When the XC90 was introduced in 2003, Volvo was getting a late start on the SUV bonanza which had already been in full swing for nearly six years. Not to be faulted for being slow to react, the XC90 deservedly bowed to great reviews.
For years, the Swedish automaker was manufacturing less-than-exciting exterior designs while delivering some of the safest and most reliable cars on the road. No, being labeled conservative has never been a badge Volvo shied away from and the XC90, as Volvo’s biggest vehicle, also enjoys some of the best exterior cues in the class.
When you have an SUV in the mid-$40,000 base price, a highly competitive class featuring the Acura MDX, BMW X5 and Lexus RX 330, you can ill afford to offer anything less than the competition.
Like the rest of the media in 2003, I touted that first XC90 as a fabulous vehicle that raised the bar for all luxury SUVs. It looked great, drove great, but each year it felt a little more under-powered than newcomers to the class with their big V8s. Volvo has responded with a V8 for the XC90 which again makes this SUV one of the very best.
Volvo's transversely mounted 4.4-liter V-8 generates 315 horsepower while being paired with a 6-speed Geartronic automatic transmission that is specifically designed to handle the high torque of the engine. The automatic transmission also allows for manual shifting which can be fun.
I have driven both the 2.5-liter 5-cylinder turbo and the 2.9-liter 6-cylinder turbo engines and this V8 is worthy of praise – and the $2,500 upgrade price.
Inside is a stylish and roomy cabin featuring lavish leather upholstery and refined wood accents. The V8 XC90s are all 7-passenger vehicles while the 5- and 6-cylinder versions offer both 5- and 7-passenger options. With this additional hauling capacity comes sophisticated equipment such as driver and and front passenger 8-way power seats with memory; zoned climate with a third-row control (for 2006) and rear-seat audio controls.
The $1,795 Touring package enhanced the exterior elegance of my XC90 significantly with 18-inch Atlantis alloy wheels. The wood steering wheel, leather shifter and premium sound system completed the Touring package.
Delivered by a Premium 6-CD in-dash sound system, I found the audio in the XC90 to be especially refined. Add to that the eight speakers and standard 4x40 watt amplifier and you have distinctive interior sound that pales only to the rumble of the V8 under the hood.
The all-wheel drive XC90 V-8 features Instant Traction, which Volvo describes as a system providing quicker, enhanced traction on slippery surfaces. The all-wheel-drive system has been upgraded and it delivers up to 50 percent more torque to the rear axle in high-demand situations.
The XC90 requires premium fuel and achieves EPA ratings of 14 miles per gallon city and 20 mpg highway. This is the slippery slope all SUVs travel on. In an era of escalating fuel costs, it is hard to overlook spending a few thousand dollars annually on fuel consumption.
In addition to the V-8 power, the XC90 is also distinguished from other Volvos with exterior design cues such as the tasteful V-8 “brag” badging, monochromatic side moldings and door handles and (my favorite) the twin exhaust pipes that deliver the powerful, pulsating V-8 notes.
With exceptional power and creature comforts and unmatched safety features as a rule of thumb, the 2006 XC90 ($51,475 as tested) is hard to beat when compared to the premium competition in the market.
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