Volvo XC90 D5 AWD Executive Geartronic 5dr Car Review - January 2012

Like all in the Volvo range, the Volvo XC90 is a brilliantly smooth and pleasant car to drive, if not a little noisy at times. With a 6-speed gearbox in automatic, it has a 20 valves diesel engine and a 2400cc in-line 5-cylinder.

The XC90 Executive produces 197.28 bhp at 3900, and displays torque figures of 309 lb-ft at 2000-2750 rpm. Considering the size of the 4x4, this doesn’t fare that bad at all. With a top speed of 127mph and a respectable 0-60 mph in 10.3 secs, the acceleration is fairly pedestrian level, so it’s not the sort of car to drive up mountains in.

In terms of ride quality, the Volvo XC90 triumphs all others when it comes to smoothness and easiness of drive, though off-road ability is modest, if not a little limited. Over-assisted steering and poor turning circles makes it difficult to park (especially in the city), and its large size and heavy weight means that the performance is quite sluggish with not much in way of driver involvement.

The third row of seats are only suited to kids though, but in a way all these factors makes the XC90 feel safer and more child-friendly to drive.

For what it is, the Volvo XC90 actually looks great. With its sleek, clean lines and solid build, the 4x4, 5 door oozes elegance and understated beauty. The XC90 features seven decent sized leather seats and a massive 1837 ltrs boot space with the seats down (249 with them up) as standard.

The Volvo Executive also comes well equipped with an additional bunch of practical and nifty features as standard, including: power-steering, central locking, alloy wheels, stability control, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control and rear-parking sensors.

Though the Volvo XC90 has a pedestrian Euro NCAP Protection rating of 2 out of 5, its strong, solid body provides safe all-round protection for its passengers and it therefore passes all Euro NCAP requirements. With a safety kit as standard and an innovative system to protect passengers if the car rolls over, the XC90 is inevitably a great family car.

The family car was designed to uphold all weathers and has great visibility which combined with its spacious layout and huge boot makes it a very comfortable car for long journeys, while the 68l fuel capacity makes it possible.

As well as the Volvo’s inundated safety and practical features, it also comes with a 3 year warranty or 60,000 miles, making it a clever buy too.

Though the dearest in the Volvo range priced new at about £44,775, the Volvo XC90 Executive is certainly one of the best in terms of value for money.

Being a 4x4, it’s not the most economical of cars, but the diesel engine does make it ever so slightly more economical in the long run. It's a Volvo, so boasts numerous safety and security features. For insurance, the Volvo XC90 D5 AWD Executive Geartronic 5dr falls into group 42.

The depreciation costs are very low because not only is the Volvo XC90’s reliability well established, but the car is still very much in high demand. So really it is just a case of deciding whether the running costs are worth it when weighing up the size and activeness of your family.