Overview & Reviews

After receiving significant changes last year, the 2008 Volvo XC90 carries over much the same. An auto-dimming rearview mirror is standard on all XC90s, while the V8 models get some mild interior and exterior trim updates. A 3.2 Special Edition trim also debuts.

• Pleasing to drive, impressive safety ratings, high-quality interior materials, snug and comfy front seats, ample cargo space.

• Overall design is getting a bit stale, third-row seating compromises second-row space, subpar fuel economy with either engine.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 40.00

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  Initial impressions: Excellent! - 2008 Volvo XC90
  By Family of Four - September 26 - 10:50 pm

  Decided on Volvo for safety and built- in booster seat for toddler, luxury items, good 2 yr lease deal. Considered Mercedes M class for same money, but ride and comfort were the worst of any SUV Ive driven. Very surprised. I even test drove the M-B three times, but to no avail. Acura MDX was more luxurious and had better bells/whistles, reliability, but lease deals were poor. Only stripped down MDX was offered as a deal, but adding options was costly! BMW X5 - too small and clunky doors- wife hated it! Mans car. Lexus RX was wonderful, but too small for our needs. Volvo has best safety record, but scary reliability. I got a 2 year lease since didnt want to live with a mistake for 3 years.

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  Great Car/Terrible Mileage - 2008 Volvo XC90
  By Chris - July 3 - 2:20 am

  My wife has always wanted the XC90, so we took the plunge when the lease on our Pathfinder was up. Its a beautiful car, and weve owned Volvos all along growing up. From a comfort standpoint, the car is top notch. More interior room than the Pathfinder. Powerful stereo system. It was good to get the familiar Volvo safety Ive been used to over the years. Only problem, the gas mileage is horrible. Were aveaging 14.8. But hey, what do you expect for a car that is "dripping" in safety features, thats more important Also, had to drop some paperwork at the dealership one day and something punctured my tire as I was driving out, they reimbursed me for the new tire!

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  Very happy so far - 2008 Volvo XC90
  By JAGinKorea - February 10 - 5:00 pm

  Took delivery of this vehicle in Korea using the diplomat and military sales program. Very simple process to custom order the vehicle from the factory and saved nearly $9K over state-side MSRP. Zero mechanical or quality issues since it arrived 8 months ago. Incredibly versatile SUV for my family of five- weve used a variety of seating configurations for different trips, extra guests etc. Very quiet at standstill and on highways and a nice sound to the inline 6 when you step on it. I had driven the V8 version several times before and it is more fun, but I couldnt justify the extra cost and Ive never felt I absolutely needed the extra power. One of the best family vehicles out there.

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  "Volvo for Life" Great Motto - 2008 Volvo XC90
  By Lucy Boudet - May 18 - 10:20 am

  This is my 2nd XC90. Came out of a great experience in a 2005 XC90 and couldnt find anything I really wanted better. Tested a Mazda CX9, Mercedes M Class, Subaru Tribeca, Highlander, Lexus RX 350...and on and on. It may not have the fun "zoom-zoom quality of the Mazda, but the Mazda outside mirrors vibrate like crazy...rear seats vibrated...tracks in the floor looked so cheap. Mercedes was nice but didnt like the paddle shifter and its too small cargo area. Volvo makes the most beautiful, classy looking SUV. Nothing beats the feeling of quality in my XC 90. This new engine drives great. I thought Id miss the Turbo. Not at all. Great lease deals make it the perfect family vehicle.

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  Great value for money - 2008 Volvo XC90
  By birdman - March 2 - 3:00 pm

  Ive now driven almost 2200 miles with my XC90 3.2. No mechanical or other problems. The ride is a bit stiff but that does help the handling. Overall, it is an easy to handle car, but one does notice it is big and heavy. The AWD keeps it on the road all the time and it doesnt flip/ flop turning corners as much as other SUVs. But it does a bit the tendency to go straight when turning corners, probably based on it being a primairily FWD based car. The 3.2 is a nice engine, with enough power to handle the car and a full load of passengers and luggage. I can imagine with the weight of the car that the V8 would be a lot nicer to drive, although the mileage will be even worse.

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  recommended - 2008 Volvo XC90
  By Rawas - July 8 - 10:00 am

  The xc90 is an excellent suv for people looking for design, build quality and durability. It has a special scandinavian character that puts it far ahead of other suvs. volvos are famous for thier safety,practicality and longevity. Built like a tank, with one of the most sophisticted premium audio system installed in cars.If you are looking for muscles and performance, this suv is not for you.

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  Not Impressed - 2008 Volvo XC90
  By JZ - May 31 - 3:03 pm

  I leased this vehicle and Im glad I leased it and not purchsed! Looking forward to giving it back! The seats are uncomfortable, at least the driver seat is. Blind spots, visiblity isnt the greatest! I owned a Ford Explorer prior to this lease and I plan to go back to the Explorer once this lease is up! I also experience a delay when turning a corner and steping on the gas. It takes a second or two before you actually accelerate!

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  Stranded - 2008 Volvo XC90
  By scatback - September 3 - 7:13 am

  At 33k, the car overheated and stranded us. Picked it up from the dealer after two days, happened again. Twice on the hook in a week. That follows 3 days in the shop for a steering angle sensor, and another day for a headlight. The 4.4 is great, the ride is quiet, the interior is designed for adults. But weve driven 800,000 miles in Acuras and Infinities and never been left on the side of the road. Its happened twice in our low mileage XC90 in a week. Plus, no rearward vision and primitive electronics. Were going back to MDX

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  Volvo V-8 - 2008 Volvo XC90
  By Dave - November 22 - 6:36 pm

  My new XC-90 V-8 is a terrific vehicle. The ride is smooth & comfortable. Power from the V-8 makes driving fun. Volvo has the most comfortable seats in the business. Gas mileage has been decent at an average of 17.5-18.5 mpg in mixed local driving. This is better than my previous Ford Explorer V-8 (16.5-17.5) & my friends 6 cyl XC-90. The steering is a bit lighter than I would like, but handling is crisp. The new blind spot warning system is very helpful on the highway. All in all, a great vehicle.

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  Over 40k miles - 2008 Volvo XC90
  By 04silverado - March 1 - 5:17 am

  I purchased my 3.2 AWD with 22k miles when it was two years old. I have since put about 45k miles on it. What repairs have I done? Only one thing that I can think of besides brakes and tires. An emissions pump. I consider one repair outside of maintenance in almost 70k miles acceptable. Because of its weight if you drive aggressively expect it to eat brakes and tires and gas mileage to be in the teens. The original Pirellis had to be replaced shortly after I bought it because they were worn out. I put Sumitomos on it and have yet to replace them with over 40k miles. I do a pretty even mix of city/highway driving. I anticipate getting another year (15/20k miles) out of them.