Volvo has continued invest in technology and design and is now a stronger competitor against the 3 German brands. The XC90 is a very competent car with a perfect balance between engine efficiency, power and handling. The technical features such as pilot assist, blind-spot detection, assisted braking and dynamic cruise control work perfectly to add safety assurance to the driving experience

Volvo was never really on my selection list. Although when they announced the XC90 I remember thinking thats a very good looking car. It looked quite similar from the back I thought, so it can't be that much different.
I needed to upgrade my car and I need/wanted something bigger. I looked around and liked a few cars and I nearly decided on the Q7. The Q7 was very nice and I've been an Audi fan for sometime. Audi offered me a ridiculous low price for the Audi I was trading in and so I thought I'd take a look around.
I was very surprised by the XC90. It is feature rich, the engine is surprisingly punchy for a car that size (even the T5 version), it was extremely comfortable and quiet and I couldn't think of anything that I wanted that it didn't have (except blind spot monitoring).
So after a few months I can report that I am not at all disappointed. The car drives like a small car. The space in the cabin is superb, even in the the 3rd road. I love the Volvo Sensus system that controls everything in the car and the digital dash coupled with the large LCD monitor in the middle is just brilliant. Better in my view than other digital dashboard so far.
Just before purchasing I had one more look at he Q7. Compared to the XC90 it was quite feature poor. The Q7 had nothing in comparison with the automated cruise, city asset, lane keep assist, 'matrix' LED head lights, etc making the XC90 a much better option.
Certainly no regrets and I'd suggest you to just put it on the list to look at. I've never thought of Volvo before. I find them boring and the insides very bland and with minimal technology. The XC90 shattered all these previous thoughts.

I am in the market to buy a car and I must say I am impressed. The passenger experience is better than a Q7, X5 or GLE400. Only the RX350/450h has a better passenger experience.
The interior design is outstanding for its cool and quiet ambience.
The power from the dimunitive 4 cyl 2 liter is very impressive. Surprising. Handling is also surprising for a car this size. The car is very silent for a 4 cyl but achieves this through sound insulatioin rather than a quiet engine. Which is a slight negativel.
The car is quite large and can be challenging to drive and park in land scarce Singapore.

I drove the XC90 T5 and T6 and I must say that I am very impressed with this 2l Drive-E engine with super and turbo charge. The numbers on paper (320hp; 400Nm) for this 2l engine really live up to my expectation and dare I say is comparable to my IL6 producing 320hp/450Nm. Of course the delivery is not as smooth but then again this is comparing a 6cylinders to a 4cylinder! Responsiveness is even better when the drive mode is set to Dynamic... Overall, must say the engine performance for this new batch of Volvo has really changed my view of what Volvo used to be!
Features wise, I must say the base Momentum model is already quite well equip as noted by many reviews. I had the opportunity to also ride in the R-design model which is approx $35k more. The price difference gets you couple of key items as follow:
1) Sun roof
2) Drive mode control
3) Nappa leather interior
4) Host of R design equip both external (body kit) as well as internal (seat, steering, etc)
5) 20" Alloy wheels
6) 12.3" Adaptive digital display
IMO, the $35k is well justified and worth splurging.

Volvo was never really on my radar only until they started bringing out better designs in recent years. That being said, this current XC 90 still doesn't really strike me as the head-turner on the streets. Yes, this one does look a tad better than the old one, but still, not really my cup of tea.
As a premium brand and the most expensive on Volvo's list, one would expect only the finest from it. And true to that, Volvo uses extremely high quality equipment. The is an extremely well-built car, and it feels really solid.
The drive: Steering is light and responsive (sometimes too responsive for its own good. The engine is really punchy, and it accelerates really well for a monster of a car. It still feels big when negotiating tighter spaces, but on open roads it is really great. Good torque, no turbo lag, and sufficient power on reserve when overtaking. For a big SUV, it is a surprisingly frugal car as well!
Comfort: One would expect a SUV to have really hard suspension, but not the case with the XC90. The suspension can be changed to suit the mode (sport, comfort etc etc). In comfort, it's surprisingly comfortable and everyone in the car doesn't jump as much as say, a Toyota Rav 4. Seats are really plush and believe it or not, while cruising you can even fall asleep.
Space: Cabin space is really huge with high headroom, and surprisingly reasonable legroom in the 3rd row. Middle row seats are fully adjustable to accommodate the 3rd row passengers as well, which is a good thing. Knock down the 3rd row seats, the boot is huge enough for 3 big luggages and even enough for a couple of small ones.
Equipment: Being a continental, equipment is pretty standard I would say. The ergonomics comes in the form of the multifunction screen, where your aircon, drive mode, audio, GPS, and just about every other electrical component in the car, is controlled by that simple screen. Easy to use, and excellent graphics.
Conclusion: Certainly a good car worth buying if you have $330K lying around the house. With so many good traits about it (apart from the styling), it's no wonder Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson fell in love with it.

