Given its age, the Volvo XC90 is priced well below its rivals. A base ES model will cost around £35,000, with prices rising to more than £40,000 for the range-topping Executive model. That’s at least £3k less than an entry-level Discovery and as much as £10k less than the starting price of a BMW X5.
Economy-wise, the XC90 is also showing its age. All variants offer combined economy of 34.0mpg, while CO2 emissions come in at 219g/km. That’s a long way from the 38.2mpg and 192g/km of the X5 xDrive 30d SE, which also has significantly more power (245bhp) and torque (398lb ft) to go with its better economy and CO2.
Being a Volvo, safety equipment headlines the equipment list. SIPS (Side Impact Protection System and airbags), WHIPS (Whiplash Protection System) and IC (Inflatable Curtain) are all standard, along with dual-stage driver and front passenger airbags.
For a more distinctive XC90, opt for the R Design or Executive model. The R Design boasts a special sports chassis set-up, 19in alloy wheels, a body kit and some sporty interior trim. The Executive, meanwhile, provides a cosseting interior, boasting special soft leather seats with a massage function.
Depreciation on the XC90 is fairly steep, given its age, but this makes for a solid used buy. The XC90 sits in group 41 or 42 for insurance, depending on which model you choose.