Volvo XC90 Named 2016 North American Truck of the Year

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Jan 11, 2016, 08:19 ET

Volvo XC90 Named 2016 North American Truck of the Year

DETROIT, Jan. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Volvo XC90 has been named 2016 North American Truck of the Year.

Fifty-three automotive journalists from the United States and Canada voted for the luxury SUV for being a benchmark in its segment, based on factors including innovation, comfort, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.

"We are absolutely thrilled that the XC90 has won this prestigious and most respected award," said Lex Kerssemakers, President and CEO of Volvo Car USA, "and there is a lot more to come. By 2019 Volvo will have a totally renewed product portfolio. By then the all-new XC90 will be the oldest car in the showroom."

It is the second time the XC90 has won the North American Truck of the Year award. The first was in 2003, when the vehicle was originally introduced.

"The XC90 is a past winner of our award," said Tony Swan, a 23-year member of the North American Car and Truck of the Year Jury. "That vehicle was obviously outstanding, but the new XC90's blend of advanced technology, performance and craftsmanship stands out even more, against much more sophisticated competition."

The Volvo XC90 features all new platform, powertrain and semi-autonomous driving technologies that set a new standard for the luxury SUV segment. It is available in five or seven-passenger, front or all-wheel-drive configurations with powerful and efficient 250- or 316-horsepower turbocharged and dual-charged engines that can deliver up to an EPA rated 25 MPG. The XC90 is also be available with a 400-horsepower, 53 MPGe hybrid electric powertrain, making it the world's first seven passenger Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV).

All XC90s feature Volvo's award-winning Sensus infotainment system, which centers on an intuitive, tablet-like touch screen that puts all of the vehicle's systems and functions at the driver's fingertips. Volvo City Safety, which includes Pedestrian Detection with Automatic Emergency Braking, automatically applies the brakes should a collision be imminent, is also standard. The available Pilot Assist semi-autonomous driving system will control vehicle speed and direction at speeds up to 30 MPH. Prices start at $43,900.

About the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards

The North American Car and Truck of the Year awards – now in their 23rd year – are unique in the United States because instead of being given by a single media outlet they are awarded by an independent group of automotive journalists from the United States and Canada who represent magazines, television, radio, newspapers and web sites.

About Volvo Car Group

Volvo has been in operation since 1927. Today, Volvo Cars is one of the most well-known and respected car brands in the world with sales of 503,127 in 2015 in about 100 countries. Volvo Cars has been under the ownership of the Zhejiang Geely Holding (Geely Holding) of China since 2010. It formed part of the Swedish Volvo Group until 1999, when the company was bought by Ford Motor Company of the US. In 2010, Volvo Cars was acquired by Geely Holding.

As of December 2014, Volvo Cars had over 26,000 employees worldwide. Volvo Cars head office, product development, marketing and administration functions are mainly located in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo Cars head office for China is located in Shanghai. The company's main car production plants are located in Gothenburg (Sweden), Ghent (Belgium) and Chengdu (China), while engines are manufactured in Skovde (Sweden) and Zhangjiakou (China) and body components in Olofstrom (Sweden).