Is The XC90 Just As Good As Clarkson Says?
I had the keys to this XC90 for a week. Here are my thoughts.
Volvo is known for making some of the safest, best-driving, and nicest looking cars in the world. The XC90, which has been around longer than most TikTok influencers, is just another one of the manufacturers' examples of just that. Most of us know about the XC90 thanks to Jeremy Clarkson who ranted and raved about the vehicle so much that he has owned a few models in his time. What I have wanted to know is how special is the XC90 to get the praise it gets? Now I have had that chance and would like to share it. Let's dive in, shall we?
Exterior Styling
"...finished with a..."
The exterior of the XC90 is quite a beautiful sight to see in a world of cars that are just plain dull and mundane. A breath of fresh air perhaps. The XC90 has curves and edges in the front and finished with a nice painter's stroke at the back with those tail lights that those who drive behind one at night can tell the XC90 is a Volvo. The only thing is the rear. It has plenty of real estate for more design features. But that is Volvo. They seem to never have been ones to go overboard with anything. There seems to be no place for gaudiness.
Interior Design
"...is beautifully contemporary..."
Sitting in the XC90 is like attending a symphony orchestra playing Mozart and Beethoven at a theatre in a fancy destination. Like attending an event as such, the XC90 is beautifully contemporary with trim that compliments one another. The leather, metal, wood, and the rest of the paneling blend well together. The pièce de résistance of it all is the crystal shifter knob. The seats are not only comfortable but they have a massage feature as well for those in the front. One thing I noticed in the XC90, and this may be a Volvo thing, is that the headrest support bars are the same shape and design as the taillights. Space inside the cabin is plenty with room in the trunk for grocery store trips or vacations with the family. A bonus with space is when the seats are folded down.
Pricing and Options
So, how much does this Volvo cost? After everything being added up, the total cost comes to $81,690. What does that get a potential owner? For safety, the XC90 comes with blind-spot monitoring with steer assist, cross-traffic alert with auto brake, pilot assist, adaptive cruise control, driver alert control, run-off road protection, and mitigation, lane departure warning and lane-keeping aid, oncoming mitigation by braking, whiplash protection system, and a plethora of airbags. For comfort and convenience, the XC90 comes with a panoramic moonroof, heated and ventilated front powered seats, heated 2nd-row seats, 4-zone automatic climate control, Bowers and Wilkins premium sound system, integrated center booster cushion, HUD, heated windshield wiper blades, heated steering wheel, infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity, 4 USB ports, Wi-Fi hotspot, and sat-nav.
Performance
"...is quite an..."
The 2.0L is not only turbocharged but supercharged that's mated to the electric motors make a combined 400 horsepower and 472 pounds of torque that is sent to all four wheels. With my driving habits, I was able to achieve 25 miles to the gallon. Acceleration is pretty quick for the XC90. As far as ride comfort is concerned, the XC90 drives remarkably well. Actually, that is quite an understatement. the suspension keeps everything tidy and allows no drama of the sort to be felt from the road. Steering is light and direct. The weight of the XC90 couldn't be felt either under braking or cornering.
Conclusion
"...owned a couple..."
So, is the XC90 just as good as what Clarkson says? In short yes. But Volvo has always been ahead of the times and this model year is no exception. I think Clarkson understated himself when he talked about it. Then again, maybe not though since he has owned a couple of generations of XC90s. If I could, I would buy the XC90 without any hesitation. It makes a great SUV for the family who wants to have a little bit of joy in life while seeing the rest of the world. And I have to say, I quite enjoyed the XC90 after a long day at work with its massage chairs.
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Comments (18)
My dad had one for 4 years (2016 XC90 T8, bought new) and here are my thoughts on it. 1. Styling is fantastic, one of the best looking SUVs in my opinion. Interior is good, but definitely below average for the price in my opinion. It cost $5,000 more than my moms X7 and is was about the same price as her GLS, both of which have way better interiors and party tricks. It also had a terrible 3rd row, especially compare to the X7. Not heated, cooled, no sunroof, and didn’t look like nice, and was cramped, even for me. The Volvo does have a massive touchscreen, which is one of the only benefits of the interior in my opinion, besides the overall quality, which was fantastic. One of the best parts is the engine. Supercharged, Turbocharged, and hybrid powered, as you said in your article. It produces 400 horsepower and was very quick for an SUV. It also made very interesting electric sounds, which I really liked. I think that’s all I have to say if I didn’t forget anything, and great review Charles!
That's the previous generation tho. Interior styling in current one is way better but the seats are no where near as comfy.
Nah, the XC90 was redesigned in 2015. The 2015-2020 models are the same, with some minor refreshes. Go to my garage or look it up. My dads was the same model as this one, but with more options. Google search 2016 XC90 T8, same car
Styling: quietly confident
Brand: agreeable to most
XC90: a brilliant thing
Overall I really like it however I still went and bought a Mercedes e-class wagon as it was for me just better.
I'd rather have the XC90.
That’s the benefit of choice, you pick what works for you. The world would be a boring place if everyone wanted the same thing.
@tribe New article is up! What do y'all think?
Another great review! Very thorough. The interior looks great. I'm a fan of the less is more aesthetic. Knowing Volvo, I'm sure the seats are the best out there. The only thing I see that would cause me to check out the owners manual and ask questions is the location of the Stop/Start button. My question, and I'm more than sure Volvo thought of this, is can that button be engaged when the vehicle is NOT in park. I'd hate to accidentally press that while doing 80 through the mountains on the WVA turnpike at night with trucks and traffic. I doubt it's possible. That would be a serous safety issue and this IS Volvo. I would just have to make sure about that one. Otherwise I like it. It's an SUV. It doesn't excite me with the exterior and maybe that's a good thing. It's clean and not offensive.
The start engine switch is on the center console.
And thank you!
Bought one this year for wife, love it so far.
Awesome!