Faults:

Transmission failure, and I suspect this is the second time it has failed, which is not impressive, given I have had the car from new, and it does about 10000 miles a year!

General Comments:

It is a great workhorse of a car, but has some major issues that are symptoms of a new lack of quality and transparency... possibly because Volvo changed ownership?

I think the transmission failed in the first few weeks of the car being delivered new to me, and has just failed again. I am not very impressed, as every other new car I have owned has never ever had a transmission problem.

It also seems that a lot of owners have had this same issue, so why do Volvo not make any mention in their monthly magazine or do a recall?

Faults:

Oh dear.. Oh dear, oh dear oh dear!!

The XC90 is a beautiful car.. No denying it!! However.. It is flawed!

We have the 163 bhp version, but that I suspect doesn't matter. The gearbox.. rubbish! Semi automatic.. should be OK.. but it wasn't!.. £2,500 later and it's still jumpy!!.. That said.. It never actually lets you die in the desert! It 'defaults' to safe mode.. '3rd' and will always get you back home..ish.

Foot/handbrake.. Nightmare!! Just a nightmare!! Stupid thing!! MOT failure.. and £500 to fix!!

General Comments:

The Volvo XC90 is a lovely looking car.. it really is. The seats are comfortable.. but not as comfortable as the V70xc's.

You can load the beast with more stuff than a person with lots of stuff needs to load!

It's very, very, very safe!! It is a tank without tracks. If you must crash.. This is the bus to crash in!! You will live... I can't speak for anything you hit.. But.. 'you and yours' will live to tell the tale!

The sat nav system... NO!.. Buy something else!

Off road... Hmmm.. It is no Landrover! Anything Japanese, remotely 4x4, will will trump it!!.. It will do moderate off road stuff.. but, basically, the XC90 is a HUGE estate car. It's an XC70 on stilts and steroids!

It is not quick! The V6 is fast.. and very thirsty.. the diesels are much better on fuel.

I don't like the XC90.. I could.. but it is not the super all singing all dancing Swedish glory box I was hoping for!! Disappointing and expensive to run, sadly.

Faults:

Rear wheel bearing at 50,000 miles, Volvo have recognized this as a problem, and it has an extended warranty to cover the possible issue as it arises.

Bi-Xenon head lamps, one failed at 45,000 miles. Volvo warranty replaced the bulb.

Windscreen washer pump failed intermittently and finally failed permanently. Curiously this component is stamped with the Ford Motor Company emblem.

General Comments:

This car is one of the most comfortable Volvo's I have ever had. (They have all been comfy). The seats are very supportive and well shaped. The interior is well laid out.

The delay in acceleration from the auto box takes a little getting used to, but once you get used to it, there is plenty of power there.

The car handles a load really well. I just returned from a 3,500 mile trip across France. Fully loaded with luggage, kids, and full roof box, and of course about 80 bottles of wine on the way home. The car handled and performed just the same as it does empty.

The car is a seriously sturdy, safe, well designed SUV that performs really well. I could drive the car all day.