3 Star Reviews for 2016 Volvo XC90

Overview & Reviews

Average Score

3.21/5 Average
96 Total Reviews
This Year's Model Updates:

The 2016 Volvo XC90 is fully redesigned with a new look, a new body structure and a more efficient powertrain.

Pros:
  • Available hybrid model.
  • Cutting-edge safety technology
  • Sharp new look and style
  • Small but powerful engine promises improved fuel efficiency
Cons:
  • Unknown how well the new touchscreen interface will work.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 96.00
  • Volvo is a Chinese owned nightmare. - 2016 Volvo XC90
    By -

    This car is a beautiful car,, with extremely poor reliability, dont buy this car it makes range rover look low maintenance. from day one its been in the shop, belts brakes. Chineses software is crap.

  • Great SUV --- Road Noise killed it for us - 2016 Volvo XC90
    By -

    I was very excited about the XC 90 and love the interior, sound system, interface, seats etc..Test drove it on the freeway, and it was so loud we could not stand it. We even like the car so much we tried to talk our selfs out of the sound being not and issue, but could not! Volvo has to improve the sound proofing of a vehicle of this caliber and cost. Hopefully next years model will be better!

  • Great ideas, but poor product support - 2016 Volvo XC90
    By -

    Everything about what this car is supposed to be or do is great. However, there are a lot of bugs with the technology and the service department is not trained enough to deal with these said issues. My car is less than a year old and is back into the shop, again. It went into the shop on Thursday for what was supposed to be a minor software update. It is now Monday, and I am still without my car. Volvo technical support was contacted on Friday to address my situation, but I was told they are not good about responding on Fridays. I am confused. This is Volvos flagship vehicle. The service departments at the dealership do not have the knowledge or tools to deal with the car, and then the companys technical support dept starts its weekends on Thursday I guess!! This is very perplexing.

  • Mixed feeling after nearly a year of ownership - 2016 Volvo XC90
    By -

    My wife and I purchased the car last year after narrowing down the choices to this and an MB GL350 diesel. I preferred the Benz, but this car was for my wife and she liked it better. Between the two it is the better overall value option. Ours has every major option except the trailer hitch and HUD. Overall, its been a good car, but there are some nagging design faults that really detract from it. First up is the HUD. Im 6 2", and it was not possible to adjust the system to permit me to see it clearly; the top edge was always cut off, hence one of the reasons we didnt get that option. Next are the seats. They are the most uncomfortable seats I have ever had to suffer through. After nearly a year of driving it I still cant adjust them to a comfortable position. The seat bottoms literally pinch my butt on the drivers side. On the passenger side my tail bone sits directly on the seam for the extendable thigh support. The lumbar support in the seat back cant be set in a position that works for me for long periods. The seats in our car are the contour models (I think); maybe the comfort seats dont have these issues. For me, the 2nd row seats are far more comfortable. My wife is 5 3" and she doesnt have any issues with the seats. My recollection is the Swedes are pretty tall, so why cant they make a seat that fits a tall person? The next item is the cruise control. The controls are backwards in that a single button press adjust the speed up (or down) by 5 mph, while press and hold adjusts by 1 mph. These actions should be reversed. The infotainment/electronic systems occasionally glitch, though software updates seem to have generally improved their operation. The most serious glitch, experienced by me and my wife separately, has been the emergency braking warning going off for no reason, accompanied by the automatic emergency braking. This occurred to each of us on the highway. Fortunately, traffic was light during both instances, and the action was momentary. Fuel economy is, frankly, lousy considering the engine size. Were averaging around 21-22 mpg in mixed driving. The best weve managed was about 25 mpg on a 450-miles trip. Our Odysseys engine is nearly twice the size and that car gets nearly 30 mpg on the highway. And, its a larger car (and weighs the same). Compounding the low fuel economy is the ridiculously small fuel tank. 18.5 gallons? Seriously? It should be at least 20, preferably more given the lousy economy. Volvo really missed an opportunity by not offering a V6, or bringing the diesel to the U.S. On the plus side, the infotainment system is easy to use. The ride with the air suspension is sublime. It feels like a tank. Fit and finish, and materials are first rate and every bit on par (or better) than the Germans. The biggest plus in my book, though, is that my wife absolutely loves the car, so its a keeper.

  • I want to love you - 2016 Volvo XC90
    By -

    I really want to love my 2016 XC90 momentum. A great looking car. I have 25,000 miles on the vehicle in less than 1 year of ownership. We have been in the shop for a total of 2 weeks to fix Sensus which boots and reboots. Navigation that stops. Loud clicking noises every time you turn, stop and go. Fealership replaced wheel bearings but still have the clicking issue and now the ride is horrible even after new tires etc.. as the vehicle shakes, rattles and rolls. I just took a very painful 8 hour family trip to Disney and now I am looking for my next vehicle. Pros. Good gas mileage, great interior layout with useable 3rd row seat. Love Sensus when it works. If the clicking could stop and the vehicle rode smooth like it did when first purchased then I would love it.

