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Needs
improvement: Gas mileage, handling, rear visibility, difficulty getting to
third row.
Good
points: Appearance, safety features, room, highway ride, versatile seating.
It’s big, expensive, guzzles
gas, and is loaded with features, but Volvo’s entry into the SUV field
promises to appeal to those who want to rationalize that they need a sports
utility vehicle for versatility and safety.
Mom’s
view: Caring people have grown to fear large SUVs because of damage they do
the others and the environment. Studies have well documented that large SUVs
are also a danger to their own occupants, largely from one vehicle accidents
resulting in rollovers and deaths. Volvo has done a good job of alleviating
those fears with this new XC 90. It is loaded with safety features and more
environmentally friendly than most others large vehicles.
Inside, Volvo has the ability
to carry seven people. With 93 plus cubic feet of cargo room, and a Volvo
claimed 64 different seating configurations for the XC 90’s 9.5 feet long
cargo area, this is certainly a true utility vehicle. Furthermore, Volvo
offers an optional third seat for those who are small or agile.
The
front seats are comfortable, and you have separate controls for the rear air
conditioning and an optional rear sonar system that is a must because this
Volvo offers extremely poor rear visibility.
The visibility to the sides is
okay, but the hood slopes away so steeply that you can not see where your
fenders are leaving parking lot manoeuvres one of judgment as much as hope.
We tested the A$82,950 XC90
AWD T6 version. A less powerful, but less expensive model is also offered. We
weren’t impressed by the acceleration of the XC90 regardless of the 268 hp
rating for Volvo’s flag carrier. Maybe it was the hot weather, but this engine
was just adequate. However, nothing prepared us for the gas mileage we got in
mixed driving. We barely got 15 mph on premium. We recommend you consider the
base version which has less horsepower and is less costly to operate. Both
require premium fuel.
We much preferred Volvo’s
highly competent all wheel drive station wagons to the XC 90, but they don’t
offer the versatility of this big machine. One thing they do have in common is
Volvo’s significant safety features. The XC90 offers two-stage dual front
airbags, side impact protection, whiplash protection front, curtain side
airbags for everyone and a baby seat attachment system. Most importantly for
any tipsy SUV, is a state of the art roll over protection system, seatbelts
with pretensioners, and an integrated sliding child booster seat.
The most interesting statistic
given to us by Volvo was that the XC has a lower centre of gravity than the
V70 wagon, which is difficult to believe noting the 9.2 inches of ground
clearance with the 18-inch tires. I can tell you this, give my choice of
driving on mountain highways I would take the wagon.
Working
college male’s view: The sound system with its Dolby 5.1 Pro Logic II surround
stereo was above average, but the radio reception, although good, sometimes
attracted a shadow signal that was very distracting.
This is a large vehicle, even
though it doesn’t look it. Unfortunately, this model as has become the custom
lately, has a third row of seats. Why not just get a mini-van? Anyway, you can
probably tell I was assigned to struggling into the third row seats. There is
virtually no legroom, although the second row seats scoot forward to make
entry a tad easier. Third-row seatbelts have pretensioners, which go with the
safety theme of this Volvo. There is also a much needed rear crumple zone,
which is a must for any family vehicle.
I
did like the fact that there were headphone plugs for second and third row
passengers, cupholders for everyone, and several zones of climate control. A
lot of nice touches in this Volvo, such as an optional drop-down DVD player,
for both second- and third-row passengers, and fairly comfortable, although
small, seats. There was probably more for a rear seat passenger to do in the
this Volvo than any SUV I’ve been in and I don’t think any of them paid as
much detail to safety. On the other hand getting into the back seats require
you to navigate narrow rear doors and getting into the rear seats is not easy.
Volvo did an interesting thing
in the rear seating area by lowering the second row to offer those in the
third row a less claustrophobic view. A real treat was the fact that the
second-row seats don’t have to have their headrests removed when the seats are
folded flat. This is probably the most well thought our SUV I have ever seen.
It ranks with the new Toyota Sienna van as the most family friendly.
Dad’s
view: I won’t mince words. Raised SUVs and pick-up trucks are a danger to
everyone. If the bumpers on a vehicle don’t line up with those of regular cars
they can crash through the protective side beams and cause injury and death
that could have been prevented.
