Volvo XC90 (02 on) - Review

Review by David Ross on
Last Updated: 21 July 2011
The XC90 was Volvo's first real off-roader and proved extremely popular when it was launched. That's not hard to see why - it's well equipped, comes with seven seats as standard and has an extremely comfortable cabin. It may not be as agile to drive as alternatives like the BMW X5, but the XC90 is strong in other areas - most notable its refined ride which makes it ideal for long motorway journeys. There's a wide choice of engines available, but the best is the D5 diesel which offers a great blend of economy and punchy performance. Add in legendary Volvo safety and robust build quality and it's easy to see what makes this such a good family car. It was revised in 2007 with minor exterior tweaks, a more luxurious interior and new engines.
4 out of 5

Other Volvo reviews

3.5 out of 5

Buying new

You should expect a substantial discount on a petrol version or look for a pre-registered diesel version for the best value. The XC90 is decent value though, considering the standard equipment offered, but there are newer 4x4s on the market which are better to drive.

Buy a new Volvo XC90 and save 24% on selected models

4 out of 5

Buying used

The XC90 is surprisingly affordable - although the cheapest models tend to be early T6 versions with high mileages. It's very unlikely to be have been taken seriously off-road but it's still worth quickly checking underneath for any out of sight damage.

  • Boot/Load Space Volvo XC90 (02 on)
  • Interior Volvo XC90 (02 on)

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See 147 used Volvo XC90s for sale, starting at £5,950

3.5 out of 5

Selling

A diesel model with the optional Geartronic automatic gearbox is the easiest to sell although the standard manual shouldn't be difficult to shift. The 2.5T is slightly more tricky but the more powerful T6 and V8 engines can be difficult to move on, with their thirst and high running costs.