VOLVO XC90 4x4 2002 on

Very very poor quality. I recommend that not buy the car. Service cost

ist very expensive. Inside material ist very poor.

Other reviews including one by a girl three times consecutively seem to have a biased view based on a bad experience,however you must compare eggs with eggs based on quality,size and price etc.These xc90,s are half the price of Range rovers and four times more reliable and far less costly if they need repairs,maintenance etc,,,,you often only hear bad things about cars but when you hear that the main presenter of Top gear has owned a few,they must be all right as he is very critical....always buy one with a full service history and in my experience a mechanic is often better than a fitter....cheers

Purchased used in Feb '09 from an independent dealer when tax changes and fuel prices had sent 2nd hand large SUV prices tumbling. 17k on the clock, now at 44k Feb '13, so not piling on the miles. It ticks all the boxes for our family, 2 adults, 4 kids and a dog are transported regularly in comfort, shielded by the many safety features. The 4x4 system is ideal for the winter snowfalls and occasional muddy field trips. It has never broken down, and has made various continental trips to Italy and France pampering the occupants along the way. MPG is acceptable at 25-30mpg when you consider the size, weight, automatic transmission and 4x4 system. On a long run 32-35 mpg is possible!

What I find unacceptable is that this package of perfection is let down by shoddy design and poor quality. Upon purchasing the vehicle it was obvious it was not in the same build quality league as the Audi A4 I owned previously, which for a £35k (new) motor was disappointing. The first service in my ownership was performed by a local Volvo franchise dealer, and involved an injector system swap due to a recall. The list of various ailments since then goes on, of which many are obvious weaknesses in the design/quality of build. Fuel filter unit replaced due to leakage, exhaust hanger replaced, handbrake (foot apllied!) mechanism repaired, heater dampers reset (heater blew hot and cold like the wife), front suspension lower arm replaced due to worn bush, rear wheel bearing (whole hub) replaced, swirl flap actuating arm repaired, fuel filter unit replaced again due to leakage. Standard consumable items also replaced include discs, pads, tyres, wiper blades and several headlamp bulbs!

Fortunately I have yet to experience the 4x4 system failure (worn spline), but I do wonder how long it will be before the next problem and associated large bill, even though the car is serviced regularly.

Sadly there is still nothing out there that ticks all the same boxes for a relatively small outlay, so we soldier on together, albeit with a sense of dissatisfaction with Volvo.

I'm prompted to write this assessment of my XC90 ownership ( of 2 models over a 10 year period) having read the 11 reviews from 2 reviewers posted over 2 days in October 2012, who for some reason seemed to have such a major downer on the XC90 that they posted multiple poor reviews.

My XC90s have 'done what it says on the tin'. We have had the occasional need to have 7 people in the car , including growing teenagers, and for short to medium journeys (of say up to 2 hours) the extra optional flap down/up seats did a serviceable job. With younger, smaller, children they'd been even better! They are really easy to put up/down, and even with both up leave some reasonable boot space. With just conventional seating the boot space is huge, becoming cavernous when one, two or three of the second row seats are lowered. A very practical vehicle.

We also have occasional need to use the 4 wheel drive benefits, on slippy and icy moorland roads ( and snowy town roads in the weather we are experiencing as I type this review!) and although its not a Land Rover the XC90 gives the necessary sure footedness and reassurance in those conditions.

And when its not being used as a load lugger or coping with slippy surfaces, the XC90 drives like a big executive saloon and cruises comfortably at motorway speeds, without too much noise. We've had 4 Volvos of one sort or another over many years and always found the seating comfortable, and one of us is only 5ft, with the other 5ft 10!

The XC90 is a genuine 'sports utility vehicle' , with the emphasis on the utility. Like most 4x4s, it's a bit big and heavy round town, and its turning circle is not great, but out in the country it comes into its own.

The diesel 2.4 has given us about 30 mpg on average with our driving being mostly town or high speed motorway, with occasional A and B roads and unclassifieds on the moor. The petrol T6 was much thirstier, hence our change to the diesel.

Other than expected replacement of parts at the end of their mileage based life, we haven't had to spend on it other than regular servicing.

Superb all round vehicle. Great space, reliable engine, super handling, great for touring and around town. All in all great value second hand, massive specifications. The 7 seats are fab for families and the stereos are awesome. Try and purchase an automatic as the foot operated handbrake "on" is very hard to operate on a manual. You must put handbrake on with your left foot, which causes problems when you need to operate a clutch also. Be safe and cautious and buy an auto gearbox.

Bought my 05 XC90 D5 at the start of 2012. Though I love the styling, interior, large boot space and ride height of a 4x4 have had nothing but mechanical issues which I did not know were VERY common. I have learnt the hard way (squeeks, noises, power loss) and it's finally being sorted by a local Ind Specialist who say they see this so often. My experience in 6 months:

1. 4 wheel drive failure (no warning or indication of this & good that I found out b4 the ice/ snow!!!)- about £700 all in

2. Squeek from engine when idle (from tensioner v pulley gone)

3. Vibration and noise when turning left (wheel barring gone)

4. Leak from turbo hose that notoriously fails (power loss & increases fuel consumption)

5. HIgh premium oil to be used only

6. Driver's window bounces back on auto closing (simple DIY fix)

7. Radio takes ages to lock on preset (again simple internet provided fix)

8. Front tyres wear 'quickly'

= not cheap or expected from a full Volvo main dealer history

That's on top of the usual brake disc, pads etc so think well before you buy... or seriously consider the Japanese and Koreans competitors.

Own a d5 se,luxurious,eats up the miles,safe, fuel consumption reasonable given class of car. Now in 4 th year of ownership from new, and was thinking of changing, but looking at trade in prices don't think I'll bother and anyway it's still like new after 70k so what will I gain!

Will keep for another couple of years and consider again. Apart from savage depreciation from new would highly recommend

Reading the past 8 or so reviews(all seem to have been written in a few days of each other-someone got it in for the XC 90!) you would think these cars were 80's Skodas.

Anyway, I have owned XC90's for over 7 years now and have nothing but praise for them. They could be better on fuel consumption, but hey this is a big 4x4 what do you expect. I have not had a single problem with over 140000 miles of motoring(2 different cars) but I do have them serviced regularly

All in all they are what they are a prestige large 7 seat 4x4. If that is what you are after consider and XC90 along with the rest. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Fuel consumption locally 21mpg not very impressive for a 2.4 auto diesel. As for the third row of seats - the space is laughable, OK for a small five year old, but for an adult when being used as a 7 seater absolutely useless. My car had heavy, not very responsive steering. Volvo garage not very helpful with any problems. Having driven many many cars I think this on reflection was one of the worst, and I was glad to see it go, even though it was at a great monetary loss to me. An over priced over rated vehicle, I cannot see what people see in them.

4 wheel drive failed twice (30,000 miles). First time it was too dangerous to drive. Off road for a week...(I mean off the road)...They are total crap off road...and on... No courtesy car supplied. Heavy wear on tyres. Achieving less than 30mpg (diesel). Driver seat split. Very poor considering brand perception.

Just Total Rubbish