| Category: | $35,000 to $45,000 Compact Sports Sedan |
| Who should buy this car: | A person looking for a solid, safe and comfortable SUV with room and style |
| Comparable cars in this class: | Acura MDX , Audi allroad quattro, BMW X5, Infiniti QX4 , Lexus RX300, Lincoln Aviator, Mercedes-Benz M-Class, |
Well, it finally happened. Volvo now has a sport utility vehicle. The next thing you know Porsche will be coming out with one.
Actually, we’ve known about the Volvo SUV for quite a while now. What I found surprising about the XC90 was that it was an all-new vehicle, not a modification of one of the Swedish manufacturer’s fine station wagons, like their AWD wagons. Nor is it a variation of the Ford Explorer, which might have been expected since Volvo is now a part of the Ford Premium Group (with Jaguar and Land Rover).
Built on the P2 large car platform that is also used by the S80 luxury sedan, the XC90 has little “sedan” about it. It’s a vehicle you climb up into, just like any other self-respecting SUV, and it has cargo area to spare, although you may remember I was thrilled with the amount of cargo area available in the S80. And although it has an excellent ride for a sport utility, it’s still a little truck-like.
The XC90 also looks like a sport utility. It has the class-typical robustness and ruggedness, with a little of the luxury as well. It’s a Volvo, of course, from its family grille to the shoulders over the taillights.
Under the hood is a twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine that delivers 268 horsepower at 5,100 rpm and 280 lb.-ft. of torque from 1,800 to 5,000 rpm. Power reached all four wheels through constant all-wheel drive and a four-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift mode that Volvo calls Geartronic. This was a nice combination.
At all times we were in comfort. We had heated leather seats and an excellent HVAC system that kept us cozy.
Our tester was the seven-passenger version of the XC90. There were three rows of seats; two buckets up front, a three-passenger bench in the second row and two buckets for the third row. We tried the third row seats and legroom was tight. It was fairly easy to get back there, but the middle seats would have to be pushed forward for a full-sized adult to be comfortable. There was plenty of room for a couple of children, though.
The XC90 has a healthy cargo area. With the second and third row seats folded Volvo claims 85.1 cubic feet of cargo capacity. Even with all the seats up, there’s plenty of room behind the third seat. But unless you have children you want to put back there often, I’d opt for the five-passenger version.
The EPA rates the XC90 as 15 mpg city, 20 mpg highway. We only averaged 13.6 mpg in a mix of driving conditions that admittedly had no long drives. We only tried the manual shift mode a few times and while it worked well, I didn’t feel it was necessary in a sport utility. It might have a function if you’re going to use the XC90 in serious off-road conditions, but the vehicle doesn’t have a low-low setting that would take maximum advantage of that, so its value is questionable.
The bottom line on our XC90 T6 tester was a healthy $45,555. This comes from a base price of $39,975, plus $450 for metallic paint; $595 for a Climate Package that includes heated front seats and headlamp washers; $1,675 for a Versatility Package that includes the third-row seats; $1,300 for a Premium Package that includes 18-inch alloy wheels, premium sound system, power retractable rearview mirrors and a wood steering wheel; $500 for bi-xenon headlamps; $400 for a reverse warning system that never seemed to beep at the right time; and a $660 destination charge. The XC90 is also available with a 5 cylinder engine and a starting price of just under $34,000. That model, called the 2.5T, is available in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
All in all the XC90 is an excellent competitor for the Mercedes-Benz ML320 or the small Lexus. It has a lot of great features, and some that aren’t really necessary that can have a big impact on the bottom line.
2003 The Auto Page Syndicate
How does the XC90 fit your driving style?
Conservative drivers Volvo has a reputation for safety and the XC90 is no exception. Everything about this vehicle feels smooth and solid, from its steering feel to its powerful brakes. All in all, an ideal choice for this type of driver in the market for an SUV.
Sporty drivers will like the steering feel and the powerful brakes, but the engine could use more low end grunt.
Fast drivers Seems like blasphemy to driver a Volvo fast. Oh, it can handle most anything that you throw at it, but you have to worry about what people will think. If they see a Volvo being driven fast, they will assume that you must have stolen it because a true Volvo owner would never drive like that.
2003 Volvo XC90 T6 SUV
Specifications
| Engine Type | 2.9L Double Overhead Cam (DOHC) Inline 6 Cylinder w. 24 Valves and Variable Valve Timing |
| Horsepower | 268 @ 5,200 RPM |
| Torque | 280 @ 1800 RPM |
| Transmission | Four Speed Automatic with Manual Mode |
| Tires (Std.) Tires (Opt.) | P235/65R17 P235 / 60R18 |
| Overall Length | 188.9″ |
| Wheelbase | 112.5 |
| Width | 74.7″ |
| Curb Weight | 4,450 Lbs. |
| Turning Diameter | 41 ft Curb to Curb |
| Fuel Tank | 19 Gals. |
| Fuel Recommended | Premium Unleaded. |
| Miles Per Gallon | EPA city 15, hwy 20 |
| Base Sticker Price | $39,975 Plus $660 Destination Charge |
Standard Equipment (Partial List)
Major Available Options
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