2008 Volvo XC90

Introduction

The 2008 XC90 combines Volvo's long-standing wagon expertise with the popular attributes of luxury crossovers. It has seating for up to seven passengers, a high-quality cabin packed with features, a choice of six-cylinder or V8 power and a great tow rating. As with all Volvo products, there's a strong emphasis on safety. The XC90 pioneered stability control-based rollover avoidance technology and has full airbag coverage. There are also less obvious points, such as the heavy-duty third-row seat that's carefully positioned over the rear axle to ensure the largest possible crumple zone in the event of a rear-end crash. As a result, the XC90 is also one of but a handful of luxury SUVs to achieve the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) "Good" rating for all three of its crash testing areas -- frontal offset, side and rear.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options 

A midsize luxury SUV, the 2008 Volvo XC90 comes in three trims: 3.2, V8 and V8 Sport. The XC90 3.2 seats five and comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, cloth upholstery, wood interior trim, an eight-way power driver seat with memory, dual-zone automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, an eight-speaker stereo with a CD/MP3 player and MP3 player input jack, and a PremAir-coated radiator to minimize ozone emissions. The V8-powered XC90 adds a third-row seat for seven-passenger capacity and comes with a self-leveling rear suspension, 18-inch wheels, leather upholstery, wood interior trim, a power front-passenger seat, an integrated child booster seat in the second row, a separate rear air-conditioner, upgraded instrumentation and a sunroof. The V8 Sport adds unique exterior trim, a more firmly tuned suspension, 19-inch wheels, quicker steering, extra lateral bolstering for the front seats, cool blue metallic gauges and a sportier three-spoke steering wheel.

Most of the standard V8's features, including the third-row seat, can be added to the 3.2 model by selecting the Premium and Versatility Packages. A convenience package adds rear park assist, power retractable side mirrors, power child door locks, a compass and an interior air quality system. Other options include active bi-xenon headlamps, Volvo's Blind Spot Information System, an upgraded surround-sound audio system (not available on the 3.2), a navigation system and a rear-seat entertainment system with dual screens. Although the active bi-xenon headlamps and Dynaudio system are stand-alone extras on the base V8 model, they must be purchased in a technology package (along with satellite radio) on the V8 Sport.

Powertrains and Performance 

Engines correspond to the model name. The 3.2 model comes with a 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine rated for 235 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. The XC90 V8 models get a 4.4-liter V8 good for 311 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control. XC90 3.2 models come standard with front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive (AWD) is available as an option. The AWD system is standard on the V8-powered Volvo XC90s. Towing capacity for both models is respectable, with an approximate 5,000-pound rating. In testing, we've found that the XC90 V8 Sport model takes 7.4 seconds to hit 60 mph, about average for a V8-equipped luxury crossover.

 

Safety 

Standard safety features on the 2008 Volvo XC90 include full-length side-curtain airbags, front-seat side airbags, anti-whiplash front seats and antilock brakes. Integrated into the standard stability control system is a rollover sensor. Options include power child safety locks, adaptive headlights and Volvo's Blind Spot Information System. Known as BLIS, this bit of technology monitors vehicles entering the XC90's blind spots and warns the driver via indicator lights. In government frontal-impact crash tests, the XC90 earned a full five stars for protection of the driver and four stars for the front passenger. In side-impact tests, it earned a perfect five stars across the board. The Volvo earned ratings of "Good," the highest possible, in the IIHS's frontal-offset, side-impact and rear-impact crash testing.