Volvo XC90 (2002 - 2014) 2.4 D5 (200bhp) ES 5d Geartronic (2014/14) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Unfortunately it probably says something like: "That guy is driving his wife's school bus. He's most likely a rubbish and inconsiderate driver, who cares more about his kids than anyone else's and drives along in his safety bubble, completely oblivious to the carnage he leaves in his wake." Some of that may be true!

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

They think I can't afford it, which is quite funny because it's actually costing less than the VW Passat I had before.

Would you buy this car again and why?

Probably not. This is not a reflection on the car, but I don't like to stick to the same car twice. There's so many great cards around and I want try as many as I can.

What are you likely to buy next?

I'm hoping that in 4 years time, once the kids are a little older, I can switch to a smaller and more sporting car. I like the idea of the Golf R estate at the moment, but it may well come down to what the most tempting contract hire deal is at the time.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Didn't buy from a dealer

Did you buy this car new?

Yes

What price did you pay?

£0

When did you buy the car?

June 2014

Did you get a good deal and why?

I ordered the car through local vehicle agents, Pike and Bambridge, who sourced it on a contract hire from Clelands Volvo dealer. The contract hire deal was unbelievably good value.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Very good value on a contract hire.

What was the dealer like?

Both the agents and the dealer gave exceptional service. A test drive XC90 was driven up to Edinburgh from the dealer in Galashiels for me to try and my car was delivered to my home, where I was given a very comprehensive handover.

What's it like to drive?

It's got a nice torquey engine and a lazy auto box. It's a relaxing motorway cruiser and a commanding vehicle to drive in the city. On country roads, it's best to stick to a comfortable lope. Corners aren't the XC90's thing, however if you needed to I dare say it could be hustled along pretty quickly, it's just your passenger would probably feel a little queasy from all of the leaning and lurching around. The soft suspension which becomes a real boon in the suburbs, where speed bumps are so easily ignored, it feels like the car might be squashing them as it goes. The engine is a bit noisy in town, where the auto-box's delayed pick up from stationery, means I invariably end up having to give it a fair bit of welly to get going safely out of junctions.

What's it like to park?

This is a large car with a wide turning circle and it has taken me some time to get used to it. Thank goodness it has rear parking sensors fitted as standard, it's just a shame they didn't fit front ones, as the bonnet is so high and blunt that I find it very difficult to place the front corners of the car. Much to my wife's pleasure, it was me who has scuffed the front bumper twice already! Expensive repair bill looming at the end of the contract.

Have you had any problems with the car?

I have noticed a rattling/clunking sound coming from the front right of the car, particularly when I drive over bumpy roads. I haven't had time to speak to the dealer about this yet, but I'm sure they will sort it out.

What's most practical about your car?

The car has vast amounts of space for all passengers. Even the third row of seats is capable of taking adults on shorter journeys in reasonable comfort. I like they ease of folding the seats down and the split tailgate, which is handy for climbing up on to reach the very tall roof.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

Only the ES model was affordable for me, so gadgets are thin on the ground. I did specify the optional bluetooth, which works well, but is very old fashioned to use. This is a 12 year old design so I wasn't expecting a lot from gadgets and I wasn't disappointed! The new model looks to have sorted this out, pity It's going to be way out of my league financially!