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Comments
vb
P.S. Sometimes safety does not become an issue until it's too late. As a former police officer, I can attest to that first-hand.
As for the key fob. Not only does the little ring come off, but the key always opens in my pocket. To say that it "isn't designed" to be with other keys is ridiculous. It is like saying a radiator that overheats isn't designed to work without overheating. Nobody has just one key and a key that isn't designed to be on a ring with other keys or designed not to have other keys attached isn't well designed. At 45K, I have high expectations.
The headlight switch design...well it sucks. It is "automatic" but you have to remember to have it in one position during the day and another at night to be able to use the high beams. In the horizontal position the regular lights come on at night...great-it is automatic...except you can't lock the high beams!!! What is the purpose of this???? Who remembers to turn the knob? It is just silly.
Fog lights should have an on switch that stays on. It resets every time the car is restarted. I can't be bothered to remember every time.
Dash design. The rubber spaces for pens on either end of the shift area are magnets for dirt and dust. It looks and feels unattractive. There is no good place for coins.
Navigation. There should be a mute. In order to mute the system you have to go through long menus. Whatever it was on the radio you wanted to hear is long over.
Heating/Air conditioning. It really isn't clear how to work this....when to put it on auto or when it is on manual. Since it doesn't read out the internal temperature, knowing where to set the temp dial is hard....When I want it a bit colder, I don't know where to set it cause I don't know what temperature it already thinks it is.
It is a good car but it is very expensive so it is too bad that many features are very disappointing.
As far as reliability goes - like CR stated, its too soon to say for sure. Yes there are certainly issues: shifting between 1-2 gears on the T6, parking brake issue, etc. But this is not unexpected for a 1st year model. If you look back at the MDX there were over 100 TSB issued for various complaints - most minor, but some major.
I agree that there are certainly some things that I don't care for on the XC90 - but I don't know of any vehicle that has everything I want. It comes down to a matter of priorities. For us seating capability and safety were key. Having pretensioners on ALL 7 seats are known to improve safety. One only has to look back at the years where a car was tested before and after pretensioners were added, and the improved injury rating.
If I wanted race track performance or hauling capabilities, the XC90 is certainly not the one. Bottom line - thank goodness for the nice choices! (No longer the days of only Jeep GC, and Explorer EB!)
George
In checking the Murano site (noting and taking into account that a separate site has been set up to address owner problems and fixes)there were 1638 total comments. Of those, approx. 10-12% were from owners. Of those owners, approx. half had problems, mostly to do with quality issues, rattles, squeaks, transmission drag, cheap interior fixtures (dented aluminum console, etc.)
My point is that the reason the Murano site APPEARS to not have as many complaints is that only a small fraction of traffic on that site is from owners. Also, Muranos haven't been available for purchase as long as the XC90 has been - only available to the public since late November, early December. The XC90 has been available about 4-6 months longer than that, maybe more.
As far as owners `sugarcoating' their responses about their XC90, that could generally be said about anyone who owns a brand new car and has a few complaints, but still OVERALL like it. That was evident on the Murano site - most who had issues still OVERALL liked the car.
I've got 2,500 miles on my `04 XC90 so far. With the exception of the radio problem (has been fixed) have not had ONE problem with it. Drove it on a 1300 mile round trip to Florida 2 weeks ago. Got everything I expected out of it regards to performance, handling, gas mileage and comfort. I'm sure there will be some who don't have as good an experience. That's the way it is with ANY car purchase.
In regards to the AC: If you have it on auto, then turning the knob to a colder or warmer setting (graduated in 2 degree increments) will boost the fan or cut it back. One can surely tell what temperature is comfortable without having to see the actual reading. If I feel too cold or too warm I adjust the setting. I don't feel the need to see a readout to tell me how hot or cold I am.
In regards to fog lights: I agree with jb_shin. Fog lights are usually infrequently used. I don't feel it's a nuisance at all to turn them back on after I start the car up again - but then again I do noticed that I'm drained and in need of a nap every time I turn it on..........you may be onto something!
It appears in general that posters to these sites are only %10 - %30 owner driven.
To me, the most important factor is that Volvo tests these things seriously by dropping them on their heads. SUVs -- even the XC90 -- WILL roll over under various accident scenarios (I believe that RSC is oversold and only prevents a small fraction of rollovers -- better than nothing, but unacceptable in and of itself). The key safety features are (a) the extraordinarily strong roof, (b) curtain airbags that deploy in a rollover (not just a side collision), and (c) the pretensioners in all 7 seatbelts.