Volvo knows this and, like the
Lexus RX and Mercedes M class, have placed a low front chassis crossmember on
the XC at, about the same height as the bumper of a sedan. In this way, in
case of an accident, there is less likelihood to kill or maim. Such common
sense protection should be the law.
Engine wise the Volvo XC90 has
two models, the 2.5T and T6. We tested the more expensive T6, but highly
recommend the more economical 2.5T with its inline five-cylinder turbocharged
engine delivering 208 horsepower with 236 foot-pounds of torque.
Our test car, the T6, had a
six-cylinder with twin turbos, 2.9 litres, and 268 horsepower and was loaded
with options. We recommend you look at the base model front wheel drive 2.5T
which costs A$69,950 or A$13,000 less than the top model.
And has many of the same
safety features, albeit without the stronger engine and all wheel drive
capabilities. Volvo does not offer a low range transfer case in any form
indicating that these models are more highway oriented than off-road capable.
Popular options for the XC are
all wheel drive, the Premium Package with leather power seats, a moonroof and 6-disc changer, the third row of seats and
related extras although this option can only be ordered with the Premium
Package. There is also the navigation system, a reverse
warning beeper, and the excellent Dolby 12-speaker sound system.
The DVD entertainment centre is installed by the dealer, and worth it. It
should be noted, that when you go with the high line T6 model you get all
wheel drive and the Premium Package for a base price around A$83,000.
We always liked Volvo seats,
and these are very good, too. The instrument panel is simple, and the Whiplash
Protection System appreciated.
Make
sure you try the lumbar support and practice adjusting the steering column
because not everyone in The Car Family could find a sweet spot while driving.
What stood out for me was the
ride of this Volvo. It was floaty over bumps due to its off-road capable
suspension, but otherwise was exceptional. It handles highways well, although
it never feels like a small car. This Volvo sets a new standard for SUV
handling beating the BMW’s stiffish ride and the Lexus jelly roll suspension.
Too bad, the engine didn’t
have more power to take advantage of the potential.
Young
Working Woman’s View: Such an unusual vehicle. Very large, but nice looking,
this is a very desirable car if you need a SUV. I would rather have the new
V70 wagon myself, but that’s the point; I don’t have a family. If I needed a
utility vehicle that could haul a stepladder, seven people this would be a
very desirable choice. At least until I filled it up with premium and than I
would swallow my pride and get a mini van or wagon.
There are a lot of features on
our Volvo V90.The rear tailgate has two sections with a smaller, drop down
section making it easy to slide have objects in and the larger, upward
tailgate, being easy to lift and adequate head room while loading. I also
liked the stereo controls. Unlike the tuning knobs on other Volvo models that
are unbelievable complex and useless when driving at speed, the XC returned to
the basics so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road to find your
station.
I
was not impressed with the automatic transmission that hesitated at times when
going uphill as the computer tried to anticipate the power the turbo was going
to provide when the driver was asking for more speed.
The transmission seemed miffed
and didn’t know whether to kick down one or two gears. It reminded me of the
Jaguar transmissions that did the same thing. Anyway, the gas mileage was poor
and I cannot imagine what it would be if you decided to haul the 5000 pound
trailer Volvo states this model can handle.
I doubt you are ever going to
see 18 mpg on premium gas with either engine choice. It’s a good thing this
rig has a 19 gallon tank. To my mind the
Lexus RX 330, is better from that
standpoint. Of course, you don’t get all the room in the Lexus, but the costs
are very similar.
The steering is light, nearly
void of feedback on the highway. This is not a performance-oriented vehicle
despite the horsepower figures. The brakes are good, but need getting used to
because there appeared be a long pedal travel before the giant discs did their
job.
Overall, I liked the look of
the XC90, the way it rode on the highway, and the many safety features. A good
start.
Family
Conference: This is an expensive SUV and you can clearly see what you are
getting for your money: safety and interior space. If these two attributes are
at the top of your list you have little choice, as this Volvo is the only one
to offer such traits in such abundance. If you are looking for nimble,
economical to operate, or handling look elsewhere.
Written by The Car Family |
