Photo by Muffy Aldrich
The Modern Guide to The Thing Before Preppy

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

V90 vs. XC70?

 

Hi Muffy,

Do you or your readers have any thoughts on the current model Volvo V90 vs. the prior model XC70?

Thank you.

 

32 comments:

  1. I loved the XC70, and we tried to hunt a good one down this year. It was difficult to find a good one at a reasonable price, so we went with the XC60 instead of the V90. I have to say that I had my heart set on an XC70 but I LOVE the XC60. It handles so well and it has all the great features that sets the Volvo apart. It’s so easy to handle on our narrow, winding local roads, and I am so glad that we went with this model!

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    1. Same here. I wanted an XC70, but ended up with an XC60 instead. Love the XC60, but would still like to guy a 2015 0r 2016 XC70 to replace our 2010 V50 (which is still going strong).

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  2. Do you realize that the Volvo car company is owned by the Chinese? Buy American or German instead.

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  3. The V90 is larger, more expensive, larger engine, handles better in my opinion. If I were looking for a larger luxury wagon/crossover/SUV, Audi or BMW would probably be higher on my list than Volvo.

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  4. I had three new XC-70s between 1999 and 2010 and I loved them. Originally from New England, I have lived in Colorado for many years. All my Cross Countries were excellent and perfect cars for negotiating winters and mountain roads- safe and comfortable. Equally, they served well driving kids back and forth from school, soccer games, fly-fishing, and rock-climbing. I grew less enchanted when the Chinese bought the company and the already fairly luxurious crossovers and the rest of the line seemed to be gravitating to luxury at the expense of utility and practicality. The V-90 is a large luxury station wagon and not intended as far as I can tell to be anything like the XC series. I think the current XC series is a very line. I switched to an MB GLA 250 with the kids grown and I love it for the same reasons I used to like the Volvo crossovers.

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    1. I agree. The V-90 is a nice enough car but there's nothing about it that screams "Volvo" to me.

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    2. For what it's worth, the only V90 sold in the US today is the V90 Cross Country - all wheel drive, elevated clearance from the road. You can even buy it with an adaptive suspension that raises the car higher when you're in the off-road setting, and lower for street driving. Volvo discontinued sales of the non-XC V90 in the USA a year or two ago.

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  5. I recommend a Subaru; any Model. The Ascent is the largest. Most are AWD too. Excellent styling, driving, fuel economy and likely as long lasting as a Volvo. BTW. We have been Volvo owners since the 80's; still own one and also a Subaru Outback.

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  6. I have a 2020 V60 wagon which I love. It is my understanding that the 2020 models are last models in which production was controlled by the Swedish. It is now controlled by the Chinese. I'm not sure I will buy another Volvo.

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  7. A great sleeper wagon is the Buick Regal TourX. It's mostly German-market engineering underneath. May have to look a bit, but it's a great alternative.

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    1. Buicks depreciate quickly, so you may be able to find a good deal on a 3 year old one on CarMax. I recommend CarMax for purchases, but stay away from their service department.

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  8. Replies
    1. Where I live Audis are for people that wear athleisure wear with gold prints. I'm aware it's a quality car, but I can't help associate it with tacky people

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    2. Where I live people who see an Audi behind them, bearing New York plates, slow down to scrupulously observe the speed limit. If the Audi has New Jersey plates they slow down even more, and start to swerve.

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  9. I have owned Swedish Volvos and Chinese Volvos. The latter are horrifyingly bad. The build quality is so so and the electronics are sub-standard. As a result, I have officially switched to the Subaru Outback.

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  10. The "NEW" most proper Prep vehicle is either a Suburban or Tahoe ONLY in LT trim, which eliminates low profile tires, gaudy wheels and excessive shiny bits. Build quality challenges anything out there. Pardon the snark, but it's way more " Arthur Beale" than any new Volvo. Sincerely, Fairfield County Boomer, currently wearing Rancourts, a 10 year old pair of Bill's in British Khaki, a whimsical belt (that you can see because my threadworn BB Oxford is tucked in) and a ribbon band on Grand Pere's wind-up Longine...

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  11. My favorite car ever was the used 1968 Volvo 145 Estate Wagon (dark green with a saddle leather interior) that my dad gave me as my first car. It was the best. I also liked my 1982 Volvo 242 sedan. I haven't driven Volvos since that time, and would not purchase a Chinese one. I highly recommend electric vehicles. Ive had a sedate dark Grey Chevrolet Bolt sedan (sort of a wagon) for several years, and Chevy is replacing it for free with their 2023 EUV Bolt due to a battery recall and price reductions on that model. It is a really well made vehicle, and never needs oil changes, mufflers, gas, and only needed brake pads one time in three years. Plus it is super comfortable and fast (and I have driven some very nice European cars including Mercedes, BMW, Saab, Fiat Spider (still have an old one) etc through the years). I might test drive a Kia EV6 Wind (European Car of the Year 2022)...it is a little futuristic looking for my taste but it is a luxury rocket (0-62 in 3 seconds and top speed 162 some versions...autobahn bomber!) that comes in AWD for about $50K.

