The 2010 Volvo XC90: Performance and Safety

If you've ever seen a Volvo XC90 suv crash test then you know its one of the safest crossover SUV's on the market. The Volvo XC90 can do a roll over test at 70 mph and roll more than six times and it only crushes the top of the Volvo a mere 2 inches; with dual front and side curtain airbags it's almost impossible to get hurt in one of these XC90's. The XC90 has a five star crash test rating and is ideal for small families and expectant mothers with all of its very modern safety features. There have been some improvements for the 2010 Volvo XC90 in the form of more available seating with a seating capacity of seven which makes it ideal for larger families. The chassis has been improved to provide a better riding experience as well as improved handling. Rear parking assist is now a standard feature also.

Since 2003 when the Volvo XC90 first made its debut on dealership floors there haven't been a wealth of improvements made to the vehicle; this is Volvo's reasoning of if its not broke don't fix it. The Volvo XC90 was and is still a quality piece of fine machinery; it may indeed be perhaps the best quality crossover unibody SUV on the market today as far as safety, performance, and handling. The XC90 offers a V8 engine for smoothness of operation; however the twin turbo in-line six cylinder takes its throne in the arena of performance. There are draw backs to the XC90's safety and performance that may hit your pocket book hard and that comes in the form of fuel economy. The standard front wheel drive in-line six cylinder gets a combined fuel economy from highway and city driving of about 18 mpg which isn't too terrible when compared to the V8 all wheel drive model that only gets 15 mpg. But, what can one expect from a nearly five thousand pound SUV packed full of safety features in a possible almost deadly collision. Consumers that purchase the XC90 shouldn't be to concerned with fuel economy (although the times are getting desperate); rather they should be entertained by the idea that the XC90 is perhaps the safest cross over SUV in its class.

The Volvo XC90's body remains relatively unchanged over the years and perhaps Volvo is a little behind the times, but the XC90 still remains the stable mate of the Lexus RX, Mercedes M-class, and the Volkswagen Touareg. It's only competitors in line for its new found third row seating are the Acura MDX and the BMW X5 and possibly the smaller Toyota Highlander which really isn't much competition for the luxury Volvo XC90 by comparison. The XC90 comes standard with 18 inch aluminum alloy wheels; however if you stretch for the V8 Executive package you will get 19 inch wheels, bi-xenon headlamps, front seat massaging, heated rear seats, as well as an optional refrigerator. I'd like to see the Toyota Highlander compete with that. The XC90 starts at a base price of $37000 and can quickly escalate to $47000 depending upon the options you choose.