Model Update

The flagship SUV for Volvo is the Volvo XC90. It’s beautiful to drive, as everything about the big Volvo is quality.

Revamped and looking very good, the big alloys, chrome finishing and fluted sides provide the XC90 with an intimidating presence on the road. Active bending lights; roll over stability control; ABS; a high strength safety cage; energy absorbing fulcrum points; side, front and curtain airbags; a rear-end crash avoidance system, Park Assist – the list keeps going.

Very roomy and exceptionally comfortable, the big Volvo XC90 is a premium tourer. Off-road ability is first class, and the choice of engines offer plenty of power. The V8 rumble is addictive, but make sure you take a look at the other engines – they are all very good.

In days gone by, Volvos looked like very large cardboard boxes stuck together – they may have been safe, but their looks were uninspiring according to car reviewers and the Australian public. Not any more. Swedish manufacturer Volvo has been producing cars that have the European style to match Volvo’s justly famous reputation for safety. Launched in 2002, the XC90 is Volvo’s venture into people-carrying vehicles.

The Volvo XC90 may look like a regular family station wagon, but there is room inside this 5-door vehicle for seven people (and still have room for the dog in the back). The ground clearance on the Volvo XC90 is greater than that of the average around-town vehicle, which, combined with four wheel drive capacity, will make it capable of going most places short of forestry tracks. As both the second and third rows of seats fold down, the Volvo XC90 will easily be able to fit in your skis without making use of a roof rack, and can get you up to the slopes without any hassles.

Beneath the sophisticated lines of the bonnet, the Volvo XC90 2.4 D5 Executive 5dr Geartronic Off Road has 2.4 litres of engine providing 136kW of power and a hefty 400 Nm of torque to the driver via the 6-speed semiautomatic transmission. The Volvo XC90 is capable of doing 0-100 km/h in 11.5 seconds, which isn’t too bad for a vehicle of its type – the Volvo XC90 is not intended to be a sports car – and has a top speed of 190 km/h. Feel the power of the inline six-cylinder, and a smile will spread across your face in no time. This is a capable engine, and boasts plenty of power. 175 kW of power and 320 Nm of torque creates large levels of performance for on, and off, the road. Slip into the V8 model, and the power is breathtaking. The 4.4 litre petrol motor is a real stormer and competes with the best of the high performance SUVs. The 0-100 km/h dash is completed in just seven seconds, and the big wagon has a limited top speed of 210 km/h.

As can be expected from the Volvo make, the Volvo XC90 will impress when you review the list of safety features. All seven seats in the Volvo XC90 are three-pointers with pretensioners. All seats have head restraints – and the driver will appreciate the lumbar support, even if this isn’t strictly a safety feature. The Volvo XC90 also comes with dual stage driver/passenger airbags, inflatable curtain airbags, SIPS airbags and a whiplash protection system in the front seats. To keep you out of trouble, the Volvo XC90 is provided with Roll Stability Control and ABS/EBD braking systems. And if you do get into trouble, the Executive version of the Volvo XC90 comes provided with a first aid kit.

The Volvo XC90 is a car that seems to be designed with families in mind. Not only does it boast all the safety features and plenty of seating, the second row of seats has a built-in booster cushion and has Isofix child seat preparation (why no child seat preparation in the third row of the Volvo XC90? Well, if you have ever tried to put a grumpy two-year-old into the third row of a 5-door or the back seat of a 3-door, you will know exactly why not). A grocery bag holder has been provided, as has a load cover and protection net. The Executive version of the Volvo XC90 even has a refrigerator in the front arm rest to keep drinks cool when you don’t want to put them in one of the four cupholders. The Executive version of the Volvo XC90 also has the convenience of having one 12 V power socket in the luggage area and another in the rear tunnel console. Lucky owners of the Volvo XC90 Executive will also appreciate the impressive 6CD Dolby surround sound system coming through the twelve speakers, and if the driver wants to talk on the Dual band integrated GSM telephone or to the front passenger while others listen to music, the rear seats come fitted with four audio headsets. Swedes know the meaning of the word comfort.

If you are looking for a family car that can take you out for a day’s fishing or skiing, on a long holiday drive or around town, the Volvo XC90 Executive might be the perfect car. It might be at the pricey end of the spectrum but if you can afford it, it is a superb buy according to the unbiased writer of this Volvo XC90 review!

The current model series includes the:

• Volvo XC90 3.2
• Volvo XC90 3.2 Executive
• Volvo XC90 D5
• Volvo XC90 D5 Executive
• Volvo XC90 V8
• Volvo XC90 V8 Sport
• Volvo XC90 V8 Executive

For any more information on the Volvo XC90, or for that matter any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests on the ML:CurrentYear XC90 out to our national network of Volvo dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!

Back to Volvo Car Reviews