If Lexus could deliver (a), (b), and (c), I would buy a Lexus. But they don't. So I didn't. And if you want something peppy and fun to drive, you're looking in the wrong class of vehicle. These are kid transporters.
Other problems were the well known 1 -2nd gear lag, corrected with software, a clock that consistently loses time (no fix known), poor FM reception, a warble somewhere (a known issue, no fix yet), a Nav reading that showed where the dealership was and wouldn't let me change my starting point (fixed) and most irritating, a gas gauge that , along with the computer readout, informs me that I have 20 or 25 miles left when in fact the tank is half full. I know that the gauge/ readout is based on the last few miles, but the swings occur in the middle of a trip, fluctuate and then, sometimes, return to what I know is the actual reading. If I forget when I last filled up and have not reset the odometer, trips are fraught with the fear of running out of gas. My dealer says there are 2 sensors in the saddle bag gas tank, but won't change them both since Volvo will only reimburse for the faulty one, and he is unable to determine which one is bad. I like my dealer, this is my 3rd Volvo, but 8 visits in 6 months, with little resolution, is very frustrating.
I did a lot of research before buying this car, and am having second thoughts. At this point, I will probably keep the car for a couple of years, and then trade it for the Mercedes E320 4Matic wagon (providing the problem with dangerous rear vision is corrected). I would love to know if I am alone in having any of these problems.
Excellent Reliability (55%, 26 votes)
Good Reliability (31%, 15 votes)
I am amazed this thing can even move (6%, 3 votes)
Just Average (4%, 2 votes)
not very reliable (2%, 1 votes)
George
"The consumer reports report was quite superficial. It emphasized many performance but not safety. If safety was the focus, it would have rated high and the others lower presumably. Having said that, they were right on with the performance. I have the 2.5 AWD and it is very sluggish. It is anything but nimble. I get into my honda odyssey and I feel like I am in a BMW! You get used to the lumbering starts but when you get in another car, it reminds you how sluggish the XC90 is."
True, the XC90 isn't a Beemer but it ain't a goat either. Compared to my brother's Odyssey, the XC90 is fine. I am amazed at how smooth the power curve/turbo are on this vehicle. Nimbleness is relative, the XC90 handles much better than the Pilot and MDX.
"As for the key fob. Not only does the little ring come off, but the key always opens in my pocket. To say that it "isn't designed" to be with other keys is ridiculous. It is like saying a radiator that overheats isn't designed to work without overheating. Nobody has just one key and a key that isn't designed to be on a ring with other keys or designed not to have other keys attached isn't well designed. At 45K, I have high expectations."
I agree on this one. Crappy design. Both my wife/my key rings broke within a week. Admittedly a small but significant inconvenience.
"The headlight switch design...well it sucks. It is "automatic" but you have to remember to have it in one position during the day and another at night to be able to use the high beams. In the horizontal position the regular lights come on at night...great-it is automatic...except you can't lock the high beams!!! What is the purpose of this???? Who remembers to turn the knob? It is just silly."
Yup, it is silly and I don't know why the Swedes would do it this way. Again, for me this is more of an inconvenience than anything else. There are other things I worry about more...
"Fog lights should have an on switch that stays on. It resets every time the car is restarted. I can't be bothered to remember every time."
Not an issue IMHO and in fact it is kind of nice - other cars I owned did not have this feature and I constantly burned out fog lights.
"Dash design. The rubber spaces for pens on either end of the shift area are magnets for dirt and dust. It looks and feels unattractive. There is no good place for coins."
Definitely not high end on this one but again I like this. Things don't rattle around or fall out wherther they are pens or change. The lack of a formal change well is a bit of a downer. More importantly, I am disappointed by the size of the storage well. Sure it holds a half a dozen cd's but that's it. Too puny!
"Navigation. There should be a mute. In order to mute the system you have to go through long menus. Whatever it was on the radio you wanted to hear is long over."
Don't have Nav, so can't comment. Sounds plausible.
"Heating/Air conditioning. It really isn't clear how to work this....when to put it on auto or when it is on manual. Since it doesn't read out the internal temperature, knowing where to set the temp dial is hard....When I want it a bit colder, I don't know where to set it cause I don't know what temperature it already thinks it is."
I don't read Swedish very well so I can't exactly explain the cryptic air handling system. Overall, I am reasonably satisfied but it is a bit quirky. For example, in auto mode/cooling the only zones which cold air are directed are the upper and mid zones. No air is directed towards the feet. Sure, one can do this by switching in manual mode, but it seems a bit strange. The air filtration system and climate control are excellent. Still the buttons' states (on/off) are difficult to see in the light and the dash's rear air control is weird.
