Volvo performs mildest facelift ever on 2007 XC90
News of Volvo’s ever-so-slight refreshening of its XC90 sport utility is hardly worth the pixels wasted to present it to you, but for whatever reason it popped up enough times on our radar to warrant a Sunday post. The 2007 XC90 gets a nip in the front and a tuck in the back, including new head- and taillamps. The interior received the most attention with more bark, raw hide and shiny metal to make it feel more upscale. Of more significance is the availability of Volvo’s new 235-hp, 3.2L inline-six that will be shared with the new S80 and V70 wagon. This “redesign” is only meant to hold over the XC90 until its total revamp in 2010.
[Source: Inside Line]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ford man 2:16PM (4/02/2006)
Hey - how did they get that Volvo grille on the Hyudai Santa Fe? So Volvo's going to price it at $22 - $25K, right? LOL
Reply
Mark MacLeod 7:04PM (4/02/2006)
Apparently they are taking a page from the Porsche design book.
Reply
Michael Karesh 7:49PM (4/02/2006)
That's got to be a photo of the 2006, because it looks just like one.
Drove the V8 version recently. Definitely an improvement over the laggy turbo engines, as I'm sure the new 3.2 will also be, but still a bit soft and squishy. And the interior definitely needs to be taken upscale, it doesn't quite suit the $50,000 price of the V8 in the 2006.
Haven't written the review yet. Maybe this week.
Reply
sma 11:13PM (4/02/2006)
It looks like the body-colored side molding that was previously only on the V8 is now on the other models. I've seen other pics that show the 3.2 badge on the rear with the body-colored side molding (hard to see badge in this pic). Also, the V8 badge is not on the grill so that hints that this is the 3.2 perhaps. Anyway, body-colored for other XC90 models is an improvement in my eyes.
Reply
Mal Fuller 12:22AM (4/03/2006)
"Volvo performs mildest facelift ever on 2007 XC90"
Just how many facelifts has the 2007 XC90 undergone Mr. Neff?
Reply
Howard Kerr 10:16AM (4/03/2006)
Well, it was bound to happen. Ford has used quite a bit of Volvo engineering recently and now, taking a cue from Ford, Volvo has adopted FoMoCo's practice of "facelifting" a current model with such tiny changes you almost need a microscope to see them. Case in point? 1st and 2nd gen. Navigator, or 2002 and 2004 Escape/Tribute.
Reply
Peter 10:51AM (4/03/2006)
"Volvo performs mildest facelift ever on 2007 XC90"
'Just how many facelifts has the 2007 XC90 undergone Mr. Neff?'
I think the point he was trying to make is that the XC90's facelift is minimal compared to vehicle facelifts in general.
Reply
CH 11:15PM (4/03/2006)
I'm not sure what people were expecting on a facelift 3 years into a 7-year model cycle - especially on a very successful product. New sheet metal?
I see the typical styling changes in trim (e.g., grill, bumpers, lights and mirrors) with the major changes being the new powertrain and enhancements such as adaptive headlights, BLIS, upgraded stereo and navigations systems.
Before and after pictures here:
http://www.swedespeed.com/gallery/albums//FWD%20and%20AWD/XC90/Studio/010.jpg
http://www.swedespeed.com/gallery/albums//FWD%20and%20AWD/XC90/2007%20Facelift/015.jpg
Reply
Tom Design 12:52AM (4/04/2006)
I've been meaning to write about the XC90, since it was introduced. I held off because of it's remarkable canopy safety system, and it's more remarkable anti-flip/rollover technology. Now that this is shared by Ford products, and other competitors, I want to comment on the design. Firstly, Ford has nothing to do with this "refreshening." So Ford bashers go somewhere else. Volvo is responsible for this corporate look, started in the early 90's, a long time ago. That's Volvo, no quick changes. The look goes all the way down to the S40, and nicely transforms from small to large, unlike M-B with their C-class. The S80 was a nice conservatively styled, executive looking sedan. However, the XC90, especially the last iteration, has a cheap, black plastic cladding look. It also has a bulbous, poor attempt to design front and rear overhang proportions. The new Rover is the best look for overhang in luxury SUV's, spectacular design. The the Jeep Grand Cherokee has the next best SUV overhang profile. When you are buying a car in this price range, you really deserve to get some luxury styling cues. The horribly dated, light fixture design, and the black cladding and appliques, just don't cut it. These are not outback vehicles. They are driven to country clubs, high end mall parking lots, and valet parking at restaurants and boutiques. They should have elegant chroming, and painted surfaces everywhere. The last model, with its entirely black snout and huge black side cladding was just a shock to see in this price range. True, Volvo has enjoyed a cult following in it's boxy, conservative design, their sedans stopped having flat black bumpers in 1989. A fully loaded 2.5T, costs $54,000, the V8 model, $57,500. Shouldn't this get you an elegant, chromed grill and bumper, gorgeous styled headlamps and fully painted plastic cladding? That "fugly" campy look of the 80's just doesn't fit the image of a 21st century lux SUV.
Reply
Jason Boston 1:01AM (4/04/2006)
Perhaps Volvo should have been bought by GM? Then it could have used their hi tech inline 6-cyinder producing 275hp/275lbs ft torque engine. Sad day when a new 3.2L inline-six delivers only 235-hp. That said, there's nothing smoother than a straight six...except a straight 8! V6 engines are a battle of balance and create engineering problems for noise, vibration and harshness. It's a waste of technology to throw counterbalances on every spinning shaft.
Reply
DPC car videos 2:59PM (8/24/2006)
I liked the old one better.
Reply