  • Hold off buying this car ! - 2016 Volvo XC90
    By -

    Love my new Volvo XC90 when it starts. Beautiful inside and out, lots of great safety features, and a pleasure to drive. However, there have been severe software issues and most recently battery draining for no apparent reason when it sits. Each trip to shop has been 2 - 3 days, because their technicians are not fully up to speed and/or the software is too screwed up. They generally have to do a remote consult with Volvo engineers.. As I write this I am about to jump start it to take it back to the shop again, just a month after the last battery episode (they did a battery reset and then installed a new battery last time, but never did find the cause). Do a Google search and you will find dozens of other people with the same problem. Another issue is quirky navigation system. Usually reliable, but occasionally totally screws up destination city. My recommendation. Do not buy this car yet. Perhaps wait a year until Volvo gets their act together.

  • Engine noise and wimper - 2016 Volvo XC90
    By -

    I think a car in this price point should not have a 4 cylinder. It has way too many moving parts with a turbo and supercharger and just very loud and disconcerting from the drivers seat. There is never a case where you will be able to accelerated without downshifting. On paper it says it has acceleration and horsepower but unless you like racing the engine around town you will be wholly underwhelmed. Get a real car with a 6 cylinder.

  • Not there Yet - 2016 Volvo XC90
    By -

    Thought the XC-90 has been reinvented since 2004, still has room for significant improvements. Vehicle is significantly over-priced for what you get. Fuel economy a big disappointment for a 4 cyc using premium fuel. We got closer to 19-20 MPG average. There are other proven options that are better and more refined such as the Buick Enclave or Infinity (if you are hooked on premium fuel). After renting, the Jury is out and I do not want gamble at $50K+. Take a hard look at the other options before buying.

  • 60K for a 4 cylinder underpowered engine - 2016 Volvo XC90
    By -

    I test drove the X90. I own a 2008 XC90 v8. The v8 Yamaha engine in the 2008 Volvo XC90 is a GREAT engine. Smooth, quiet and quick. This was the PERFECT engine for the heavy XC90. Volvo decided to make a one size fits all 4 CYL engine and its really a poor choice for the XC90. Its overworked and underpowered. Its a cheap work around. Take a look under the large plastic cover hiding the little engine that couldnt...How can I pay a 60K price tag for this SUV? Volvo was once upon a time a car company that had a quality car from the inside out and today they make a car that has a sharp stylish look but cheaply built compared to the older models....Other options in same price range. the BMW X5,,,,,,Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne, and VW Toureg. These SUVs have decent performance...Think about test driving a one year old BMW X5 v8 with low miles....

  • We wanted to love this car.... - 2016 Volvo XC90
    By -

    The xc90 has a beautiful look to it. When we decided to get rid of our Acura MDX, we tested several luxury SUVs. Both my wife and I really favored the Volvo. That is, until we drove it. We wanted to love it so much that we returned for 3 test drives but in the end it was just underwhelming. The engine is underpowered and the driving experience was nonexistent, but we might have lived with that. What really disappointed us was the interior. Volvo was proud to tells us that their seats were designed by a medical doctor and took 6 years to complete. Well, they really arent that comfortable. The interior felt like an empty box....Spartan appointments for a vehicle over 50k. The infotainment console is too far away from the driver and the system was unneccessarily complicated. The positioning of controls did not seem to have a logical or ergonomic design. Overall, the xc90 felt cheap and hollow. Just how cheap was really apparent once we drove the BMW X5, Mercedes GLE and others in the luxury SUV class. We felt it was very overpriced.

Volvo XC90 Reviews By Year:
Great Deals Near You
  • Loading cars...

Selected Edmunds.com visitor vehicle reviews

Edmunds.com Visitor Vehicle Ratings and Reviews are the property of Edmunds.com, and may not be reproduced or distributed without the consent of Edmunds.com. Edmunds© is a trademark of Edmunds.com, Inc. Edmunds.com, Inc. is not affiliated with this website or app.

Powered By Edmunds

× Estimated monthly payments based on 3.9% APR, 60 month financing, and 20% down payment. Tax, tags, title, administration fees, and license fees are not included in price or payment. Subject to approved buyer credit. Actual purchase terms may vary.

Payment calculations are sourced by EveryAuto.com and may not reflect actual dealer financing terms.

Send Us Feedback ×


Locating Vehicles In Your Area