12/05/10

• Price£38,995
• We like...Well priced
• We don't...Noisy engine

Should you buy a new car late in its model life? If it’s a Volvo XC90, plenty of owners can’t see a problem. Although it’s entering its seventh year on sale, Volvo is shifting more than ever before.

Why is this happening? For a start, the price is right. Model for model, the XC90 is (at time of writing) several thousands of pounds cheaper to buy new than its arch-rival, the Land Rover Discovery. Volvo diehards will notice in the XC90 design similarities with the previous V70 estate, confirming that it’s old-school. But the look is classy kinda timeless. And, like the Discovery, the XC90 will seat up to seven.

This is important. If you’re well off and have plenty of kids (or a couple of kids with plenty of friends) the XC90 packs a deal more prestige than most other options.

And this comes through from the moment you step inside it. The cabin is as roomy as you’d expect and this is a large car, matching a Discovery for length and width, while it’s actually a touch bigger than Toyota’s Land Cruiser. That means good lounging space for front and mid-row occupants. The outer-mid seats spring forward easily to let you into the back row, which then folds into the floor until needed. There’s enough room back there (just) for grown ups. The centre mid seat also flips up its cushion to turn into a booster seat for kids. Tip every seat flat and – presto – you’ve a small van. It’s really a very handy thing. And if you go for the top-spec SE Lux Premium that we tested it has everything you’d want, although items such as air conditioning for the third row passengers is a costly extra, as is a system that warns the driver of vehicles overtaking in his or her blind spot.

All the seat mechanisms feel sturdy and well engineered but they are heavy and – a common problem, this – there’s nowhere to stow the luggage blind.

To drive, it fully feels its size. The steering is light enough but lacks enough feel to leave you secure in placing the car inch-perfect. The five-cylinder diesel motor is lively but noisy as it revs. It’s not particularly economical: despite its ‘official’ 33.0mpg: we couldn’t manage much over 20mpg. The ride is good on the motorway but unsettles easily if subjected to badly scarred urban road surfaces. If you’re sat in the rear it pitches unevenly. Noise and thumps from the suspension are filtered out but overall comfort doesn’t match that of a Discovery.

And while we didn’t take it off-road (our experience is few owners will ever do so) we can say that while its ground clearance and under body protection is good, it hasn’t the sophistication of its Land Rover competitor. Should you buy one? Used or new, it is a big, attractive off-roader delivering all the style and usefulness you’d want. And Volvo’s top safety reputation serves to reassure, too. While Land Rover’s Discovery is a better all-rounder, keen prices keep the XC90 well in the frame.

• Engines2.4-litre 5cyl diesel
• Power183bhp
• 0-60 mph11.1secs
• Economy33.2mpg
• CO2g/km224
• Insurance groups15E
• EuroNCAP
• Airbags8
• Seats7

Motors.co.uk value verdict: