Category: Sporting 4x4s 
Price Range: £29,995 to £49,985
Roomy, comfortable, safe and refined.
It's no off-roader and it's not cheap.
Versatile family transport that's benefited from a thoughtful programme of improvements.
The XC90 isn't exactly cheap, although the continuing high demand suggests that it's widely considered to be good value. You can get an entry-level Touareg or Discovery for less, but not an M-Class.
For all versions, the service interval is 18,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes sooner. Servicing and repair costs tend to be less than for comparable German cars.
The D5 gives 34.0mpg on the combined cycle with the manual gearbox or 31.4 with the auto. The 3.2 petrol achieves 23.9mpg, which is made to look good only by the 20.0mpg of the V8. The diesel produces 219g/km of CO2 with the manual and 239 with the Geartronic 'box. The 3.2 petrol six returns a 281g/km CO2 reading, while the V8 gruffs out 322g/km of the stuff. That may sound bad, but the slightly less powerful petrol V8 in the Discovery gives 354g/km. The Land Rover is also even thirstier.
Insurance groups are generally the same as for the equivalent Touareg, less than the M-Class but more than the Discovery.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Volvo XC90
wrote on 10 10 2007