration are pure enjoyment.
Even current cars are evidently not yet fully developed, even in terms of driving characteristics. Individual disciplines such as comfort and driving dynamics have already reached or just before the summit. But nuances can still be improved on the setup and the balance could also be increased even further, not to mention the infotainment and assistance systems.