Long-Term Test: 2004 Volvo XC90 T6

It seems that every time you turn around there is another new SUV being introduced to anxious consumers. There are massive, king-of-the-road full-size SUVs, compact versions for those not comfortable with such girth, and then there are the SUVs that cater to those interested in luxury and comfort. With so many iterations of the SUV already on the road, you would think there wasn't any room left for another.

Yet after years of watching from the sidelines, Volvo finally made its move last year with the introduction of the XC90 midsize sport-ute. Its blend of a manageable size, legendary Volvo safety features and an upscale design gives it the unique positioning required to make some headway among buyers who want the image and practicality of SUV ownership, and the safety and maneuverability of a Volvo. Intrigued, our evaluation team wondered how a brand, whose very name conjures images of sturdiness, practicality and above all safety, would tackle the SUV challenge.

We conducted a full test of a 2003 XC90 and came away convinced that this is indeed one of the safest and easiest-to-drive SUVs on the road. We weren't as enamored with its rather sluggish turbocharged engine or its tight second-row quarters, but you never really know a vehicle until you spend a year with one. To that end, we drafted the XC90 for duty in our long-term test fleet.

When it came to choosing which version of the XC90 to evaluate, we decided to go for the most powerful T6 model, which comes standard with all-wheel drive. Also included are leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats (with memory settings for the driver), a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, an in-dash CD changer, a sunroof and a roof rack.

As far as options were concerned, we specified the Premium Package to snag the 12-speaker Dolby Pro-Logic II sound system and some 18-inch wheels, and the Versatility Package to pick up a third-row seat (increasing seating capacity to seven) and a rear air conditioner. We also wanted a navigation system if possible. After submitting leads via Edmunds.com's Dealer Locator service to multiple Volvo dealers in Southern California, Roy Vaghela from Volvo of Irvine responded within hours with an e-mail and a follow-up phone call. He didn't have the exact model we wanted, but asked us if we were still interested in a similarly equipped version that he had on the lot. Although we had wanted a nav system, we didn't consider it a deal breaker, so we agreed to discuss the vehicle he offered. This XC90 did have both the Premium and Versatility Packages, along with an upgraded security system, interior air quality sensor, heated seats, rain-sensing wipers, bi-xenon headlights and rear parking sensors.

Given the XC90's popularity in this part of the country and relatively limited supply, we weren't able to negotiate as much off the price as we would have liked, but after talking with Roy for a while, we came to an agreement on a price that was roughly $1,400 below the MSRP and slightly lower than our listed TMV price. With those numbers as a reference, we felt that we had secured a fair deal and went for it.

Since then, our initial impressions of our new XC90 have been quite favorable. The seats in particular have garnered considerable praise. Wrote one driver in the logbook, "The driver seat is one of the most comfortable I've ever experienced. It's soft where it needs to be and provides excellent back support for everyday commuter duty. The third-row seats and integrated second-row child booster seat offer extra flexibility and reasonable comfort for those passengers relegated to the back. Overall, the third-row seats, while not as accommodating as those in the second row, are fairly substantial and not just the small, flat seats I've seen on some of the collapsible third-row designs."

Positive comments have also been directed toward the upgraded audio system that comes in the Premium Package. With the 305-watt Dolby Pro-Logic II surround sound system distributing tunes through 12 speakers, the sound is impressive and well worth the extra money particularly for those with long commutes. One driver, who likes to load a full selection of CDs into the in-dash six-disc changer, found the system somewhat deficient in that you can't tell which CD is in which slot of the changer. But he conceded that not every CD embeds text information yet, so Volvo needn't shoulder the blame for this minor shortcoming.

Already, though, there have been a few complaints about our newest SUV. First off is a slight lack of power at lower engine speeds. We noted this in our full test of the XC90, so it's not too much of a surprise. Over the coming months, we'll see if it becomes a major irritation or just a minor annoyance. We also noted that the third-row headrests tend to block rearward visibility. This, combined with the relatively large blind spots created by the wide side pillars, will make you think twice about backing up in a hurry. Fortunately, our XC90 has the optional rear parking sensors to help the driver avoid collisions with bicycles in the driveway or people who happen to be standing behind the vehicle. Gas mileage has also been a weak spot given the engine's relatively moderate size.

As we continue to rack up the miles, we'll keep an eye on the mileage as well as some of the other minor flaws to see if they become truly bothersome. In the meantime, we will no doubt enjoy the positive aspects of the XC90, such as its spacious and comfortable interior, smooth-riding suspension and upscale look and feel. Will it be just another SUV, or an honest-to-goodness Volvo dressed in sport-ute clothing? We'll do our best to find out and report it all back to you in detail over the coming months.

Current Odometer: 9,482
Best Fuel Economy: 19 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 14 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 16.7 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: Battery died on one occasion; reason not known. Volvo sent help and recharged battery at no charge.

With only three months of service in the long-term fleet, we have already managed to drive the Volvo XC90 over 15,000 miles. Putting this vehicle through its paces, we learned that this new Volvo is a mixed bag. We like some features a lot but also think it falls just short of being a really great SUV.

Fully loaded with four kids and luggage, the XC90 made a trip to Big Bear Lake in the mountains of Southern California — about a 5,000-foot climb from the valley floor to the lake. Despite the extra weight, the vehicle managed the ascent with ease and generally drove no differently than if we were cruising down suburban streets. The handling of this fully packed-up SUV was impressive as it tackled the twisty roads without swaying or feeling top-heavy like other SUVs.

Although we felt no discernable difference in acceleration between the elevated mountain roads and the freeways at sea level, the XC90's V6 often left the driver wanting extra power. We know that Volvo is set to release a V8 version of the XC90 next year and now we know why. The suspension, on the other hand, provided a very smooth ride that made the vehicle handle more like a sedan than a sizable SUV. Complementing the smooth ride is an interior that remains very quiet. However, we did notice a barely audible rattling noise emanating from the front passenger seat while driving in excess of 40 mph.

