2003 Volvo XC90 Review Summaries

What reviewers liked most about the Volvo XC90:

ROPS (Roll-Over Protection System) uses a torque sensor mounted in the floor to detect when the car starts to rotate about its longitudinal axis, or roll. The system then independently applies brakes to understeer the XC90 out of trouble. We tried to roll the thing and couldn't.

-- AutoWeek

It's a measure of the quality that Volvo is now achieving in interior design that the XC90 cabin more than holds its own against the combined Teutonic might of this German pairing.

-- CAR

Ride motions are tidily controlled, the ZF rack-and-pinion steering reacts and reads back faithfully, and the chassis feels stable and predictable.

-- Car and Driver

The 6-cylinder engine has ample power from the light, and the twin turbos provide sufficient boost when you need to pass or climb that incline.

-- Cars.com

The XC90 is well-stocked with standard features. Among them are dual-zone climate control, a power driver seat, steering wheel-mounted stereo controls, one-touch up and down front windows and a roof rack (cross bars are optional).

-- Edmunds.com

The wood inserts throughout the cabin provide some brightness and give it that upscale look. And the usual speedometer, tachometer and other gauges are as easy to read as ever.

-- Road & Track

What reviewers liked least about the Volvo XC90:

Not enough support in seats to stop you from rolling around during cornering.

-- CAR

Where it comes up short is in fuel economy, 15 mpg city/20 mpg highway with full-time all-wheel-drive.

-- Cars.com

While around-town driving poses few problems, we found the engine tended to get out of breath while climbing grades, even though altitude doesn't affect for turbocharged motors nearly as much as naturally-aspirated ones.

-- Edmunds.com

In normal driving conditions, power [from its Haldex all-wheel drive system] is split 95 percent front and 5 percent rear, for the sake of better fuel economy.

-- Road & Track

Best one-liner about the Volvo XC90:

Like gazillions of soccer moms nationwide, we've succumbed to crossoveritis.

-- AutoWeek

When a car company whose name means 'I roll' in Latin plans a foray into the world of sport-utility vehicles, you can bet there's some serious review of the issues.

-- Car and Driver