2013 Volvo XC90 3.2 liter
Summary:
Swedish bank vault on wheels
Faults:
The blower motor for the HVAC system went out 6 months into ownership. It was promptly replaced.
The B pillar fabric wears too quickly when the seatbelt hits it. Design flaw that you will have to learn to live with.
General Comments:
This car is well built. You can feel it when you close the door, and it makes a thud and sounds like the air is being sucked out of the inside.
The leather seats on the upgraded seats are some of the most comfortable I have ever sat in. I have taken several 4 hour road trips, and my Audi seats kill me. These are plush and supportive.
The classic look of this car will never get old. They are redesigning the car and it will arrive in dealerships in late 2014. I bought this car in mid 2012, fully aware of this. I anticipate that the XC90 will age well, like the old 240 wagons.
The bendy lights are cool. The LED lights in back are a nice change for 2013, as is the color matched painted plastic molding.
Rattle free.
Acceptable highway mileage.
The AWD system is quite good.
The center stack is well laid out, but archaic.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 4th November, 2013
26th Oct 2014, 13:51
Original poster here:
One year since my last review. Nothing has gone wrong since the last review. The car has 19,000 miles on it. The stock tires are going to need to be replaced in about 6 months, which is disappointing, but that isn't a Volvo issue.
We have twins on the way, in addition to a 2 1/2 year old and we expect this XC90 to last us for years. We are half way done paying it off and once we do, I don't plan on replacing it until the kids outgrow it. But this will be sometime around 2020 is my guess. This is the only car I have had in a long time where I didn't want something new after a year or two.
XC90s are literally everywhere in my neighborhood and I can see why. Many of them are beaten up with family wear and tear, shopping cart dings, but to me, that makes them even more charming, like a trusty pair of sneakers or blue jeans.