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  12. Volvo is now a Chinese company and has little to do with the Swedish image they like to sell to customers. Their wonders have begun to move the brand more upmarket to compete with Audi, BMW or Mercedes while greenwashing their products. Our current cars will be our last Volvos as I am not willing to support and finance a company from a totalitarian entitiy that actively and intentionally tries to undermine anything Western democracies do and should stand for. It's a country that actively persecutes ethnic and religious minorities by putting them in prison or downright murdering them. There are so many discussions about buying high quality and locally produced items on this site but the attitude towards Volvo is quite lenient in that regard. Buy an American made car like a Subaru, Chevrolet or a car from Western Europe but I cannot understand people who willingly and knowingly buy products made in China.

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  13. Seconded. It is not easy to avoid purchasing products made in China. But it is worth the time and effort. It always amazes me how little attention some people pay to where something they have purchased, or might purchase, is made.

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    1. I'm always shocked how few people really understand the implication of buying products made in China or by Chinese companies. It means you're sending money directly there which then supports their current system of exploitation, supression, surveillance and persecution. There are no independent Chinese companies, they're all deeply connected to the countries leadership. I know it sounds drastic but this is a deeply rooted political issue and noone can hide from it and we all have to make a choice. I know it's shoking how much stuff is made in China but then you simply shouldn't buy it, there is no other way.

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  14. I've mentioned this before on the subject of cars. It was never published. What about Tesla? Other than the Corvette it is the only car right now that is completely made in the United States.

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  15. My last Volvo was one of the unfortunate model years when associated with Ford. Worst blind spot of any car I have ever driven. After driving my old BMW into tjhe ground, I made the move to a Subaru Outback and have been incredibly pleased with the comfort and durability. A big plus is that it was built in the US. The Chinese association with Volvo now is something I simply cannot get past.

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  16. My daughter still has her S60, I believe, but they have added a Subaru Forester to actually drive. I see that Jeep has reintroduced a Wagoneer model, together with a Grand Wagoneer, apparently designed to compete with the Chevy Suburban. Doesn't seem to be a wood-paneling option for the sides.

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    1. Wagonmaster will outfit the new Grand Wag and the Wagoneer with wood panelling.

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  17. I realize this is not helpful, but we have a 1998 V70 wagon with over 300k miles on it, fondly referred to as "the boiling hell wagon", since the AC long ago gave up the ghost, and which is my youngest's favorite thing ever, and we are storing a 1965 122S (I think that's the model) named Zelda for our eldest daughter *and* there's an 2006 (I think...) Audi A5, 5 speed, fastback model in deep navy called The Little Car that is only taken out on special days. And never after November 1, perish the thought. However. The car we drive around the country, to the farm for CSA, to the cottage, the beach and everywhere but the transfer station is a 2016 Toyota 4Runner. Thing's a beast. Highly recommend. But only the 2006 Sienna is allowed to carry garbage to the transfer station.

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  18. For the life of me I can not understand the current, and seemingly trendy, Volvo backlash. The V90 is a truly spectacular automobile, as is almost everything in their current lineup. If you're considering it, take one for a test drive, and disreagrd the naysayers.

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  19. They may not be perfect, but we use daily, and would not dream of parting with our vintage Land Rovers, and our MG!

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  20. Have owned and driven many Volvos and miss the 240 the most by far. Will concede the XC90 has grown into a handsome adult from its dune buggy adolescence. But that new V90 looks like a Dodge Magnum (had to look that up). It’s a low slung horror show. I’ll leave all the many questionable things about China out of my answer (the list is loooong). The car is just ugly. Not our kind, Dear. (Also agree heartily about the arriviste Audi. Still best left to Yuppies only.)

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  21. I recently purchased a 2022 V60 Cross Country. I special ordered this vehicle and it was delivered from Sweden. From what I can see listed inside the vehicle, the car was manufactured in Torslanda Sweden. It’s is however, not an iconic 240. Still a fine vehicle with updated style, updated safety technology, and decent practicality that comes with an AWD wagon.

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  22. But I hate to repeat what has already been mentioned. We are supporting the Chinese government when we buy Volvo. Very nice that they’re made in Sweden. However, we are supporting one of the most oppressive governments in the world.

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  23. I've owned two xc70's and an xc90, liked them all but preferred the 90. Now I'm driving a Subaru Ascent. It offers good value and safety, and has the comfort and tech I need for comfortable cruising and the back-road capability I need for grouse hunting on secluded two tracks.

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