KTM, how about your 1st few weeks ownership impressions?
This car replaced a 2003 VW Passat wagon. Although the Volvo is only a few inches longer and an inch or two wider it drives like a much bigger car. It is less tossable, but much more planted than the VW. The first thing I noticed was the driving position. In the VW the passengers get a feeling of "sitting in a tub" feeling while in the Volvo it is more "command" type seating; high.
Driving: The torque and it's spread are insane. Max torque is at 1950 RPM and holds that level until 5 grand or so. The torque makes the car easy to drive in the city and contributes to the "oh sh#$ I am doing 40 over scenario". The power is great and the car likes to hustle down secondary highways at triple digit speeds (miles).
Cornering: Planted, but not a nice pure cornering sensation that one would find in a RWD BMW. The Volvo will handle tough corners at high speed but it feels like the computer yaw system, AWD, etc is working to get it around. Feels very Audi quattro to me.
Suspension. The adjustable suspension is the bomb. Normal is good for puttering and is almost as soft as a garden variety V70 however there is not enough damping and it feels like the Passat in this regard. The sport setting reduces the body roll from typical Volvo to sport sedan, and it really buttons down the chasis when "hustling" on less than perfect roads. The advanced setting eliminates body roll and the ride is very stiff, but it gives the driver great confidence and feel when uber-hustling and during short periods of hooliganism.
Brakes are huge, have great bite (not to touchy) and are progressive. Shed dust like mad though.
The only real negative is the 42' turning circle
It doesn't bother me as my daily driver is a truck but my wife lets me know about it often
