Pros: MPG, front seat comfort, acceleration, cargo room
Cons: Rear seat comfort, turbo lag
The Bottom Line: This is a quality car at a reasonable price. The engine sounds a little rough (in-line 5) but delivers good gas mileage. Front seat comfort is good, almost excellent.
I've had this car, new, since November of 2004, 45,000 miles. It's been very reliable - no mechanical problems. However, I've had two problems with the trim. 1) The front door gaskets keep on coming off. They've already been replaced twice. Although still under warranty,they're coming unglued once more! You would think that they would use mechanical clips, not just glue. 2) The windshield A-pillar covers came loose in a strong wind. Volvo replaced them as a "good-will" gesture (!)
I'm impressed with the efficiency of the 2.5L turbo engine - 26 MPG combined. (I do a lot of highway driving, where I get 30 MPG.) Acceleration is strong, although you have to wait for the turbo to kick in. Scary if you're trying to get out of the way. Front seats are very comfortable. Rear seats don't have much leg room, and the huge head restraints block forward view. I find that rear seat passengers lean towards the center, so that they can see out front. (I did the same thing when my brother drove.) The head restraints, by the way, are not adjustable. They're angled forward in such a way that there's little room to lean your head back. It took me a while to get used to that. I'm thinking this is Volvo's way of maximizing whiplash protection.
I bought the car because I wanted a wagon. It had the most cargo room. I'd buy another because it's been a good car. (Unlike my experience with a 1994 Toyota Camry wagon.)
Good value for the money.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 30,000
Condition: New Model Year: 2004 Model and Options: 2.5T
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