The overall angularity clearly says Volvo. Head-on, you might think it's the result of the mating of a Honda CRV and a Dodge Ram. The hood shape is similar to the Ram's, but the grille is Honda-like, except for the diagonal band that labels it a Volvo. The grille is elevated four or five inches over the protruding fender contours, and slightly V-shaped to be consistent with Volvo design.
The XC90's long wheelbase, wide stance and low center of gravity promote handling stability. The overall length is not much longer than the wheelbase. As a result, overhangs are short; the body doesn't extend very far past the wheels, in other words. The XC90 has a wide track as well. And despite its height, it has a lower center of gravity than the XC70 Cross Country wagon.
Like the XC70, the back end of the XC90 features huge taillights. Think safety. If it bothers you that the back of your SUV looks like Las Vegas, it might comfort you to think that you're a whole lot less likely to get creamed from behind by some half-asleep driver. You're also less likely to back into something at night, thanks to backup lights that look like they came from a rally car.
The standard wheels measure 17 inches in diameter, but the hottest look comes with the optional 18-inch wheels available in alloy or chrome finish and fitted with lower profile tires.
The XC90's rear hatch has two sections, with a 70/30 top/bottom split. The lower edge of the liftgate is waist level, leaving a small tailgate. If you're just stowing the groceries or dry cleaning, you might not need to drop the tailgate, but the rest of the time you'll need to open both gates. Two gates is more work than one. The good news is that the tiny tailgate lifts and closes easily, and the short liftgate is less likely to bonk you or someone else on the head when you raise or lower it. It's also inclined toward the front of the vehicle, which shortens the roofline and makes the XC90 look shorter. The liftgates on some SUVs are hard to lift due to their weight and the angles involved. That's not the case here.
The fit of body panels and trim is decent. The XC90's big doors close with a light touch and a nice solid sound when they latch. The rear window wiper is sturdy, protected by a flat black plastic sleeve.
