Kings of the Road Land Rover, Volvo Offer Distinct SUV Driving Experience by Karl Ferguson Sport utility vehicles, or SUVs as they are more commonly known, are taking over the roads. Gone are the days when a simple station wagon or large sedan provided adequate family transportationóan SUV is now a must have. And this craze is reflected in the wide availability of SUVs: There isnít a single major carmaker today that doesnít offer at least one SUV model for sale in the United States. So what is fueling this demand? Is it the raised driving position, the perception of improved safety, or perhaps the go-anywhere attitude? Many theories abound, but one thing is for sure: Itís not the desire to go off-roading. In fact, most manufacturers concede that the majority of SUVs only stray off the tarmac 2 percent of their working lives. Not surprisingly, this is changing the way manufacturers approach the SUV market, which in turn is changing the vehicles that we drive. A good example of this new approach is the 2003 Volvo XC90. Since its launch in late 2002, this new kid on the block has been heaped with accolades and prizes and heralded as one of the best SUVs around. Indeed, Motor Trend magaz ine proclaimed it Sport Utility Vehicle of the Year for 2003. The Land Rover Discovery on the other hand takes a more traditional approach, and despite being a little long in the tooth, itís still a popular favorite. Land Rover is widely credited with fathering the modern concept of off-roading with the launch of its Range Rover model in the 1970s, which combined luxury motoring with the off-roading experience. The current Discovery model was launched in late 1998, and since then it has undergone a number of facelifts, most recently for 2003. On first acquaintance, the two SUVs appear to have a lot in common. Both range in price from around the mid-$30,000 to the low-$40,000 mark. Both have the capacity (or can be optioned) to seat seven, and both are well-equipped luxury vehicles. But appearances can be deceiving. There is much to be said for the Discoveryís rugged, even classic, good looks. Its tall roofline and square edges suggest a no-nonsense approach to tackling the difficult business of off-roading. For 2003, Land Rover made more than 360 changes and enhancements to the Discovery. Externally, the most startling alteration is the addition of ìtwin-pocketî halogen headlights that visually bring the Discovery in line with its big brother, the Range Rover. Better night vision aside, the new headlights do help to modernize the exterior. By contrast, the Volvo XC90 looks every bit a product of the new millennium. The visual cues are all Volvo, from the sculpted hood to the taillight configuration. It doesnít have the same muscular stance of the Discovery, instead looking more like a grown-up Volvo station wagon. The XC90 also looks surprisingly compact, and its roofline stands a significant nine inches taller than the XC70 Cross Country wagon, even though itís only slightly longer. If the exterior styling merely hints at the differences between these two vehicles, itís not until you get behind the wheel that these differences truly become apparent. The Discovery has a tall, upright seating position that offers commanding views across its expansive hood and beyond. It has a go-anywhere feel, and everything from the grab handles to the stereo controls feel solid to the touch. Unfortunately, the cabinís ergonomics leave a little to be desired. Some of the gauges are obscured by the steering wheel, and although it all fits together, it lacks the cohesiveness of its Swedish rival. And despite its size, the Discovery feels a bit on the cramped side. Thereís not a lot of room in the front, and even less for those seated in the back. Rear doors are narrow and the less mobile would probably struggle to get in and out easily. The optional jump seats are fine, even for modestly sized adults, but access is through the rear door, which for a child may be too heavy to open and close. On the plus side, rear passengers are treated to stadium-like elevated seating ensuring great visibility, and the headroom is second to none. The Volvo XC90 feels far more accessible. The wide doors give way to a low floor and limousine-like seats. Similar to a well-crafted piece of Scandinavian furniture, everything in the cabin feels wonderfully put together. Your hands fall naturally on the well-placed, easy-to-use controls, and the fit and finish of the interior materials are first rate. The multiadjustable seats fold every which way, and although getting all of the seats flat required a quick check of the manual, one attempt is all it takes to get accustomed to the seat folding. When the rear seats are completely flat, there is 85.1 cubic feet of cargo room (compared to the Land Roverís 63.3 cubic feet), and the split tailgate opens easily. On the road, the Volvo XC90 is the most impressive. Given its compact appearance, it is almost a shock to realize that this is still a very large vehicle. Once underway though, the Volvo shrinks around the driver. Put simply, the XC90 drives just like a car. Steering is neutralóeven benignóand it attacks corners with all the sense of purpose you might expect from a much smaller passenger vehicle. The Land Rover Discovery resembles a truck in comparison. At low speeds, it feels somewhat ungainly with heavy steering and an unwieldy