Feb 8, 2008
2007 Volvo XC90 V8 Sport: Some changes needed
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Now in its sixth year with few external changes, Volvo’s flagship sport-utility vehicle, the XC90, remains a strong seller and safety leader despite the emergences of new models by determined competitors in Asia, Europe and the United States. Barring improvements in fuel economy and riding comfort, it’s likely to lose out to smaller, more fuel-efficient models as the American family looks to downsize.
There’s also the small matter of the climate-control fan, but we’ll get to that later.
Introduced for the 2003 model year, the XC90 is a big, burly SUV that combines ruggedness with all of the Swedish nameplate’s endearing qualities: uncompromising safety, firm but comfortable ride, predictable handling and durability. The latter assessment comes with one caveat: the XC90’s reliability is much worse than average, according to
Consumer Reports magazine. It’s the only Volvo that falters in that category.
Fuel economy is an issue, too. Our 311-horsepower, V-8-powered XC90 delivered about 17 mpg in mixed driving. The 3.2-liter, 235-horsepower version is only marginally more economical than the V-8, and both require premium gasoline. Major competitors such as the Acura MDX and BMW X5 are no better. But many automakers are rightsizing their midsize SUVs, endowing them with more stylish designs and improving fuel economy markedly. Think Lexus RX350, Acura RDX and GMC Acadia.
Our Passion Red XC90 Sport’s sticker price was $54,592. Two option packages added $4,000 to the price, along with heated seats, Sirius satellite radio, active bi-xenon gas discharge headlamps, parking assist and auto dimming rear-view mirror with compass, and other features. Standard equipment included all-wheel drive, power glass moon roof, leather upholstery and almost every safety feature imaginable. The Blind Spot Information System, which flashes an orange light on the corresponding outside mirror frame when a car is in one of the Volvo’s presumed blind spots, was a $595 option.
The car feels as safe as it is, and it seats seven in exemplary comfort, leaving a surprisingly spacious cargo area. Getting into the third seat is a trick, since the high, outward-sloping sill makes it hard for an adult to plant his trailing foot.
We had the XC90 the week of a winter storm and the car administered an unpleasant surprise. The morning after the storm, the climate-control fan wouldn’t run. It turned out slush got in and froze, obstructing the fan. We thawed it by parking the car indoors for a day. Meanwhile, a trio of cheaper cars parked at the same angle in the same driveway experienced no such problems. Memo to Volvo: The climate-control fan on a $50,000 car shouldn’t freeze up, ever.
The XC90 has many good qualities, especially its safety, comfort and overall high quality, but its 2.5-ton bulk and mediocre fuel economy, which might have made sense when Volvo conceived this model a decade ago, don’t seem to make as much sense now as they did then.
Steven Macoy (smacoy3070@cs.com) is a longtime car enthusiast and full-time editor who lives in Bethel, Conn.
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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