2007 Volvo XC90 Sport Road Test Video

By Edmunds Video Productions | Published September 23, 2009

2:48 min

2007 Volvo XC90 V8 Sport The 2007 Volvo XC90 V8 Sport proves that there's
        more to Volvo than just shades of gray. Unlike its non-Sport brother, this is a sport-utility that has the
        character for real driving, not just a family weekend. We lived with the 2007 Volvo XC90 V8 Sport for a few
        days, took it for a round-trip drive of 250 miles, and squealed its tires at the test track. We came away
        prepared to tell you that the V8 Sport is superior to the standard-issue XC90 V8 in almost every way. But then
        we discovered that testing numbers are virtually identical. The 311-horsepower rating of this DOHC 4.4-liter V8
        is the same that of the conventional XC90 V8, and the 6-speed automatic and the all-wheel-drive system are
        familiar too. The Volvo development team managed to take these basics and refine the Sport into something that
        feels and drives in a whole different way. The XC90 has been transformed from a friendly utility vehicle with a
        vague, light-effort steering and a floaty ride. Instead this V8 Sport is now a confident highway cruiser with a
        secure, highly controlled driving character. In particular, the V8 Sport's steering has some life to it, and the
        increase in steering effort that comes along with that is still perfectly manageable. The brakes also proved to
        be up to the task of hard driving. An initial 124-foot stop from 60 mph increased only to only 128 feet by the
        fourth consecutive run, which is a good indication of both fade resistance and sheer braking power. Freeway duty
        illustrated the benefits of Volvo's new Blindspot Information System. This system has two miniature cameras
        integrated into the side-view mirrors that keep vigil on cars beside and slightly behind your field of vision.
        On the outside, various trim pieces have been deleted or replaced with either body-color or subdued
        satin-metallic finishes, making the vehicle both striking and almost unrecognizable as a Volvo. Inside the
        cabin, the V8 Sport's bucket front seats are much more supportive. Even the steering wheel itself has new,
        ergonomic sculpting that declares the Sport model's dedication to driving enthusiasm. One minute behind the
        wheel of the Volvo XC90 V8 Sport will convince you that it's now in the same league as the Acura MDX, BMW X5,
        and Mercedes-Benz ML. With added quality and cohesiveness, this V8 Sport delivers a pleasing driving experience
        that would never be revealed from test numbers alone. Indeed, with the 2007 Volvo XC90 V8 Sport, Volvo has taken
        this otherwise ordinary ute to a whole new level.