Had an invite to test drive this "THOR" Looking mammoth.
First looks from the outside, IMPRESSIVE with the right curves than a conventional boxy Volvo. 2 versions available which is Turbo charged and Super charged. And I got to test both versions.
Interior you will see a classy look with out most luxury in its class comparing to its other models. The 10-inches tablet that is the innovative part where literately you can customized anything from lights to sensors to almost anything you can think of. SMART ! The Start/Stop button is also no longer the push type, is a twist type instead.
Salesperson tells me to deliver this new model of XC90 takes 2 hours or even more to explain all its features from the tablet to show how it works.
The start of the TURBO version which was tested livens up this mammoth immediately. Slight throttle you will feel the turbo charged and even much more power feel in the super charged one.
Drive wise, its smooth sail for both version but when it comes to pick up, Super chargers kick in and delivers best power and acceleration than the Turbo one. Overtaking at both versions are breezy and easy peasy.
Safety is what Volvo always puts in front of all cars that they make. The XC90 has many warning features that can show on your fully LED screen dashboard and speedo where it has sensors to tell you what speed restrictions is on each road, for instance, road is 60km/h and you hit close, speedo will warn with beeps and turns red when you exceeds. Good feature and of course you can choose to off it to enjoy the Turbo and Super chargers.
Overall, its a good 7 seater SUV to consider though in some reviews, Q7 is a better choice but to me, for luxury, power, gadgets and safety, I rather take this XC90 than the Q7.

This tanky Volvo loses its iconic old school grille design that it had kept pretty intact since the 200 GL series. While the replacement grille is not as "Fist-in-your-face"-as the new Prado's, it stands out reminiscent of a well-trimmed moustache. Despite its military tidy-ness, the addition of the beautiful T-LEDs and an imposingly neat stature, the XC90 lacks sufficient advertising that pleases the driver's soul. For a product built purely on the reputation of exceeding safety standards, it failed to mention what it means to own one.
On Par with German competitors
Matched head on with the segment leader Q7, XC90's 2 litre Turbo engine delivers all the oomph for lower road tax and city fuel consumption. Interiors are also very well put together while offering plenty of touch points where leather meets skin. Instead of the traditional black interiors, it is the one of the few to spot white interiors. Steering, while light, is a warm welcome amidst German mammoth SUVs that purposely want you to feel the heft. A mix of Honda maneuverability, Alfa interior aesthetics and Opel sturdiness is what the XC90 feels like on the driver's palette.
Lead not follow
While the Q7 offered better driving performance and even offers 3D sound from Bose, it lost its identity trying to copy BMW's X6 and went for a somewhat sloping roofline. The Volvo remains true to its roots and stands tall and boxy. The only downside is how similarly striking it is to the new Ford Mondeo - surely it was the American that copied the Swede.
Purposeful and unique
The handsome looks eclipses its Marauder-esque underpinnings – Thicker doors, stronger C-pillar and even rear Corvette spring leaf suspensions. There's a Swedish stubborn-ness to the whole car, reminding customers that being Geely-owned doesn't have to devalue the product. A slightly more radical design would have brought back the Saab spirit - a niche that Volvo respectfully refrained from breaching.
Conclusion
The XC90 is the SUV incarnation of Morgan Freeman playing god. Clean, honest and bulletproof. A little more radical design would have helped to make this more wish-worthy. However, it is the most scot-free as a brand and product and that ultimately makes for a regret-free purchase.

Test drove the XC90 the other day, and i found it to be a really well-rounded car. Its not particularly amazing and mindblowing, but its not really disappointing in any area either.
the car looks good, i like the design. The inside feels very luxurious and well put together, everything is where you need it to be. And its huge, which for its purposes really makes sense. There's tons of space, its really comfortable, and you do feel like a boss on the road.
driving the xc90, its an extremely pleasant ride. Power from the engine is good, handling is impressive considering how big the car is. Does it feel a little bit detached and perhaps too easy and comfortable? Yes, a little bit. But again, its the well-roundedness of the car that stands out.