Site RSS Feed2007 Volvo XC90
Volvo XC90: My secret Swedish love
Wed, Oct 11th 2006
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| VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS | |
|---|---|
| type | 5 door, suv - mid, awd |
| msrp | $46,500 |
| trans | automatic |
| gas mi. | 17mpg/22mpg |
| rating |  |
I’m starting to see the problem with driving all these sport utility vehicles (SUVs): My pleasure centers are playing games with my sense of wanting to do what’s right for the environment and for my fellow drivers on the road. I want a small, safe, fuel-efficient — better yet, hybrid — vehicle that offers good handling, comfort for me and room for at least two large-ish dog crates — mine are Midwest Side-by-Sides — and all the gear that goes with. My brain wants a Honda Element, but my heart lusts for something with more luxury and size.
What I most love driving are not little cute utes — although I do really like them! — but the biggish SUVs. This is so wrong, I know. First the Ford Explorer, and now the Volvo XC90. (I do have my limits, however: The Infiniti QX56 was just too big for me. I mean, gosh, look at this. Heather is NOT a miniature retriever.)
Please let me just get this off my chest and then go befriend a river or something: I wanted to steal my Volvo XC90 test vehicle. They had to wrestle the keys from my hand. Here’s why:
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It’s beautiful, inside and out. I whistled under my breath in appreciation when they brought it to me, and I kept smiling at it coquettishly when I would see it in the driveway in the morning. Inside, it’s classy.
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It’s beautiful to drive. Smooth, powerful and quiet. Inside, you feel pampered, and oh, safe. It IS a Volvo, after all.
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It’s roomy, with lots of space for crates and gear. No problem here. My tester had taupe leather, and light carpet in the back. Black dogs in my house, so I would go dark on the upholstery. Otherwise, mmmmm-mmmm comfortable. The lumbar support was the best yet. (OK, I admit it: I’m getting old!)
The test car I drove had everything except heated seats, and stickered out at $46,500. (Darling Volvo: For $46,500, I want heated seats. Not as an option. Standard. Get it?) Combined with the fuel economy, the sticker price makes the vehicle economical only if you’re wealthy and comparing it to even more expensive, truly bling-heavy SUVs.
But it more than fills all the dogmobile requirements for space — crates no problem at all. Economy is the only place you can fault it, and once again, it seems competitive in its class.
Bottom line: I don’t know what else to say except:
I love you, Volvo XC90, despite it all. I know it’s wrong, but I don’t care right now. Please come back to me. Woody misses you, too.
-- Gina Spadafori
Carguy Comments:The Volvo XC-90 comes in two engine configurations: the 3.2-liter six-cylinder version producing 235 horsepower, and a 4.4-liter V-8 that pounds out 311 horses. Maximum cargo capacity is a whopping 93.2 cubic feet, and you can tow up to 4,960 pounds when properly equipped. .
-- Keith Turner, The Family Car
Volvo XC90: Love at first drive
Barking Lot Banter: The Volvo XC-90 goes against everything our mothers ever taught us to watch out for with large vehicles. It’s comfortable, stylish, fairly economical and a bunch of fun to drive. Plus, it easily handles all dogmobile demands for space and utility. This is more than puppy love, it’s the real deal.
Comments
I love my XC 90 and so does my black lab, Sydney. Its not only beautiful, but it performs like you wouldn’t believe over the river and through the woods in Oregon and Washington. I don’t care if its not a hybrid – still gets 18mpg on most tanks. Volvo lab lovin’ Christina in Seattle.
2008-07-29 16:57:39
I have 2 labs, and a 45 lb pound puppy. I’m also a nanny and I LOVE my Volvo XC90! It’s perfect for dogs and kids… oh and my granola bar of a boyfried likes it too. All around a fantastic vehicle for my lifestyle.
2008-04-28 13:05:27
My Bearded Collie travels in a crate in the back of our Volvo V50 TurboDiesel (60 MPG). Our next Volvo might be a XC90 (or maybe the new XC60), but of course with a diesel engine. I live in Norway and 80% of new cars here have diesel engines, for SUVs it’s even higher I belive.
2008-04-25 16:50:38
I drive a 98 Volvo V70 and love it to bits. My original plan was to drive ittwo more years then give it to my daughter when she goes to college and buy another Volvo. But the dogs, kids agility gear and I fit into a V70 so should I buy her a Nissan Cube instead and keep the wagon?
2008-02-07 08:53:35
I just left the five-star comment on how much I love the XC70. I just learned that the 2008 model of this car no longer has the dog crate accessory.
2008-02-05 15:09:55
I’ve driven Volvos for 26 years now, from the 240 to the XC70. The XC70 is great for kids and dogs. The rear built-in dog crates are the best, I have mine set-up for two golden retrievers. I highly recommend the car for safety—for kids and dogs!
2008-02-03 21:55:22
I am thrilled to see that someone else is still driving a Volvo 240. Mine is a 1989 with 250K+ I’m guessing since the odometer broke more than a year ago around 230K. Best vehicle for agility trials as an EZ-up tent can fit behind the front seat plus three dog crates and a 7-day cooler.
Also have had people who do rescue transport remark on the space I have in the 240. It is truly a wonderful car; I wish Volvo would go retro like Ford did with the Mustang and come back with a Volvo with that kind of storage room and reliability.
2008-01-11 16:28:14
I’d also love to see reviews on station wagons. I need to drive 2 kids plus 2 big dogs (85-lb greyhounds). So I need a wagon with enough room in the back for 2 sleeping hounds. Considering a Volvo or a Volkswagen, possible a Subaru if the back is big enough…. BTW, we LOVE our VW Eurovan for the times we take all 6 greyhounds around.
2007-12-13 14:11:22
Would love to see a review on a wagon… I currently drive a 1981 Volvo 240. Plenty of room in there for crates! But at 240K miles she’s getting ready for retirement… someday… so how about telling the wagon die-hards if the new wagons are worth it? Many thanks….
2007-11-25 20:14:00
Have had Volvo’s since the 70’s and always liked them.
But the wagons are better value. I don’t think they even SELL the SUV in Europe. The Swedes drive the wagons. Are they smarter than we are? (Or maybe its because they pay more for ‘petrol”)
My current wheels: 2006 XC 70. Suh-weet! (And great in the snow.)My Lab loves it, too, and he stays behind the built-on grate.
2007-09-12 14:29:57
I have the XC90 Sport with the V8. This is a great dogmobile for my 2 Pomeranians and a Standard Poodle. I especially like the 3rd row seat with the rear AC, as each of my Poms has their own car seat. If I flatten down the back seat I can get several crates in the rear cargo area—perfect for transport for Pom rescue. I can easily accomodate my 3 dogs as well as several Pom rescues for combined rescue transport/flyball trips!
2008-08-13 12:43:53