The things that make a Volvo a Volvo just seem to work better in a vehicle designed for family-oriented, all-purpose transportation. The Volvo XC90 is strong on safety, comfort and functionality, and we consider it one of the most successful vehicles Volvo builds.
In the growing-family scheme, the XC90 has it all. Its styling is appealing, without shouting family-mobile. It seats up to seven passengers, with more cargo space than nearly all its competitors and features that allow quick, easy tailoring for cargo, gear or people. The XC90 is not the sportiest vehicle among luxury-class SUVs, but it handles well on city streets and highways. It rides very comfortably and it's easy to park. Any of the three XC90 models can tow just about anything the typical family is likely to pull along.
The standard 235-hp six-cylinder engine that Volvo introduced last year is up to all the demands of daily driving and delivers the best value, in our view. It's smoother, more powerful and more sophisticated than the tried-and-true turbocharged five-cylinder it replaced, and delivers comparable EPA mileage ratings The upgrade 311-hp V8 adds a bit of excitement for those who put a premium on quick acceleration.
In addition to the new base-level straight-six, Volvo freshened the XC90 last year with a restyled grille, bumpers and lights. Also new was Volvo's optional BLIS system, which uses cameras to search a large area on either side of the vehicle, and warns the driver if there might be an approaching vehicle not visible in the XC90's mirrors.
For 2008, Volvo has made much of the content of last year's Touring Package standard with the V8 engine. And last year's Sport Package has been promoted to a separate trim level.
Volvo's fulltime all-wheel-drive system works smoothly in the daily grind without any penalty in EPA fuel economy, and it's truly welcome when the weather gets foul or the road surface gets rough. Yet buyers who don't really need all-wheel-drive capability can choose an XC90 with front-wheel drive.
Volvo's reputation for safety engineering is deserved. Maybe more than anyone, Volvo devotes impressive resources and manpower to improve occupant protection. The XC90 offers the full array of active and passive safety features, including a Roll Stability Control system designed to keep the XC90 from rolling over, and a rollover protection system intended to shield occupants in the extremely unlikely event that a rollover actually occurs. Less obvious are features like a roof structure fashioned from high-strength steel, or a lower front crossmember engineered to inflict less damage on small vehicles if an accident occurs. It may be the safest SUV on the road; it's certainly one we'd feel reassured seeing our loved ones drive.
The XC90 is not inexpensive, but comes well-equipped, with the standard engine and all-wheel drive, for well under $40,000. Luxury-class shoppers who put a premium on comfort, safety and value should find happiness here.
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