turning circle. Itís easy for the driver to feel a certain detachment from the Discovery, as if piloting it rather than driving it. Although there is never any sense of panic when cornering, the Landoverís size and high point of gravity result in a slightly wallowing feel as you drift around corners, with body roll a great deal more pronounced than in the Volvo. Despite these weaknesses, it is surprising how quickly one can adjust to the quirkiness of the Discoveryís driving style, and although it doesnít feel as agile as the XC90, it does have a certain surefootedness that is reassuring. Of course, with each vehicle weighing upward of 4,500 pounds apiece, whatís under the hood makes for an important piece of the driving equation. Land Rover takes the more conventional road, equipping its Discovery SE with a 4.6-litre V8 engine that produces 217 horsepower at 4,750 rpm and 300 pound-feet of torque at 2,600 rpm. On its XC90 T6 test vehicle, Volvo opted for a 2.9-litre straight six-cylinder engine, but not to be outdone on engine capacity, it also added dual turbochargers to spice things up a bit. And spice things up they do: The XC90 T6 develops 268 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 280 pound-feet of torque at just 1,800 rpm. In other words, although the Volvo develops slightly less torque, or ìpulling power,î than the Land Rover, its low rev range makes it a veritable sports car in the SUV world. Barely touch the accelerator and the XC90 is off. Volvo claims the vehicle can go from zero to 60 miles per hour in just 9.3 seconds. Even allowing for optimism on the part of the manufacturer, that is a very quick time indeed for a large SUV. When it comes to off-roading, however, itís the Discovery that comes into its own. Whereas the Land Rover would happily bash through uncharted territory by using its large engine capacity and low-down torque, Volvo drivers would be wise to use a little more caution when taking the XC90 out for a weekend jaunt. The Land Rover Discovery has permanent four-wheel drive and is equipped with a two-speed low-range transfer gearbox for some serious off-roading. It also has electronic traction control, meaning that all of the engineís power can be transferred to the one wheel that has traction. The Discovery feels pretty much indestructible. The Volvo on the other hand only drives through the front wheels most of the time. In the event that one of the Volvoís wheels begin to spin, the all-wheel drive system kicks in almost immediately, and much like with the Land Rover, if a wheel spins on one side, more power instantly goes to the opposite wheel. Itís a system that ensures great stability but also has its limitationsóespecially in demanding off-road situations. If itís luxury youíre looking for, you cannot go wrong with either vehicle. In addition to the extras on the standard Discovery S model, the SE version throws in leather upholstery, burled wood trim, 18-inch alloy wheels, a 12-speaker audio system and six-disc CD changer, and dual electric sunroofs. The Volvo does without the sunroofs, although they are optional, but the XC90 also features plenty of luxurious extras. Standout items include reversing aids for parking, an onboard trip computer and an unforgettable premium sound system with 12 speakersónot to mention the welcome addition of a ìtiptronicî (or clutchless manual) gearbox for truly spirited driving sessions. One could go on forever about Volvoís many safety features, but put simply, they are comprehensive. The New Car Assessment Program gave th e XC90 five stars, making it one of only two SUVs to ever get such a high rating. Rest assured though that the Land Rover also has safety covered, offering all of the usual safety extras you might expect in an SUV, including driver and passenger airbags and side-impact beams in both front and rear doors. However, given Volvoís safety record and newness, the XC90 has the edge over the Land Rover in this department. Despite their obvious similarities, philosophically these vehicles are quite different. The Volvo is designed to be used like a car but has the added flexibility of being able to transport a bunch of kids to a soccer game or handle a weekend of skiing, with all the street credibility of a serious four-wheel drive vehicle. The Land Rover on the other hand is basically designed for off-roading but can still double as an urban transport vehicle, albeit without the dynamics of a passenger car. Karl Ferguson is the automotive reviewer for The Washington Diplomat. Top SUVs on the Market Are you searching for an SUV but canít quite stretch your budget to purchase a luxury model? The good news is that there are plenty of vehicles to consider that are almost as desirable as the Land Rover Discovery and the Volvo XC90óbut without the hefty sticker price. And you wonít be alone in wanting an SUV. For the first time ever in U.S. auto-sales history, SUVs, pick-ups, minivans and crossover vehicles outsold regular passenger cars in 2002. In fact, the Ford F-Series light truck was the best-selling vehicle of 2002, racking up more than 813,000 sales. The following is a list of the top five best-selling SUVs last year, which might be worth looking into if youíre considering a switch to an SUV: óFord Explorer óJeep Grand Cherokee óDodge Ram óChevrolet TrailBlazer óFord Escape *Source: Automotive News (www.autonews.com) óKarl Ferguson