Volvo XC90 2021 vs these other options?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were in this dilemma a few weeks ago and solved it by getting a minivan. We had had an old Odyssey and got rid of it last year so we know what it feels like to have total space and comfort and we are wanting to do a lot of road trips this summer. We tried all those "3rd row: SUV's. I liked the 2021 Kia Sorrento the best and the Audi Q7 but when it came down to it, we needed space. You cannot find extra space in those SUV's. You just cannot. I have two kids in sports who have a lot of gear and require a lot of travel and it will only get worse as they get older. So, we got a Sienna and are soooo happy!

OP here and I'd be fine with another minivan but you can thank the genius car manufacturers for making the new ones just enough too wide for my standard garage door. And I'm not giving up my garage spot, so smaller car it is. I only have 2 kids so I'm less concerned with the size of the 3rd row. Mostly I just need 2 rows and decent cargo space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reliability for the MDX is so terrible that they skipped a year and went straight from 2020 to 2022. This vehicle is the reason that Acura is rated the 4th most unreliable brand in 2019. I am not sure if anyone wants to be the Guinea pig for the new "rebooted" Acura.

Skipped because of Covid.

[Anonymous]

OP or anyone else who was trying to decide between these two cars -- what did you decide?

I am feeling torn. I like the look of the XC90 a little better, and Volvos are so darn safe. But I know the cargo space is smaller than in the MDX, and that the MDX has very good safety features as well. Volvo's display screen is smaller and there is only one, but reviews make it sound like the dual display of the MDX is a pain because one of them works using a touchpad or something. I know Volvo can have maintenance/reliability issues but apparently Acura can too??

Another priority for me is ease of maneuvering/good sight lines. I drive an older SUV that has terrible visibility and turn radius. I really can't see anything that is next to the car and low to the ground (no cameras other than a crappy backup camera). Our driveway is pretty narrow and it's hard to back out of it around my husband's car without going super slow.

I have taken a cursory look at both the XC90 and MDX and am going back to do a closer look and test drives this week. I want to make a decision soon. My husband has an "older" MDX (2018?) and loves it but wants to get something else soon (he leases). He has not had to take it in for any repairs or recalls and it handles much better than my current car. Whatever we buy for me is going to kept for at least 7-8 years so I want to make sure it's the right choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP or anyone else who was trying to decide between these two cars -- what did you decide?

I am feeling torn. I like the look of the XC90 a little better, and Volvos are so darn safe. But I know the cargo space is smaller than in the MDX, and that the MDX has very good safety features as well. Volvo's display screen is smaller and there is only one, but reviews make it sound like the dual display of the MDX is a pain because one of them works using a touchpad or something. I know Volvo can have maintenance/reliability issues but apparently Acura can too??

Another priority for me is ease of maneuvering/good sight lines. I drive an older SUV that has terrible visibility and turn radius. I really can't see anything that is next to the car and low to the ground (no cameras other than a crappy backup camera). Our driveway is pretty narrow and it's hard to back out of it around my husband's car without going super slow.

I have taken a cursory look at both the XC90 and MDX and am going back to do a closer look and test drives this week. I want to make a decision soon. My husband has an "older" MDX (2018?) and loves it but wants to get something else soon (he leases). He has not had to take it in for any repairs or recalls and it handles much better than my current car. Whatever we buy for me is going to kept for at least 7-8 years so I want to make sure it's the right choice.

If you want to keep it for 7-8 years take the XC90 off the list. The engine is a tiny 4 cylinder that's turbocharged and supercharged so it's constantly stressed moving a large car like that.

[Anonymous]

I really like the XC90, it's super tasteful and classy, but I don't like that Volvo is now Chinese owned. The only Asian luxury truck I like is the huge LX570 but those are freaking $90,000 and it's somewhat obsolete (getting 100% redesigned next year).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP or anyone else who was trying to decide between these two cars -- what did you decide?

I am feeling torn. I like the look of the XC90 a little better, and Volvos are so darn safe. But I know the cargo space is smaller than in the MDX, and that the MDX has very good safety features as well. Volvo's display screen is smaller and there is only one, but reviews make it sound like the dual display of the MDX is a pain because one of them works using a touchpad or something. I know Volvo can have maintenance/reliability issues but apparently Acura can too??

Another priority for me is ease of maneuvering/good sight lines. I drive an older SUV that has terrible visibility and turn radius. I really can't see anything that is next to the car and low to the ground (no cameras other than a crappy backup camera). Our driveway is pretty narrow and it's hard to back out of it around my husband's car without going super slow.

I have taken a cursory look at both the XC90 and MDX and am going back to do a closer look and test drives this week. I want to make a decision soon. My husband has an "older" MDX (2018?) and loves it but wants to get something else soon (he leases). He has not had to take it in for any repairs or recalls and it handles much better than my current car. Whatever we buy for me is going to kept for at least 7-8 years so I want to make sure it's the right choice.

I am the OP and we are still considering our options. My husband is very wary of Volvo maintenance (we are also 7-8+ year car owners) and he has a preference for the MDX. I prefer the look of the Volvo but it also costs more than the MDX and I just don’t think I can convince him. I’m also considering an upper trim on Highlander but I just really don’t like the front of it. I suspect we will end up with an MDX but maybe not until fall. I honestly want to get our beach trip out of the way with the minivan! Lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP or anyone else who was trying to decide between these two cars -- what did you decide?