"It is a good car but it is very expensive so it is too bad that many features are very disappointing."
Yes, it seems to be a good car, but I still have serious issues. The radio/cd system are bizarre and difficult to operate. A simple task such as "scan" becomes a several button affair. I haven't found a cd yet which is read and displayed the track information. Also, the cd changer is agonizingly slow and operations are interrupted when loading/unloading the non-active disks. In a $45000 car, I expect a better music system.
Like many new cars, the XC90 has some flaws. My particular vehicle arrived with defective paint and had to have the door repainted. At 3000 miles a strange "clunk" developed in the front upon releasing the gas or coming to a stop. The dealer stated that there was a bulletin dealing with an axle issue and that it was easily resolved. Unfortunately, these were less than satisfying experiences.
Overall, I have suspicions about the overall reliability and longevity of this vehicle. Coming from Subarus and Honda's, I am not sure whether this vehicle will last for the long haul.
To summarize, a few nagging and disappointing design issues, great apparent safety, longevity questions.
BTW, I agree with you on the stereo controls. Basic controls are good but the menus are bizzare and a pain. Sometimes it goes into PTY search mode even thought I have pty off. I have to wait for it to hit my station. It takes a bunch of menus to do the mode where is searches for the top 10 stations and puts them in temporarily. I love this feature but use it infrequently....it is too hard to remember how to do it. In my odyssey, all I have to do is push one button.
This is a real concern as I expect for 40K not to have to hassle with a dealer on too much. If I wanted to do that, I'd buy another Ford. For this quality of a vehicle I am expecting a better level of service. Perhaps I am expecting too much.
I have about 7600 miles on the car at this point. I have the 2.5T. I bought it specifically because I wasn't crazy about how the T6 handled, but that's personal preference: I prefer to drive stick and I liked how the 2.5T shifted and I'm not crazy about the speed-sensitive steering of the T6.
I've had to have a few things fixed, but I was expecting that given that I bought in the first model year. Things fixed: parking break issue, rear shock. Axle creak will be fixed next week.
I don't have the key fob, so I can't comment on that. Lights? I've never moved the switch in the 8 months I've owned the car, so I obviously can't complain. Is there room for improvement? Yes. Would I buy it again? In a heart beat; I love to drive it. If I wanted race-track performance, I would have bought a sports car. Instead, I bought a truck that hauls my kids and all my stuff, handles great and keeps up with my lead foot.
I'm sorry to hear there are those that aren't pleased. Good news is that you can probably sell your truck.
Sharon
It would seem to me the safety feature is slowing you down so you're not running across the parking lot before you've even locked your car!
shadowchaser: "It takes a bunch of menus to do the mode where is searches for the top 10 stations and puts them in temporarily. I love this feature but use it infrequently....it is too hard to remember how to do it. In my odyssey, all I have to do is push one button."
If 3 button pushes is too much for you, program MY KEY to do it in one push.
I still think menu after menue is not a great thing on a car because they know you will want to change things while driving. It isn't like there haven't been lots of designs that work on other cars.
Fast or slow, it isn't great to have to turn around. They could have put a beep, even a nice, non-noxious tone like so many other cars. I miss having it and I am reminded of that every time I get out of my car....
There is nothing wrong with being particular about a superexpensive luxury vehicle. There is a tendency to make value judgements about people who critique features of this car. I paid a lot and have the right to give my impressions, suggestions etc. That is one of the purposes of a forum such as this.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with giving impressions. It's just amusing how some of the posts read.
Sharon
Aside from the FM reception, I can tell you that your issues are not ones I have heard before--I don't understand the Nav complaint, though.
At this point, I will probably keep the car for a couple of years, and then trade it for the Mercedes E320 4Matic wagon (providing the problem with dangerous rear vision is corrected).
FWIW, A friend of mine had the E320 wagon for a year and complained bitterly the whole time. She dumped it one weekend for an MDX. The lack of visibility and poor snow handling were two of her big complaints. The third was lack of flexibility in carrying her 3 kids. Of course, you can't judge a car based on one person's experience. Just passing it along.
a)
moving the light switch setting if I need to use the high beams...but living in the city, I might use the high beams once a month when I leave the city.
(b) I would also like it to beep when it locks. I haven't looked in the manual, but thought maybe it was something that could be turned on or off.
(c) The key fob is huge, but I just keep it separate from my other keys.
