I was dead set on buying a Jeep GC; in fact I'm still leaning in that direction. However, my local Volvo dealer is offering a demo '13 XC90 with 5k miles for 37k, which seems like a good deal. I test drove it yesterday and liked it quite a bit, though it definitely feels a bit dated compared to the new GC, and a bit underpowered compared to the V6 GC also (40 less hp). That being said, I still like the car a lot and am now considering it alongside the GC. My main concerns are:

--Reliability/high maintenance costs. Two friends of mine own XC90's, and they seem to be always taking their Volvo's in for various repairs. And when they do, they rarely leave with less than a 1k bill. I currently drive a Toyota 4runner with 240k miles, and I've had only a few minor repairs, the most expensive being an O2 sensor replacement at $350.

--Dated design. I just can't seem to get out of my head that this is the same car that existed 10 years ago. Meanwhile, the Jeep GC is just a few years old, and it just 'feels' newer/fresher overall. Also, I'd hate to buy an XC90 now, only to see a completely revamped design within the next few years.

On paper, the GC wins the head to head in a landslide, but for whatever reason something keeps pulling me towards the XC90. My head says GC, my heart says XC90...that's basically the crux of it.

Any input?

 

Before considering the Jeep, check this one out: Jeep Grand Cherokee moose test failure it's a disaster...