I am feeling torn. I like the look of the XC90 a little better, and Volvos are so darn safe. But I know the cargo space is smaller than in the MDX, and that the MDX has very good safety features as well. Volvo's display screen is smaller and there is only one, but reviews make it sound like the dual display of the MDX is a pain because one of them works using a touchpad or something. I know Volvo can have maintenance/reliability issues but apparently Acura can too??

Another priority for me is ease of maneuvering/good sight lines. I drive an older SUV that has terrible visibility and turn radius. I really can't see anything that is next to the car and low to the ground (no cameras other than a crappy backup camera). Our driveway is pretty narrow and it's hard to back out of it around my husband's car without going super slow.

I have taken a cursory look at both the XC90 and MDX and am going back to do a closer look and test drives this week. I want to make a decision soon. My husband has an "older" MDX (2018?) and loves it but wants to get something else soon (he leases). He has not had to take it in for any repairs or recalls and it handles much better than my current car. Whatever we buy for me is going to kept for at least 7-8 years so I want to make sure it's the right choice.

I am the OP and we are still considering our options. My husband is very wary of Volvo maintenance (we are also 7-8+ year car owners) and he has a preference for the MDX. I prefer the look of the Volvo but it also costs more than the MDX and I just don’t think I can convince him. I’m also considering an upper trim on Highlander but I just really don’t like the front of it. I suspect we will end up with an MDX but maybe not until fall. I honestly want to get our beach trip out of the way with the minivan! Lol.

Have you looked up Acura reliability?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP or anyone else who was trying to decide between these two cars -- what did you decide?

I am feeling torn. I like the look of the XC90 a little better, and Volvos are so darn safe. But I know the cargo space is smaller than in the MDX, and that the MDX has very good safety features as well. Volvo's display screen is smaller and there is only one, but reviews make it sound like the dual display of the MDX is a pain because one of them works using a touchpad or something. I know Volvo can have maintenance/reliability issues but apparently Acura can too??

Another priority for me is ease of maneuvering/good sight lines. I drive an older SUV that has terrible visibility and turn radius. I really can't see anything that is next to the car and low to the ground (no cameras other than a crappy backup camera). Our driveway is pretty narrow and it's hard to back out of it around my husband's car without going super slow.

I have taken a cursory look at both the XC90 and MDX and am going back to do a closer look and test drives this week. I want to make a decision soon. My husband has an "older" MDX (2018?) and loves it but wants to get something else soon (he leases). He has not had to take it in for any repairs or recalls and it handles much better than my current car. Whatever we buy for me is going to kept for at least 7-8 years so I want to make sure it's the right choice.

I am the OP and we are still considering our options. My husband is very wary of Volvo maintenance (we are also 7-8+ year car owners) and he has a preference for the MDX. I prefer the look of the Volvo but it also costs more than the MDX and I just don’t think I can convince him. I’m also considering an upper trim on Highlander but I just really don’t like the front of it. I suspect we will end up with an MDX but maybe not until fall. I honestly want to get our beach trip out of the way with the minivan! Lol.

Have you looked up Acura reliability?

All new cars seem to suffer from occasional reliability issues. But we've owned 3 Hondas and 2 acura's in the past/current without issue so no I'm not terribly concerned. If it becomes an issue we will just unload the car prior to the end of the warranty. I'm curious what 3-row SUV meets your standards for reliability? They all seem to have their issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were in this dilemma a few weeks ago and solved it by getting a minivan. We had had an old Odyssey and got rid of it last year so we know what it feels like to have total space and comfort and we are wanting to do a lot of road trips this summer. We tried all those "3rd row: SUV's. I liked the 2021 Kia Sorrento the best and the Audi Q7 but when it came down to it, we needed space. You cannot find extra space in those SUV's. You just cannot. I have two kids in sports who have a lot of gear and require a lot of travel and it will only get worse as they get older. So, we got a Sienna and are soooo happy!

OP here and I'd be fine with another minivan but you can thank the genius car manufacturers for making the new ones just enough too wide for my standard garage door. And I'm not giving up my garage spot, so smaller car it is. I only have 2 kids so I'm less concerned with the size of the 3rd row. Mostly I just need 2 rows and decent cargo space.

XC90 (have 2018) is only car I have ever owned. It’s been completely reliable for 4 years (we’ll see what happens now warranty is out!). Highway autopilot is incredible and has changed long drives for me. Mileage is excellent (routinely see over 30mpg on long trips).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were in this dilemma a few weeks ago and solved it by getting a minivan. We had had an old Odyssey and got rid of it last year so we know what it feels like to have total space and comfort and we are wanting to do a lot of road trips this summer. We tried all those "3rd row: SUV's. I liked the 2021 Kia Sorrento the best and the Audi Q7 but when it came down to it, we needed space. You cannot find extra space in those SUV's. You just cannot. I have two kids in sports who have a lot of gear and require a lot of travel and it will only get worse as they get older. So, we got a Sienna and are soooo happy!

OP here and I'd be fine with another minivan but you can thank the genius car manufacturers for making the new ones just enough too wide for my standard garage door. And I'm not giving up my garage spot, so smaller car it is. I only have 2 kids so I'm less concerned with the size of the 3rd row. Mostly I just need 2 rows and decent cargo space.

XC90 (have 2018) is only car I have ever owned. It’s been completely reliable for 4 years (we’ll see what happens now warranty is out!). Highway autopilot is incredible and has changed long drives for me. Mileage is excellent (routinely see over 30mpg on long trips).

Also the trunk on the Volvo is huge. Not with the 3rd row up. But without it, I can’t imagine what you’d need to get in there that you couldn’t fit, short of massive lengths of lumber (having owned it 4 years now)