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Volvo XC90 scoops more local and international awards

January 15, 2016 • News, Road, Transport

The award-winning new Volvo XC90 has added a few more trophies to its cabinet, both in South Africa and on the global stage.

Cars.co.za Consumer Awards kick off 2016 for new XC90

At the inaugural Cars.co.za Consumer Awards held in Johannesburg on 14 January 2016, the new Volvo XC90 was named Premium SUV of the Year.

Judged by an experienced journalistic jury and incorporating data collected through an online ownership survey in which consumers rate their vehicles in a multitude of categories, the awards were given to those vehicles which “represent the best buys in their respective categories in South Africa, influenced by real, credible consumer input,” according to Cars.co.za.

  • XC90 collects Premium SUV of the Year trophy at inaugural Cars.co.za Consumer Awards
  • 2016 North American Truck of the Year award goes to XC90 for the second time
  • XC90 punted as Euro NCAP’s Best in Class vehicle for safety in 2015

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The XC90’s award was presented to Volvo Car South Africa’s Brand Ambassador ProVerb by Cars.co.za Consumer Experience Manager Hannes Oosthuizen, amidst strong competition. The Volvo was also applauded for being the most-nominated vehicle in the competition with no less than three category nominations overall. The new Volvo XC90 is also a finalist in the 2016 WesBank/ SAGMJ Car of the Year competition, the winner of which is due to be announced in March.

“We are very proud of how the new Volvo XC90 is being accepted and celebrated by the media and consumers alike, both in South Africa and across the globe,” comments Greg Maruszewski, Managing Director of Volvo Car South Africa. “As the first in our new line of products which are all ‘Made by Sweden’, the new XC90 is the initiator of a new era for us, and its immediate success on an international level is proof that we are on the right track.”

New XC90 is 2016 Truck of the Year in North America for the second time

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On the other side of the planet, the new XC90 has also been announced as the 2016 North American Truck of the Year, the accolade being presented at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. This is the second time the XC90 has won the prestigious title, the original having taken the honours in 2003.

The North American Truck of the Year Award is one of few in North America based on a jury of independent automotive journalists. The 2016 jury, consisting of 53 journalists from the United States and Canada, singled out the XC90 for its blend of innovative technology, superb comfort and driving dynamics, and its outstanding design.

The American award comes off the back of the XC90 being named Motor Trend’s 2016 SUV of the Year (also for the second time), and the new XC90 is also nominated as a finalist in the 2016 European Car of the Year competition, the winner of which will be announced at the Geneva Motor Show on 29 February.

Volvo XC90 voted Euro NCAP Best in Class 2015

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The recent awards aren’t only based on aesthetics and refinement. Safety – one of Volvo’s strongest selling points – has also come into the spotlight as the new XC90 has been named Best in Class for 2015 by Euro NCAP in the Large Off-road and Overall Performance categories.

The Volvo XC90 achieved overall top performance in the 2015 Euro NCAP ratings, scoring 100 per cent in the Safety Assist category  and an outstanding 97 percent in adult occupant protection, reflecting the innovative approach that Volvo Cars continues to take when developing new safety systems.

“We are always happy to receive further recognition for the work we do. The XC90 embodies everything that Volvo Cars stands for, and this is further proof of our continuing leadership in the field of both active and passive safety systems. Our vision is that by 2020 no one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car. With the latest safety and semi-autonomous drive functionalities in the XC90 we are well on our way to achieving that goal,” comments Jan Ivarsson, Acting Director, Volvo Cars Safety Centre.

Sales of the XC90, which continue to outpace production capacity, have had a seismic effect on the Swedish premium car maker’s transformation journey. 2015 saw sales reach an all-time high, with over 503 000 cars sold.

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