I have the 2.5 AWD and mainly went with that vs. the T6 because I had read many posts and reviews that mentioned the superior 5 speed transmission, and I wanted better mileage. I have fun using the autostick and you can even start from 3rd gear and go all the way to highway speeds. I'm personally pretty impressed with the torque I get from a 5 cylinder engine that is less than half the size of my former Dodge Durango's 5.9 liter gas guzzler. I think the acceleration is very good unless you are used to driving a sports car and the highway speed acceleration is also good. It's also cool getting north of 20 mpg in an SUV.
People are focused on the negatives, but forget all the positives, like numerous airbags, pretension seat belts, boron columns, great 3rd row seats or cargo area, built in child booster, anti-whiplash seat design, great stereo (I got the upgraded stereo), versatility (even the front passenger seat folds flat) and great style (although this is a matter of personal taste, I think on a scale of 1 to 10, the MDX is about a 5, while the XC90 is a 9.5).
I'd buy the XC90 all over again. The other SUV's I considerd and thought were relatively cool were the Lexus GX470, which has comparatively terrible gas mileage, rougher ride,looks top heavy, has an extremely poor 3rd row design and back door and the VW Tuaureg (sp?), which doesn't have great exterior or interior style (IMO), requires lots of options to get all the great features, and is still a Volkswagen (so not upscale perception) and neither have the Volvo safety features (which were very important to me).
And for my next novel......
Just a quick clarification since I've test driven both the XC90 and Touareg. Both are exceptional cars with the primary difference being utility (XC90) versus raw strength (Touareg). They appear to have similar safety features, quality and, to my eyes, attractive styling. The XC90 can carry more passengers and cargo. The Touareg can be outfitted for exceptional off-road or towing duties. Some differences in details but, similarly equipped, they both get rather pricey.
I've read the CR report..to quote from the report - "Rear-facing child seats may not be secure in the second-row outboard positions because of the location of the safety-belt buckles."
I can't speak from personal experience. But in reading the review, I would not interpret the statement to mean that there is NO way to put a rear-facing seat in the outboard position with the seat belt. Rather, I suspect that the statement refers to the varied width of carseats - the ones that are either wider or narrower than average may not fit as secure when using the seat belt.
Since it sounds as if you do not have the car seats yet, the solution is simple. Get one with the LATCH system!! Make sure to look at the better rate ones in the CR report, since it appears that some car seats with LATCH systems were hard to use and might have done worse in their crash tests! Since there are so many different car seats out there, I would exhaust your options before resorting to the extreme of getting a new car!
George
And to khanhvn - I wish the built-in booster had a head rest also. It's sad to see them asleep and drooping! Maybe the twins car seats will keep him propped up!
On my XC90, I keep the switch in the vertical position (lights on all the time while the car is running - pretty much same as daytime driving mode anyway) and I am able to lock the high beams on. I don't see a problem at all, since other vehicles I've owned/driven are the same way.
I believe the problem as seen by some is that the bi-xenon headlights are advertised as automatic, meaning that they turn on the xenons when the switch is in the horizontal position and its dark enough to warrant the xenons. During the day, the halogen lamps provide the daytime running lights. The question is if "automatic" should imply that all features of the headlights should be available when the xenon headlights turn on automatically. Evidently some cars are set up this way. I've never had a car that had automatic headlights before and I don't have any first hand knowledge. As you note, if the switch is in the vertical position you can lock on high beams, but this isn't the automatic mode. So far this hasn't been an issue for me. Like other who have written, I seldom have to use the high beams where I drive so I just leave it on automatic (horizontal).
I am expecting delivery of the vehicle (T6) by end of September
I have 1 year old twins.
Most of the time we don't expect to use the third row.
Can we put two forward facing seats in the second row , on the outer positions?
If we have to use the third row, when guests come, to access the third row, since we need one of the outer seats to be folded, what is the best way to do it? Is it possible to put one seat in outward position and one in middle seat in second row?
If we get LATCH based seats, do we have to meddle with the seat belts every time when we take the car seat out or put it back in? If it is just a case of plugging the seat in or out then may be keeping them in outer position is not such a issue even if we have to use the third row.
Thanks a lot for your suggestions & answers
It may be possible to put two seats next to each other - but I guess it depends on the type of seat you have. The seat in the middle position must be secured with the seatbelt.
Hope that helps,
George
Regarding your comment about the Heating and AC controls:
"For example, in auto mode/cooling the only zones which cold air are directed are the upper and mid zones. No air is directed towards the feet. Sure, one can do this by switching in manual mode, but it seems a bit strange......"
I would suspect it is set up this way because cooler air sinks, therefore, the air from the AC would settle anyway. My experience with other vehicles has been that if I have the AC setting set to floor and dash vents, the passengers in the front seats get cold quicker, while the back seat occupants are still roasting. Which, with the set up in the Volvo, this would be easily avoided.
