Buyers prefer upmarket XC90: Volvo

Volvo is running three shifts at its Torslanda plant in Sweden to keep up with demand for its XC90 SUV. And that demand is skewed heavily towards the high-spec Inscription level of trim.

The company claims that as much as 76 per cent of XC90 orders are for the well-equipped Inscription models. It's not unusual for new models to launch with a majority of buyers opting for the better specified models in the range. Often, after a year or so the sales split can shift more towards the downmarket variants in the range. But in the meantime, Volvo is extremely pleased with the global reception for the XC90. 

So far, the company has accepted 57,000 orders – 7000 ahead of its global sales forecast. In Australia the demand for the second-generation XC90 has been no less frenetic, says Volvo Car Australia MD, Kevin McCann.

"The All-New XC90 went on sale in Australia on August 8, and we've been delighted by the overwhelming positive reaction from customers and dealers so far. We are confident that the All-New XC90 will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor and establish itself as the leading seven seat luxury SUV in Australia," McCann was quoted saying in a press release.

"To support the launch of the XC90 Volvo Cars is running the biggest marketing campaign in a decade, and this has already resulted in significant number of customer orders and test drive bookings.

"With 76 per cent of customers choosing the top end Inscription model globally, it is fair to say that Volvo has now entrenched our position as a prestige car maker," he said.

The XC90 is the cornerstone of a strategy to lift the brand's profile to around the same level as the German prestige brands. With the sales success of new models like the XC90 the Swedish brand intends to double sales to "around 800,000 cars a year in the medium term".

It's not all peaches and cream for the new SUV however. Volvo in Australia has issued a recall this week for the side-curtain airbags of the XC90. In the event of a crash, according to the company, the curtain airbags may not deploy fully, leaving occupants in the third-row seat unprotected. Only 232 vehicles have reached customers, so it's not a big recall by most standards.