The driving experience is adequate. Ample power, but somewhat vague steering. Surprisingly, the engine note is judged second only to the Porsche, something we didn't expect from the reserved Swede. Another surprise are the metallic blue instrument dials that polarize opinions. Some found them to really set the interior apart, while one tester thought they would look more at home in a Kia.
Everyone is impressed with the front skidplate, though. Unlike the running boards on the Mercedes, a skidplate is useful for off-roading, so it has less of a poseur connotation. It's the feature we're most surprised to find missing from the other vehicles. Another attribute unique to the Volvo is the split rear tailgate. It proves to be easier to manage than the others and requires less space behind the vehicle to open and close.
Breaking It DownAfter Nature surrendered and the dust settled, we chose our winners. It was appropriate to pick two, one for people who actually need off-road capability and one for the majority. If it were us, we wouldn't buy an SUV unless we spent a considerable amount of time off-road. With gas prices rising constantly, we think more and more drivers will finally see it our way.
| Make and Model | BMW X6 xDrive35i | Land Rover LR3 | Mercedes ML550 | Porsche Cayenne S | VW Touareg 2 | Volvo XC90 |
| Price (base/test) | $52,500/$63,675 | $54,025/$58,350 | $52,400/$67,800 | $57,900/$81,105 | $48,320/$55,750 | $49,870/$59,232 |
| Seating | 2+2 | 2+3+2 | 2+3 | 2+3 | 2+3 | 2+3+2 |
| Layout | Front engine, longitudinal,
all-wheel drive | Front engine, longitudinal,
all-wheel drive | Front engine, longitudinal,
all-wheel drive | Front engine, longitudinal,
all-wheel drive | Front engine, longitudinal,
all-wheel drive | Front engine, transverse,
all-wheel drive |
Dimensions
Length/Width/Height (in.)
Wheelbase
Curb Weight | 192.1/78.1/
66.5
115.5
4,894 lb | 190.9/75.4/
74.5
113.6
5,796 lb | 188.5/75.2/
71.5
114.7
4,795 lb | 188.9/75.9/
66.9
112.4
4,950 lb | 187.2/75.9/
68
112.4
5,300 lb |
189.3/74.7/
70.2
112.6
4,826 lb |
Engine
| 3.0-liter inline six, 24-valve, twin-turbocharged | 4.4-liter, V8, 32-valve | 5.5-liter, V8, 24-valve
| 4.8-liter, V8, 32-valve
| 4.2-liter, V8, 40-valve | 4.4-liter, V8, 32-valve |
Transmission
| Six-speed automatic | Six-speed automatic | Seven-speed automatic | Six-speed automatic | Six-speed automatic | Six-speed automatic |
| Wheels and Tires | 20-inch
275/40 (f),
315/35 (r) | 19-inch
255/55 | 19-inch
255/50 | 20-inch
275/40 (f),
315/35 (r) | 19-inch
275/45 | 18-inch
235/60 |