DriveTech

2007 Volvo XC90 is a dream of a drive
The 2007 XC90 is on the streets!

Volvo made a few changes that surprised me a little. It dropped the five-cylinder turbocharged engine in favor of an in-line six-cylinder. There's still a V8, but I tested the six-cylinder. Last year, I drove the turbocharged five-cylinder and to be honest, I think the six-cylinder does just as good a job getting to freeway speed and it costs less.

Everything else about the XC90 is stellar. In fact, Carlsbad Volvo is opening a new store in Murrieta and the rumor is its new neighbors may be Mercedes Benz and BMW, which is welcome competition according to the management staff at Carlsbad Volvo. They feel that once you sit behind the wheel of the competition and then a Volvo, you will drive away in a new Volvo. Those are strong words, but at least they are up for the challenge. I have driven all three lines and I think the competition has a fight on its hands.

I don't usually talk about safety until the end of my review, but Volvo loaded the XC90 with standard safety features worth talking about. It has the standard front airbags for driver and passenger, side impact airbags with driver and passenger supplemental restraint system, whiplash protection for driver and front passenger and inflatable curtain head protection for all rows of seating. There's also roll stability control, roll-over protection system with Boron Steel reinforced roof structure, unibody construction with integral high strength steel passenger safety cage, dual ISO-fixed attachment system for car seats in the rear, three-point seat belts with pretensioners and height adjuster on the front belts, padded headrests and child locks on the rear doors. That's a lot of safety items and I'm sure there are more I haven't mentioned. One of Volvo's goals from the beginning is occupant safety. This is a feature the competition needs to look at to see where they compare.

The XC90 is a dream of a drive, from the very comfortable seating up front and in the rear to the ride on the open road. I tested a two-wheel drive, five-passenger model. It has fold-flat rear seats for cargo loading and a tailgate system that flips up, leaving a little tailgate that can be folded down. Have you ever been on an incline and opened the rear hatch only to watch all your small items roll out the back and down the hill? That won't happen with a Volvo XC90 thanks to the tailgate design.

The six-cylinder engine has 235 horsepower and 236 pound foot of torque, backed by a six-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission (the only choice). I was a little disappointed with the fuel mileage. It gets 17 MPG in the city and 22 MPG on the open road. But you need to remember safety weighs more than no safety.

The XC90 weighs in at 4,400 pounds for a front-wheel drive hauler that can carry up to five occupants including the driver, has 84.9 cubic feet of cargo and tows up to 3,970 pounds of whatever. A full bag of golf clubs fit nicely in the rear and that little tailgate kept them in place when I opened the rear hatch.

You can opt for a navigation system that comes up in the middle of the dash. You get an information center that operates with the touch of a switch. The A/C system is all Volvo and the sound system was fantastic. It's an AM/FM/single CD in-dash/4X40 watt amplifier with eight well-positioned speakers. You get Volvo's "On Call" road side assistance.

Carlsbad Volvo upgraded this XC90 with leather interior, power sunroof, power passenger seat, and six-CD changer in dash, self-leveling rear suspension and AC for the third row passengers.

The XC90 is a fantastic vehicle and you get a lot for your money. You can opt for a big four-wheel drive V8 but I suggest you drive them both before making a decision. I liked the two-wheel front-wheel drive six-cylinder model, but I haven't driven the V8 yet.

Check out Carlsbad Volvo. It's off the beaten path but easy to find. It's just off I-5 and Palomar Airport Road going west at 6830 Avenida Encinas. Or call (800) 33-VOLVO.

Next week, a cool ride from Poway Honda.

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