Volvo XC90 - Anyone running one?

WreckITFrank

Technical Excellence Contributor
Mods, please move/delete if inappropriate to post here

We just added a new member to fam and need a bit more room. My wife is considering an XC90, likely a CPO from the past 2 years or so. We want third row seating. Honestly, If LR4 was a bit more economical (in every way) it would be considered. Currently driving and BMW X3, and the X5 is not really fitting the bill. She loves the current X3 mileage, about 25-30mpg, and drives around 25K a year or more, but it has to go. Anyone with first hand experience with an XC90 is appreciated. Thanks.

She is a fan of the inscription, so this is an idea of what we are looking at.

7264
7265
 

LR Max

Well-known member
We have a 2018 XC60.

Drives great and rides wonderfully. The touch screen thingie, both in operation, programming, and it ACTUALLY WORKING has been a challenge. Its too clunky and slow. Pretty terrible. I'd say play with it and play with the profiles before you buy. I'm sorry but waiting 35 seconds for a back up camera to work...no good.

One other thing that pisses me off about the new Volvos. The owners manual tells you NOTHING. We have to schedule a time to GO BACK to the dealer for them to explain to us how this car works...because putting that info in the owners manual is way the crap too tedious. Our dealer is way the crap far away so we haven't been able to get back.

Our MPG has been pretty bad, from my perspective. ~16mpg in town and 25mpg highway. The highway isn't too bad I guess but the in town, might as well drive my LR3. Its only a few mpg less.

Its a nanny car. A colleague at work drives one. He loves it because it "drives itself at 30mph and below". In heavy traffic I can see that being a benefit. Ours has a button...that automatically holds the brakes for you. Yeah when you don't know its there, guess what makes you wig out when you put it in gear and take your foot off the brake pedal.

If you daily a defender, this thing is going to annoy the crap out of you. If you want a car to magically take care of you and is an appliance, its a good one. Dunno. Maybe I'm not adjusting to the newest and latest tech, but I gotta have some sort of interface with the car.
 

galen216

Well-known member
We have two XC-90's but they aren't the current generation like your picture. We love them, bought mine b/c I liked my wife's so much. Like LR Max the economy isn't great, we get about the same, 16-17 around town and 25 on the highway. That is with the 3.2 I-6. I've now owned 4 Volvo's in a row. They are great cars.
 

WreckITFrank

Technical Excellence Contributor
appreciate the input. LR Max, you running the 4 banger or 6? I still cannot believe Volvo Supercharged and Turbocharged the same engine, hard to wrap your head around until you watch the videos explaining. Not sure if the one above is such engine, but likely we'll run the 4cyl unless it cannot get out of it's own way.
 

LR Max

Well-known member
Its a 4 cyl. A supercharger and turbo makes sense. Supercharger handles the boost down low while the turbo handles to boost at higher RPMs. The problem is I can't get anyone around here to let a turbo cool off before shutting down. So in a few years, we will see what happens.

Looks like they use the same engine in the T6 XC90. It with the 8 speed is a great powertrain.

Its like going from Android to an iPhone, and I'm being difficult.
 

WreckITFrank

Technical Excellence Contributor
The problem is I can't get anyone around here to let a turbo cool off before shutting down. So in a few years, we will see what happens.

HA! I used to sell turbotimers like they were going out of style. Too bad OEMS did not integrate some of that. I forced my wife to wait until the Satnav at least turns on until she could pull out, and told her to not to shut off until she hit at least 3 likes on instagram. I know exactly what you are talking about, made me laugh.
 

rocky

NAS-ROW Addict
I took a serious look at one before wife vetoed it due to size concerns and we went with the XC60 instead for her.
Its one very interesting and good car. However as with all brands, caution about first year models. Volvos are incredibly strong and definitely allowed my son to escape injury when rear ended at a red light. Her old XC70 was totaled. If you need three rows its tough to beat. If only two, then V90 would be my choice.
Some of the design features will drive you crazy. Simple stuff like bulb changing is an acquired art on these vehicles. It will make you hate them but you'll love the comfort.
 
Last edited:

javelinadave

Administrator
Staff member
My little brothers wife had one for a long while. It was the only "midsize" vehicle that could fit 3 car seats across the back seat. They loved it and basically drove it to its death. I know the motor mounts needed replacement at one point and the drivers door latch failed but I believe that was it other than gas, oil changes and insurance.
 

WreckITFrank

Technical Excellence Contributor
we always pay for the extended warranties. generally CPO allows for this. we keep until about 100k on the clock, then move along. generally over 90-95k, the miniscule remaining value diminishes. somehow always get our warranty dollars back with repairs.

the Volvo is also almost untouchable in safety ratings aside from the model x. that is her #1 with this since we are now carting along cargo.

thank you all for your responses. I'm going to test drive on Saturday I think.
 

rocky

NAS-ROW Addict
Totaled Volvo after being hit by a Drunk driving car salesmen
 

Attachments

  • 822432C3-4B79-4C26-905B-92C283C81FE2.jpeg
    822432C3-4B79-4C26-905B-92C283C81FE2.jpeg
    69.5 KB · Views: 176
  • 10BE2C11-78FB-4FD8-B69B-A9A1FAE29302.jpeg
    10BE2C11-78FB-4FD8-B69B-A9A1FAE29302.jpeg
    55.3 KB · Views: 183
  • 37C6BC29-71BA-4869-85B2-7313A824A069.jpeg
    37C6BC29-71BA-4869-85B2-7313A824A069.jpeg
    2.5 MB · Views: 175

LR Max

Well-known member
The volvos are ridic safe. But on the flipside, insurance on them is higher. They tend to total out easier. That said, car-money is cheaper than hospital-money.
 

LRNAD90

Well-known member
Not sure what doesn't make the cut for the X5 with your wife, but if its fuel efficiency, grab a Diesel before they are gone, the 35d in our 2013 gets about 30-31 mpg on long highway trips and 21-22 around town.. And the 425 ft-lbs of torque is addictive..
 

WreckITFrank

Technical Excellence Contributor
Not sure what doesn't make the cut for the X5 with your wife, but if its fuel efficiency, grab a Diesel before they are gone, the 35d in our 2013 gets about 30-31 mpg on long highway trips and 21-22 around town.. And the 425 ft-lbs of torque is addictive..

im all for the diesel myself, and she doesnt mind either. she wants 3rd row seating, which i dont believe the X5 offers.
 

defender_verde

Active member
My dad’s got the plug in hybrid XC90. In terms of “niceness” its surprisingly close to my mom’s Range Rover of the same year (I think they’re both 2018s?). The Range is quieter and I like the drive a lot more, but the XC90 is a stellar car for a whole lot less coin.
 
Top