Volvo Future Direction - Wagons vs SUVs

Post by **BlackBart** » 04 Mar 2021, 13:21

https://jalopnik.com/even-volvo-wants-t ... 1846401133

I think it's a troubling story. SUVs are the bane of the automotive landscape. "High" does not equal safety.

I don't know if this is actually true, but I was told back in the 240 days that the second biggest market for 240 wagons after Sweden was Seattle. There were a lot of them there! They really were a trendy desirable car for quite a while. But that demographic has changed, now I assume it's Mercedes suvs.

Post by **matthew1** » 04 Mar 2021, 13:57

“We need less variants of sedans and wagons; we have lots of wagons today, with the V60, V90, Cross Country, non-Cross County, and a lot of saloons big and small, long and extra-long. We need to move from wagons and sedans; we will still have them in future, but probably not as many."

I read this as going to one sedan/wagon, down from two different sizes, example: small (V60), large (V90).

Will they keep the smaller, or the larger?

Post by **850 LPT** » 04 Mar 2021, 14:01

It's troubling for sure, although the Volvo CEO does say that there will be sedans and wagons available in the future, just not as many variants...
Maybe this means that the classic Volvos will increase in desirability and value sooner?

One more reason to hang on to the old ones and taking good care of them.

Post by **BlackBart** » 04 Mar 2021, 15:32

There's talk that they might keep the lifted XC versions and drop the base models, to get in on the suv wave. And too many sedans, which aren't selling. Ford dropped ALL their sedans, as have others.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 04 Mar 2021, 17:39

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The future is in the mid-size SUV segment. With higher MPG, more space, better utility, ergonomics and some even better driving experience the sedans are on it's way out. The designs of many sedans these days are also alien looking.

Though cars are much safer the industry has been going towards prevention as it much harder to improve upon crash-ability than prevention. In terms of height I would rather be in the middle rather than sedan height if it was a head on type of collision. Prefer to have the bumper make first contact rather than the hood.

The Tiguan is a good example of a well functioning vehicle built on their (MQB) platform. VW could sell even more if they would do a better job of quality control. The GTI of SUV.

2022 Volkswagen Tiguan
https://www.caranddriver.com/volkswagen/tiguan

Dec 26, 2018 - I believe there is another one coming next year called the Tanos besides the electric one.

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Post by **BlackBart** » 05 Mar 2021, 15:07

MoVolvos wrote: ↑04 Mar 2021, 17:39With higher MPG, more space, better utility, ergonomics and some even better driving experience

I can't agree with any of those, sorry. A wagon has more room in the back than anything but a Suburban-size. Lower and more slippery than a tall box should produce better mileage unless we insist on 400 hp, and driving experience in a tall, skinny, soft-sprung, lifted hatchback?

Post by **MoVolvos** » 05 Mar 2021, 18:30

BlackBart wrote: ↑05 Mar 2021, 15:07
MoVolvos wrote: ↑04 Mar 2021, 17:39With higher MPG, more space, better utility, ergonomics and some even better driving experience
I can't agree with any of those, sorry. A wagon has more room in the back than anything but a Suburban-size. Lower and more slippery than a tall box should produce better mileage unless we insist on 400 hp, and driving experience in a tall, skinny, soft-sprung, lifted hatchback?

Not quite 400 HP - Consumers will be looking for more variety of SUV's.
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Handles pretty well. Not much body roll even stock. R-Line is all cosmetic.
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Lots of room w/ 3rd Row seat for small kids.
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Not bad for a 2.0T Base Model. Got up to 30.8MPG 95% freeway 70MPH. Was not going for MPG driving 3 hours back from the dealership.
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: MPG.jpg (21.34 KiB) Viewed 1075 times

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Post by **MoVolvos** » 06 Mar 2021, 11:37

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In no way promoting VW. Due to tech and better driving experience with the newer SUV's the public has been trained to want a bigger car. It is easier to get in and out for families with children and dad still able to get a little vroom, vroom without getting in trouble with the neighbors and police. A different kind social consciousness of having your cake and eat it too.

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Post by **matthew1** » 06 Mar 2021, 13:28

Higher driving position? Yes.

Suv handling? Well yea, compared to what they were. But physics is physics, mass is mass, center of gravity is center of gravity.

Most Americans will never approach even 7/10ths driving, so they don't know good handling from a ham sandwich anyway... which is a shame, because they'll never know how their car will react in an emergency.

Post by **BlackBart** » 06 Mar 2021, 14:35

matthew1 wrote: ↑06 Mar 2021, 13:28 But physics is physics, mass is mass, center of gravity is center of gravity.

...so they don't know good handling from a ham sandwich anyway... which is a shame, because they'll never know how their car will react in an emergency.

Exactly. Most new cars drive fine, smooth and quiet - around town, to the mall, on the freeway.....but push them in a stressed or emergency situation and you'll find out quickly how well the dynamics actually work.

A heavier box with a center of gravity 1 or 2 feet higher can't possibly react the same way. Having said that, Porsche is using some sort of dark magic to make a huge Panamera handle as well as it does (but it's quite low).