We have two Britax Roundabout car seats in the outboard positions of the second row. They both are LATCH and fit great. When we have a need for the third row (only occasionally), it is easy to click one of the car seats out of the latch and move it out of the way. With the LATCH system, clicking them in and out is a snap and really doesn't take much effort or time, although I wouldn't want to be doing it everyday.
My fan is only loud when I have it on high; it's pushing a lot of air through the car. Most of the time my fan is set at 2 or 3 lights (for lack of a better description). At that level I can't hear the fan and I have more than enough cooling. I can't imagine leaving it on high all the time; that's way too much air for us. And no, my fan never whistles.
Sharon
From what you say, I guess LATCH in second row sounds the best option. We will try them on outboard positions in second row.
If we are able to find LATCH seats which can also fit in the middle position of second row, then we have the flexibility, if there is a need to use 3rd row for a few days consecutively.
when we buy the seats, after trying them I will post my experience here.
In regards to child seats we have a 4 week old baby and I inquired with Volvo on rear facing child seats in the middle of 2nd row,(presumably the safest spot for infants) and they said no latch system for middle, but the tether system can be utilized, not sure what that is, does anyone know?
I understand your concerns. We have had XC90 T2.5 for 6 weeks now. The only problem we had was with the radio (delay in powering up after starting the vehicle - problem was bad antenna amplifier).
We went to Destin, Florida about 2 weeks ago. Great trip - gas mileage was about 23 mpg, seats were extremely comfortable. I drove the whole trip (10 hours 1 way) and was not fatigued at all. Lumbar supports in the seats were great. I had lower back surgery 13 years ago, so these were a must. The ride was very smooth and quiet. I have not experienced any of the other problems noted on this site. Both of our key fobs are intact. I wear jeans most of the time and still don't really notice the keys in my pocket.
Most of the transmission problems seem to be with the 4 speed auto offered with the T6, so I can't help you there (if you bought a T6).
Thus far we have about 2800 miles on it.
We are extremely pleased with our choice thus far.
Don't have toddlers or infants, so I can't answer the carseat issues.
Hope you enjoy your XC!
Not sure of any mid sized SUV that has LATCH in the middle seting position - so that is not a unique omission.
As for the tether system - it is a strap that attaches to the top of the car seat. Any seat made in the past 2-4 years has it. For forward facing seats, the strap goes over the back of the seat and attaches to an anchor point usually along the base of the seatback. It allows for a more secure fit with the carseat. It can also work for rear-facing seats, I usually attach the strap to a point along the floor.
George
I also wondered and worried about not having the LATCH connectors in the middle seat of the second row, but once the child gets a little bigger, it's all you can do to get them in their seat on the outboard position, much less climbing into the middle seat. Additionally, the way most cars are set up, the middle seat sits a little higher, which allows the car seat to move side to side more than is desirable, no matter how tight you crank down on the seat belt. I'm anticipating that the Volvo side impact beams and side curtain airbag will help if someone ever hits the passenger side of the car, where we keep the carseat.
I also agree with the previous comment about the XC90 seats. They are great!!
A LATCH installation is more convenient but is not necessarly more secure than a belted installation. Assuming a tight attachment, a child is safer with his/her seat belted into the center position than with his/her seat LATCH'ed or belted into the outboard positions.
Please note that some vehicle manufacturers and car seat manufacturers let you secure a LATCH seat using the inner lower anchor points. So long as your vehicle manual does not advise against it, and the seat manufacturer says it's alright, one can LATCH that way (e.g. I believe that Britax says that the Roundabout's webbing-based LATCH straps will span a 21" space between the inner LATCH anchors). Of course, if you do this you can't also LATCH a seat into either of the outboard positions.
I had researched quite a bit and have always heard about the transmission in T6 concerns, we are getting the 2.5 and we are quite excited, looking to take a road trip as soon as we get it.
TIA
Steve, Host
Oh, and IMHO, I don't think the switch was poorly designed. That is a gross overstatement. If it were under the seat or on the bumper next to the headlights, THAT would be poorly designed. Forgive me for the levity.
I would pester the hell out of the dealer every day until it got resolved. I would make them think they have a live-in, uneployed brother-in-law that won't go away.
Do you live in an area where you have more than one dealer within 20 miles? If so, I would take it to another dealership.
Does it happen when cold (after first startup)? When they attempt to replicate it, do they take it out for a drive over 5 - 10 minutes? I'd offer to go with them and let them drive it, kindof walk them thru your driving habits.
Hey, it might take up some of your time, but at $40,000+ it's worth it.
Steve, Host