2007 Volvo XC90 Review

PROS
Good passenger and cargo room, Well-placed controls, Lots of standard safety equipment

CONS Mediocre fuel economy, Uneven load floor, Tight rear-door openings

Family Values Personified
Volvo introduced it first-ever SUV in 2003. Called the XC90, it is based looselyVolvo XC70 wagon. XC90 is only available as a 4-door wagon with split rear tailgate that opens in clamshell fashion. It competes with other midsize SUVs like the Acura MDX, Cadillac SRX, and Lexus RX 350.

XC90 comes in two trim levels, 3.2 or V8. The 3.2 is powered by a 235-horsepower 6-cylinder engine, and the V8 comes with a 311-horsepower V8. Both engines mate only to a 6-speed automatic transmission with manual shift gate. Front-wheel drive is standard on the 3.2. All-wheel drive is standard on the V8 and optional on the 3.2.

Standard safety equipment includes front side airbags, curtain side airbags that protect all three seating rows, antilock brakes with brake assist, stability control with rollover sensors, and a tire-pressure monitoring system. Newly available for 2007 is Volvo's Blind Spot Information System that's designed to warn drivers of objects to the side of the vehicle. A rear-obstacle detection system is standard on the V8 and optional on the 3.2.

Available equipment includes steering-linked HID headlamps, navigation system, rear-seat entertainment system, and sunroof.

Get up and Go
XC90's inline six-cylinder engine is fairly unique among midsize SUVs. Inline six-cylinder engines are generally smoother than their V6 counterparts; however the design is not as compact.

In the XC90, the 3.2-liter six is smooth and powerful, with the key word being smooth. The engine sounds like a sewing machine as the it builds speed and never grows coarse or harsh. There's plenty of power to get away from stoplights and ample passing reserves in highway situations.

Adding a few adults and a weekend's worth of gear slows acceleration as expected. Volvo doesn't quote a 0 to 60 mph time, however, the XC90 3.2 is more than competitive with other V6-powered midsize SUVs and offers the benefit of uncompromised smoothness.

The standard automatic transmission works well with the engine and does a good job of downshifting quickly when more power is needed. It's so alert that the manual shift gate really isn't necessary.

EPA ratings of 16 mpg city and 22 mpg highway are comparable to most other V6-powered midsize SUVs. In an even mix of around-town driving and light-duty expressway commuting, expect XC90 3.2 to average about 20 mpg. According to Volvo, both the six and V8 require more-expensive premium-grade fuel.

On the Road
Regardless of road surface, XC90 is a comfortable and composed SUV. The suspension offers a near-perfect blend of supple control and firm response. Large or small, bumps are well filtered and occupants are nicely isolated from road imperfections. In addition, there's little bounding on wavy roads.

Being a Volvo, the XC90's handling characteristics aren't tuned to match the sporting moves of the BMW X5 or Infiniti FX. However, they are more than capable for most situations. There's a fair amount of understeer in tight maneuvers, but overall, the suspension and tires do a good job of responding to driver input.

Wind and road noise are well muted at all speeds. The smooth V6 is barely audible when cruising and makes wonderful sounds in hard acceleration.

Behind the Wheel Comfortable, chair-height buckets greet front-seat passengers. There's ample leg and head room--even under the optional sunroof. Standard tilt and telescope steering wheel makes it easy for the driver to get comfortable, but power-adjustable pedals should be available.

Outward visibility is good to the front and sides. It's a bit blocked to the rear by the tall third-row headrests. It's surprising that Volvo made rear-obstacle detection an option, but at least it is available.

Getting in and out of the front seats is a breeze as the front door openings are quite generous and the step in, despite the AWD system, is modest. The same can't be said for getting in and out of the second- or third-row seats because of narrow rear door openings and tight pass-throughs.

Once inside, second-row passengers will find flat, but comfortable seats and adequate head and leg room--as long as the front seats aren't pushed all the way back. There's really not enough room to sit three adults abreast in the second row, but it can be done in a pinch. Volvo admits the third-row seat is intended for kids as even smaller adults will want more leg and head room. The second-row seats slide for and aft about 5 inches, which creates more third-row leg room at the expense of second-row leg room.

The fresh-looking dashboard spreads out toward the windshield, giving the cabin an open and airy feel. Gauges are easy to read, day or night. Audio and climate controls are close and hand and clearly marked. Materials and fit-and-finish are top notch and befit a vehicle with a $40,000-plus price tag.

On the plus side, the unique-opening rear tailgate makes it easy to quickly load small items. When tailgating, you can flip down the mini gate and have a nice flat area to sit or set up a buffet that's protected from the elements by the top glass. Interior storage is adequate, but nothing special as both glovebox and map pockets are slightly undersized.

Bottom Line Volvo's XC90 is a comfortable midsize SUV that can hold its own against some pretty stiff competition. With its versatile seating arrangement and long tradition of safety the XC90 is about as family-friendly as an SUV can be.

Affordability is another question. The base price for the six-cylinder powered XC90 is a very reasonable $36,000. However, add a few too many options and your quickly approaching $45,000--that's V8-powered SUV land. Still, if you are careful with the wish list, the XC90 comes across as an affordable and functional family hauler.