Nadine Filion
That same illusion of sportiness applies throughout the Land Rover including its road-holding. Oh, like the engine, if you push the hunky beast, it’ll soon reveal that it’s a two and a half ton SUV with a higher centre of gravity than most. But, until you do, one is cocooned in the chimera that the Landie might handle as well as a Beemer.
That understated elegance is present inside the Discovery as well. Land Rovers tend to be subdued if not downright Spartan in their interior décor and the 2021 Disco is no different. The materials are excellent, but the presentation is whatever is the polar opposite of garish. One thing for certain, despite its reputation for less than stellar reliability, the company really does know how to bolt together an interior.
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If there’s anyone out there looking for the automotive fountain of youth, consider asking Volvo’s design department where they found it.
Rarely has a vehicle aged so gracefully inside and out as the Volvo XC90, which has been on the market in its current format since 2015. I said it then, and it still holds true today: the natural and minimalist aesthetic in this interior makes it feel like a yoga studio on wheels. That’s especially true in this Inscription Expression grade found on the Recharge plug-in hybrid, priced at $85,665 with destination fees, with its rich blond leather set against darker accents and walnut wood inserts.
Ministry of Interior Affairs: 2021 Volvo XC90 Recharge driving.ca - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from driving.ca Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Should you consider making your next vehicle a plug-in hybrid?
For the most part – if your budget can handle the higher cost – the answer is yes. That’s especially true when you need to drive something like a three-row SUV, where the larger and heavier body style is going to keep fully battery electric options cost-prohibitive for a while longer. By choosing a plug-in hybrid, you’re dipping your toes into electrification in a way that lets you try out the technology and lifestyle without fully committing to the plug because there’s still a gas-powered engine on board as a back-up. Plus, if encouraging EV adoption is something you’re into, by buying into batteries you’re helping to accelerate demand, which will play a role in reducing costs and bringing about the electric revolution that much faster.