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| 2007 Volvo Xc90 Review | |||
| Whether you're about to spend $40K on a brand new car, or half that on a used car, it is always important to learn as much as you can about the used car. Read these car reviews to learn about all aspects of the vehicle. Each of the usedcar reviews cover interior and exterior features, options, road tests, and more. | |||
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Introduction
| Road Test
| Inside & Out
| Other Thoughts
| Last Word
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| Other Thoughts | |||
In addition to 2007's slightly revised styling (I didn't notice either), new engine, and added features, Volvo revised the options and packages this year. They're still pretty different between models, though, so first you should answer the two big questions: do I want the 6 or the V8 (a.k.a. the slowest or fastest SUV in this class?), and if the former, do I want all-wheel-drive (which is standard on the V8)?If you stick with six cylinders driving two wheels, you can walk out with a $36,830 XC90; adding power to the back makes that $38,680. It takes $47,120 to buy the V8 along with its 6-disc CD changer, aluminum interior trim pieces, power passenger seat, child booster seat, third-row seats, leather upholstery, and self-leveling rear suspension. New this year is the XC90 V8 Sport, bringing stiffer shocks and stabilizer bars, sport-tuned speed-sensitive steering, 19-inch wheels, sport seats, and a pimped out interior to spice up your life for $49,995. The V6's two option groups make up the difference. The Premium Package fills in the leather, CD changer, power passenger seat, and moonroof for $2,995; the Versatility Package builds on that with second-row booster seat, third-row seats, and self-leveling rear suspension for another $2,250. The V8 has only Touring Packages to add (18-inch wheels and wood trim), while both models share the Convenience Package (rear parking assistance, power side mirrors, child safety locks, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and Interior Air Quality Sensor for $1,295) and Climate Package (heated front seats, rain-sensing wipers, and headlight washers for $675). Shared stand-alones include DVD navigation ($2,120), rear-seat DVD entertainment ($1,995), HID headlights ($800), Blind Spot Information System ($595), and for the V8, a 650-watt DynAudio sound system with Dolby Pro Logic ($1,400). Most paint colors cost $475. Reasonable? Against Europeans like the Mercedes ML350, BMW X5, and Porsche Cayenne (all mid-$40s), sure. But if European-ness is a state of mind and mechanicals over geography, the Volvo tends toward the more numb-driving SUVs that ascended from Japanese family sedans - the new Acura MDX and Lincoln Zephyr and the newly invigorated Lexus RX350 - where it's more average. Average. Isn't it, though? Though it's somewhat exclusive for offering 2WD, a third-row seat, and a V8 (items lacking in roughly half the class), it's hard to think of anything making the XC90 a standout SUV. It probably has a slight edge in safety - even if competitors' mostly equal crash test scores don't support this - but if safety's the cincher, why buy something so inherently tippy and unstable, with relatively weak tire grip and stopping ability? Avoiding an accident is just a tad easier when your tires and brakes have 1,031 fewer pounds to fight, and dropping them is as easy as stepping down to Volvo's $2,705 cheaper V70 2.5T wagon (or XC70 if you need AWD). By the way, the V70 got better crash test scores (perfect, in fact), shows some consideration for the safety of other humans, and is truer to the "Earth First" attitude supposedly held by Volvo owners. BMW and Porsche got lots of laughs for creating their SUVs, but a Sport Utility Volvo is hardly less hypocritical. |
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