hello, i currently own a 99 s70, and am looking to buy an xc90. i would like any opinions/suggestions as to which engine(v8, t6, or 2.5l turbo), to choose along with what year is the most reliable/ least problematic. thank you in advance for your help.

 

The XC90 is a problem child all years. Keep the S70 for the sake of humanity!

 

im keeping the s70, i love it like family. i really like the volvo suv though, and wanted to add it to the family. thats sad news.

 

I worked at a Volvo Dealer for a few years and the XC90 has so many issues including......

Transmission problems
Rear tire wear
Rear wheel bearings
Brake issues
Electrical problems

They look cool and seem like a safe vehicle, but the repair/maint costs outweigh the benefits of having it.

 

ahh, that was the advice i was looking for. thank you, sir.

 

I've got a '08 V8 w/17,000 miles. Never been back to the dealer. Change oil myself.

Do not take a sample size of one to make the determination of whether or not to purchase a used vehicle and other than myself that's what you have so far on this forum. Do more research. I researched until I was blue in the face prior to ordering my XC. Do the same. In that research here's a point by point retort to the comments so far:

Transmission: T6 has the problem. Transmission is okay per se, but is not a good size fit for the vehicle's weight/power, hence, constant problems. Avoid the T6.

Tire wear: I too was concerned about it after all the discussion on various forums. As soon as I took delivery the car was taken to an alignment shop (not the dealer, but an alignment only shop). Both front and rear needed tweaking, but were not off much. At 17K I'm experiencing no unusual wear and very little over all wear. OEM tires should last at least 60-65K.

Wheel bearing: Specific to certain earlier models. No issues on later models.

Electrical problems: If you read the forums carefully you will note that MOST electrical issues are because people are trying to modify their electrics by adding something or changing something. The XC's electrical system is what I call "hybrid." That is, part wires but also part fiber optic. Adding something not designed into that system can (and usually is) a mess unless you've really got your stuff together.

My advice. Do your homework...a lot of homework, then buy the newest you can find, the best being one coming off lease with some remaining warranty. In my experience, a vehicle will reveal itself in the first few months from new. What I mean is, if there were problems in those first months, it seemed like I continued to have problems. If there were few, or no, problems in those first months, the car tended to be trouble free over its life. In that vein, if you are able to check with the original owner that could be of great help for a particular vehicle.

The newer I6 and V8s are bullet proof and both get about the same MPG. I get 24.5-25on the highway but most get a couple of MPG less, mid to upper teens in urban driving. I've owned a lot of vehicles in my long life and this XC is turning out to be the best I've ever owned and I keep them a long time - 150-200K usually.

XCs - like all Volvos - are expensive to repair.

 

Hello, this is my first reply to this forum, but I have to agree with everyone that has given you advise, however you should defiantly go for the XC90. It is by far the best looking SUV on the market.

I researched the car for four months until finally choosing the model that I found had the least problems. I ended up choosing the 2007 V8 4.4L. not only because it came with really luxurious features standard with that model, is because the engine size verses the weight of the vehicle only reduced the mpgs by one mile (compared to the 3.2).

With all honesty and please take this with the most respect to the Volvo quality and manufacturing, but the V8 is created by Yamaha and with all of my previous cars being Japanese, the XC90 is only better with a Japanese engineered engine and transmission.

I have had mine for four months now and have about 30k, no problems and I get people commenting on how great the car looks. You will enjoy this car... Go with the V8 and avoid the T6 at all cost....

Good Luck!!!!