| + Used Car Home + Used Cars for Sale + Car Reviews + Auto Repair |
| 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. | |||
|
Introduction
| Road Test
| Inside & Out
| Other Thoughts
| Last Word
|
|||
| Road Test | |||
2007 also marks the end for the XC90's 5-cylinder engine, and that death lets this Volvo's life begin anew. 5-pot Volvos always operate with a subliminal roughness in the background, which comes to the foreground as a discordantly disturbing moan with every summoning of speed. But that was yesterday. Today, this Volvo's new 3.2-liter inline 6 seduces your senses with a roar that's refined across the entire range and gratifyingly edgy in the upper register. It races to redline with enthusiasm and settles into a cheerful hum in light-duty driving; the reduction in aural pain is like spending ten hours listening to Nickelback CDs before switching to Green Day. We're talking revolution here.Of course, Volvos aren't so much driven by revolution as by variations on the usual, and the XC90 has that usual unassuming competence. There are early signs that this will not be a passionate affair - turn the ignition and it fires to life by auto-sequence - but the XC90 is easy on the senses, with its nicely-sprung throttle and steering that's light yet pleasant. The minimal road feel is less bothersome here than in Volvo's cars (lower expectations, I suppose), and with only 2.8 turns in the wheel, the tires heed your hands' commands and quickly jump to new headings. But be warned, they're just as apt to jump the curb on any given U-turn due to a turning circle that's pudgier than a GMC Yukon's. That's what you get when you stuff six cylinders crosswise under the hood. Refinement is pretty average as well. Unlike most Euro machines, the XC90 seems to ride better at lower speeds than higher ones (the bouncing gets boisterous by triple digits), but overall stands where most Volvos stand: on the stiff side of comfortable. That's reminiscent of how the noise levels are on the loud side of quiet; some tire rumble always seems to leak through. The two join together whenever the XC90 hits bumps that reverberate through the cabin, which creates the impression of stiff shocks holding up a not-so-stiff structure. In a world where every automaker boasts of outstanding body rigidity, Volvo has been understandably quiet. 235 horsepower makes the XC90's get-up-and-go factor just adequate. That's an observation, not a criticism, but it's an observation in light of another: this year's redesigned Lincoln MKX, Acura MDX, and Lexus RX350 get anywhere between 265 and 300 ponies to play with (from their bigger engines). Some of us don't mind giving up power for economy in return, but with this sample returning just 21 MPG in mostly highway driving and 16 in mixed, where's the compensation? Also, the slight vibration felt while idling is odd considering its small, inline nature. Volvo's sixer is also unique for having more torque than power (236 pounds-feet), but since it's of the twin-cam, 24-valve variety (a good thing), the juice takes a moment to flow. Luckily, the 6-speed automatic transmission is a slick piece of work, always ready with a downshift to send the engine zinging happily into its powerband, where the variable valve timing (and lift) turns up the heat. Things never get too hot. If you were expecting the electronic clutch packs in the Haldex all-wheel-drive system to help push the XC90's massive 4,464 pounds around curves, you might be bummed to know that it sends nearly all power forward until after the fronts slip (and never more than half to the back), so push it to the limits and that's the only slip you'll get. That does keep things nice and safe, though, and Volvo's much-touted Roll Stability Control orders the stability control system to intervene prematurely (you can turn off the tire spin-limiting aspect of the traction control, but all other safety systems are on guard 24/7). And while other Volvos have been cited for mushy or abrupt brake response, the XC90's pedal always give firm, reassuring feedback even in the most panic-ridden applications; the extra confidence really makes you feel safe. Oh, is that what this is about? |
|||
| UsedCar.us.com - Copywrite - All Rights Reserved |