Used 2016 Volvo XC90 Consumer Reviews
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Mixed feeling after nearly a year of ownership
CN, 03/03/2017
updated 03/04/2019
2016 Volvo XC90 T6 Inscription 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger 8A)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
My wife and I purchased the car last year after narrowing down the choices to this and an MB GL350 diesel. I preferred the Benz, but this car was for my wife and she liked it better. Between the two it is the better overall value option. Ours has every major option except the trailer hitch and HUD. Overall, it's been a good car, but there are some nagging design faults that really detract from it. First up is the HUD. I'm 6' 2", and it was not possible to adjust the system to permit me to see it clearly; the top edge was always cut off, hence one of the reasons we didn't get that option. Next are the seats. They are the most uncomfortable seats I have ever had to suffer through. After nearly a year of driving it I still can't adjust them to a comfortable position. The seat bottoms literally pinch my butt on the driver's side. On the passenger side my tail bone sits directly on the seam for the extendable thigh support. The lumbar support in the seat back can't be set in a position that works for me for long periods. The seats in our car are the 'contour' models (I think); maybe the 'comfort' seats don't have these issues. For me, the 2nd row seats are far more comfortable. My wife is 5' 3" and she doesn't have any issues with the seats. My recollection is the Swedes are pretty tall, so why can't they make a seat that fits a tall person? The next item is the cruise control. The controls are backwards in that a single button press adjust the speed up (or down) by 5 mph, while press and hold adjusts by 1 mph. These actions should be reversed. The infotainment/electronic systems occasionally glitch, though software updates seem to have generally improved their operation. The most serious glitch, experienced by me and my wife separately, has been the emergency braking warning going off for no reason, accompanied by the automatic emergency braking. This occurred to each of us on the highway. Fortunately, traffic was light during both instances, and the action was momentary. Fuel economy is, frankly, lousy considering the engine size. We're averaging around 21-22 mpg in mixed driving. The best we've managed was about 25 mpg on a 450-miles trip. Our Odyssey's engine is nearly twice the size and that car gets nearly 30 mpg on the highway. And, it's a larger car (and weighs the same). Compounding the low fuel economy is the ridiculously small fuel tank. 18.5 gallons? Seriously? It should be at least 20, preferably more given the lousy economy. Volvo really missed an opportunity by not offering a V6, or bringing the diesel to the U.S. On the plus side, the infotainment system is easy to use. The ride with the air suspension is sublime. It feels like a tank. Fit and finish, and materials are first rate and every bit on par (or better) than the Germans. The biggest plus in my book, though, is that my wife absolutely loves the car, so it's a keeper. Update - Mar-19 We're nearly three years into the car now and for the most part it's been good. Service, though, is obscenely expensive. We just had the 40k service done and it totaled $1700, which included new front brakes to the tune of $700. The rear brakes were replaced at 30k miles and cost about the same. Parts alone were $500, which is absurd. The light gray leather interior is impossible to keep clean; just looking at it gets it dirty. The seats continue to be terribly uncomfortable for me. Interestingly, we were given a loaner that had the standard "comfort" seats and they were far better than those in our car, so it clearly is the poorly designed "contour" (who's body, because it certainly isn't mine?) seat that is the problem. We have had a few pretty serious failures that were, fortunately, covered under warranty. First was the pump for the air suspension. It seized and left the suspension in park mode (a low-rider XC90 is not a comfortable ride!). Replacement of that unit would have been around $1500 if we'd had to pay for it. Both front struts were replaced for low speed popping. This was apparently a known issue with Volvo as there was a service campaign for it. Most recently was the dashboard. Ours is covered with leather and it start curling around the defroster vents. That resulted in a new one. Software updates continue to improve some of the quirkiness in the electronics, so that's a plus. Overall, I continue to had mixed feelings about the car, but my wife still loves it, so we soldier on.
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Year old XC90 needs a new engine!!
Shana, 12/23/2016
2016 Volvo XC90 T6 Inscription 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger 8A)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
Dec 3. 2016 took to dealer because it was telling me that engine oil level was low after getting oil changed on Nov 15, 2016. Dec 13 same message. Took to dealer kept it for 2 days, had to call and they tell us it needs a new engine! We are waiting to see if they will extend the warranty!
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Oh my god what a POS
Jim, 03/17/2017
2016 Volvo XC90 T6 Momentum 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger 8A)
5 of 7 people found this review helpful
Consumer reports and Edmunds have this SUV totally wrong. In 9 months it's been in the shop 5 times, and has had 4 recalls and almost got me killed twice from safety installed technology features. The software crashes more that a PC in the 90s. Glitches in the software caused the entire dashboard and ipad system to go down when I was on the highway doing 70, then it locks up and wont go more than 30 miles and hour about getting me killed, has to towed in, takes 3 three days to get back and there only answer is we fixed it by updating the software?? Next the active collision system keep going of when car that are in the lane beside me slow down forcing my XC90 to abruptly break getting me almost rammed from behind 4 times. The brakes have been recalled and the transmission started locking up. entertainment system goes down and want respond almost every day and there is a delay in the car staring. After 18000 miles the belts had to be replaced from fraying... This is a piece of software digital crap read reviews of this car from people who own. The technicians have no idea and it takes weeks to get parts. I'm begging you if you have children don't by this car,,, it's dangerous..Volvo is owned by company out of China and has all the quality of a product you would expect out of that country. They may not MFG it there but it's got that money first quality maybe mentality
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I hate this car
mbj1227@gmail.com, 04/23/2016
2016 Volvo XC90 T6 Inscription 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger 8A)
34 of 58 people found this review helpful
I ordered this car last May and took delivery in January. Since then it has been in the shop 12 days for a myriad of ailments. "Hybrid System Failure" warning had it in the shop 8 days. Parking brake failure and alarm had it in the shop 4 days. The touch screen cuts in and out while driving, sometimes the windows won't roll down, it wouldn't shut off once. Lots of electrical glitches. The battery charge never charges more than 18 miles on the screen, but in reality the battery range is about 7-10 miles if that. The gas tank is too small so I have to fill the tank each week even with the battery. The interior is not well laid out - no storage space and the glove compartment barely holds my bottle of Advil. I bought this car for a family vehicle but it is far from being family friendly. It is not easy to move the seats up and down, not enough cup holders... DO NOT BUY THIS CAR.
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Not there Yet
par404, 02/11/2016
2016 Volvo XC90 T6 Momentum 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger 8A)
15 of 25 people found this review helpful
Thought the XC-90 has been reinvented since 2004, still has room for significant improvements. Vehicle is significantly over-priced for what you get. Fuel economy a big disappointment for a 4 cyc using premium fuel. We got closer to 19-20 MPG average. There are other proven options that are better and more refined such as the Buick Enclave or Infinity (if you are hooked on premium fuel). After renting, the Jury is out and I do not want gamble at $50K+. Take a hard look at the other options before buying.
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