2011 Volvo XC90

The 2011 Volvo XC90 is available in three trims namely the 3.2 Base, 3.2 R-Design, and V-8 trims. The price for the base trim starts at $38,400 and goes up to $40,200 for the V-8 trims. As the name suggests the trims are powered by an inline engine or a V-8 engine. It faces competition from the likes of Acura MDX, Buick Enclave, and BMW X5.

The 2011 XC90 is available in mainly three trims namely the 3.2 Base, 3.2 R-Design, and V-8 trims. All the trims come with signature Volvo safety, comfort, and luxury, that you would expect from a Volvo vehicle. The trims are powered by a 3.2L V-6 engine or a bigger 4.4L V-8 engine for better performance. 

Which trim should you buy?

We suggest the 3.2 R-Design trim as it provides a sportier riding experience with sports-tuned suspension, sport styling wheel, and 19-inch alloy wheels. It also gets many creature comforts and comes with superior safety too. If you need sheer performance then you can go for the V-8 trim. 

The 201 Volvo XC90 is equipped with a 3.2L V-6 engine producing about 290 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission. The overall ride experience is smooth and the performance is just okay. It is not enough to give you an adrenaline rush and the handling is also not inspiring. It is available in standard front-wheel-drive configuration and it takes about 10 seconds for 0-60 mph. A quarter-mile drag is done in about 17.0 seconds. Overall, the performance is underwhelming from its base 3.2L engine. If you need more performance, you can opt for a 4.4L V-8 engine.

The X5 is a more capable performer here with its smaller engine. It does 0-60 mph in just 6.8 seconds. The MDX also accelerates well but is equipped with a bigger engine. It does 0-60 mph in about 7.0 seconds. The Enclave does the same in about 8.4 seconds. The Volvo XC90 is the most underpowered performer in this comparison. 

The Volvo XC90 is not a very fuel-efficient vehicle. It offers about 16 mpg, 22 mpg, and 18 mpg, in the city, on the highway, and in mixed driving conditions respectively. With a fuel tank capacity of 21.1 gallons, it can travel up to 338 miles, 464 miles, and 380 miles, in the city, on the highway, and in mixed driving conditions respectively.

The Buick Enclave and BMW X5 are more fuel-efficient as compared to the competition. Both come with the same combined fuel efficiency figures but owing to a larger 22.5-gallon fuel tank, the X5 wins the range battle. The XC90 and Acura MDX offer about 18 mpg in combined driving conditions and come with smaller fuel tank capacities and hence lose out in the range game. 

The 2011 XC90 can seat up to seven passengers across the three rows. The cabin is upscale and uses luxurious materials everywhere. The front seats are comfortable, supportive and are worth long journeys. The driver sits more naturally and his position is more car-like than in an SUV-like vehicle. The second-row seats are comfortable too. The third-row seats are best suited for children as adults might feel cramped in there. The NVH levels are well controlled inside the cabin and the ride can become slightly harsh with a V-8 engine. Overall, the CX90’s cabin is a good place to be in. 

All the SUVs except the X5, offer seating for seven passengers. The XC90 is the least practical SUV of the lot, owing to a lower cargo capacity of just 8.8 cu-ft and cramped third-row seats. The Buick Enclave offers class-leading cargo capacity and third-row legroom too. The BMW is a five-seater SUV and offers about 23.3 cu-ft of space behind the second row. Some of the standout interior features of the 2011 XC90 are :

• Dual Vanity Mirrors
• Keyless Ignition
• Interior Air Filtration 
• Leather Upholstery
• Leather Steering Wheel
• Electric Power Steering

How intuitive is the 2011 XC90’s infotainment system?

The XC90 is equipped with an easy-to-use and intuitive infotainment system. It is equipped with a 7.0-inch touchscreen display, Sirius satellite radio, new watch dial instrumentation, and Bluetooth hands-free connectivity as standard. An optional Multimedia package comes with a DVD-driven navigation system with real traffic, a premium audio system, dual-screen DVD entertainment system, and rear park-assist camera. Some of the standout infotainment features of the 2011 XC90 are :

• Rear seat dual-screen entertainment system 
• Sirius satellite radio
• USB ports 
• 8-speaker sound system 
• Navigation system 

The 2011 XC90 is most similar to its predecessor except for some minor styling updates here and there. The front fascia combines a rectangular grille with a chrome outline and two distinctive multi-reflector halogen or Xenon gas discharge headlamps that are functional and blend well with the overall design. The tall, wagon-like styling is not for everyone. 

The side profile is devoid of any aggressive character lines and the roof rails in silver finish grant it a typical SUV-ish look. The rear profile gets a typical Volvo vertical tail light setup and a roof-mounted spoiler with integrated stop lamp never looks out of place. The liftgate opens in a vertical fashion. 

The XC90 gets higher ground clearance in its segment and it’s definitely better. The Buick Enclave is definitely a larger SUV by dimensions and seats on a longer wheelbase, aiding in better legroom and higher stability. The Acura MDX offers a shorter wheelbase and gets adequate ground clearance as well. Some of the standout exterior features of the 2011 XC90 are:

• Fog lights 
• Running Boards
• Power tailgate
• Dual Xenon gas discharge headlights with bending lights 
• 18-inch alloy wheels 
• Roof rails 

All Volvo cars are known for safety and the XC90 is no different. The Volvo XC90 is loaded with standard safety features plus can be had with many high-tech safety features. The safety features like stability and traction control system, brake assist, ABS, EBD, roll stability control, roll protection system, rear park assist, front airbags, side curtain airbags, etc are available as standard. The IIHS has rated it as “Good” in most of its test parameters. Some of the standout safety features of the 2011 XC90 are:

• Tire Pressure Monitoring
• Blind Spot Monitoring (Optional)
• Lane keep assist 
• Vehicle stability control 
• Emergency brake assist 

The Volvo XC90 is a well-built vehicle with many luxurious amenities and safety features. It lacks a smile-inducing performance and a decent fuel economy but does tick many right boxes too. You can opt for a bigger V-8 engine for better performance. However, the looks won’t change and it has a dated styling that won’t appeal to everyone. So, in our opinion, you must check out other SUVs in this class before making a decision.