With its three rows of seating and an extensive array of safety features, the XC90 is an obvious choice for larger families. Our XC was used multiple times to transport full loads of young children and we found the extra set of seats in back quite useful. As one driver remarked, "The third row of seats proved invaluable in separating warring siblings so that not all the children needed to ride side by side in the second row. Or phrased more diplomatically, the extra row of seats afforded the children extra space making the ride more enjoyable. Additionally, the leather seats survived gooey candy of multiple colors leaving not trace of evidence after an easy cleanup."

At 7,500 miles the dashboard display indicated it was time to take the XC90 in for its first service. We took the vehicle to Volvo of Santa Monica. The staff was friendly and check-in only took a few minutes. We were offered a ride back to the office and told the car would be ready within a few hours. Three hours later we received a call and the dealership let us know our vehicle was ready for pickup. While our Volvo was in for service, the dealer performed some minor servicing to address a few recalls. The tailgate latch, an air pipe and a floor vent were included in the recall. Our 7,500-mile service also included rotating the tires and checking the brakes and all lights. We incurred no out-of-pocket expenses as all the work was covered under the new car warranty and/or the standard Volvo service. Overall, we found the service very speedy and courteous.

So after 15,000 miles we're still fond of our Volvo but feel the car could use a little more power, and we found an irritating rattle. On the other hand, the ultracomfortable seats and excellent stereo make spending time with the XC90 a rewarding experience.

Current Odometer: 15,427
Best Fuel Economy: 18.9 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 15.1 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 16.7 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: Minor recalls on the tailgate latch, air pipe and floor vent. All repaired under warranty.

Often used by the editors as a commuter vehicle, the XC90 has proven to be a competent vehicle in addition to being a good value. Moving from commuting to the rigors of family transport needs, we packed the vehicle on numerous occasions with kids, their friends and associated soccer gear. Using the XC90 as the family vehicle also meant frequent shopping trips, giving us a chance to pack up the cargo bay.

The Volvo's cargo capacity proved sufficient as long as we limited the adventure to just two kids. While using the third row of seats, cargo space is limited to just a few bags of groceries or boxes. With the third-row seats folded, there was enough room to accommodate all but the most ambitious of trips to Home Depot while seating five comfortably. With both the second- and third-row seats down, we could even handle 2-by-4s and power tools. Although, we must admit it did feel a bit unnatural to stuff a luxury SUV full of wood, nails and sandbags. Nonetheless, we can report that the cargo did not puncture or scratch the XC90's leather upholstery.

The soccer trips involved not only a minimum of five kids, but more importantly, five kids armed with very muddy shoes. Fortunately, the leather withstood the dirt and was easily cleaned up with disposable wipes. The carpeting and floor mats required a bit more attention to clean but nonetheless withstood the soccer cleat challenge.

The arrival of the Southern California rainy season provided an all too rare opportunity to use our all-wheel-drive vehicle in wet weather conditions. The vehicle handled well in the rain, remaining stable, hugging the road even on very wet surfaces. The XC90's transmission offers a winter weather driving mode that uses higher gears when starting out in order to minimize wheel slippage. Shifting to "W" while starting out in slippery conditions reduced the torque flowing to wheels and helped the vehicle traverse potentially dangerous areas on a number of occasions.

Our XC90 now has almost 20,000 miles on its odometer, and we're happy to report that we're still pleased with both the styling and the overall interior comfort. With the holiday season now upon us, we'll see how it handles those last-minute shopping runs and road trips with the family. Stay tuned.

Current Odometer: 19,868
Best Fuel Economy: 19.1 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 15.4 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 17.0 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None

The 2004 Volvo XC90 T6 has been in our fleet for over a year. Overall it has proved to be family-friendly for outings yet still a sophisticated vehicle to drive. After reviewing many of the main features, there are a few little quirks we've discovered.

The seatbelts are overly responsive, often locking up after the slightest movement or adjustment. Every passenger in the XC90 has experienced the vise grip of a locked-up seatbelt at least once. With this Volvo, it occurs so frequently that sometimes just keeping one hand on the release button saves some time when you feel the infamous click and tug. While this is easy to remedy for an adult, it becomes a bit more annoying when children are in the backseat and need adult assistance.

Another problem we've noticed is that the Volvo seems a bit jumpy when driving around town. This is likely due to the frequent gear changes of the automatic transmission.

As we wind down the review of the 2004 model, we're excited to see Volvo has introduced its new V8-powered XC90. As we've noted before, the inline six in the 2004 model is just not up to even the most mundane tasks. Merging onto a busy highway can seem daunting as the XC90 simply lacks the grunt to get up to speed quickly. We're always careful when jumping into the passing lane to get around a slow truck, it's best to leave a lot of room because the turbocharged six is just not capable of rapid acceleration. Over the long term, the lack of power has become more noticeable and more irritating

We recently tested a 2005 XC90 V8 and were very pleased with the results. There's more power and the highway ride is actually quieter than that of our T6.

Despite the lackluster acceleration, the Volvo XC90 T6 offers a pleasant driving experience even with its quirks. The comfortable seating, excellent stereo and integrated booster seat make it easy to live with. Add features like seat warmers and rear parking sensors and time behind the wheel becomes quite pleasant. It's not the best premium SUV on the road, but it does offer that extra dash of Volvo-ness that surely appeals to many safety-conscious buyers. But if you're in the market for one of these, opt for the V8, you won't be sorry.

Current Odometer: 25,023
Best Fuel Economy: 19.5 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 15.6 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 17.4 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None