By KBB Editors
Updated December 23, 2019
If an image of safety, practicality and prestige top your priorities and you only occasionally plan to use the third-row seat, the 2012 Volvo XC90 deserves to be on your shopping list.
If you need to regularly seat passengers in the third row plus require space for cargo, the XC90 might not fit you, literally. In that regard, the larger Buick Enclave, Dodge Durango or Ford Explorer SUVs would provide more legroom and additional cargo capacity. If you need to tow your toys, the Volvo XC90 is limited to 3,970 pounds in front-wheel-drive (FWD) form and 4,960 with all-wheel drive (AWD).
Volvo has discontinued the optional V8 engine in the XC90, leaving the 3.2-liter inline 6-cylinder as the sole choice. The 2012 XC90 is offered in two forms: 3.2 or R-Design, with additional trim levels for each that are designated Premier Plus and Platinum. Unlike other Volvos available in R-Design form, here the XC90 does not add more horsepower, but instead differentiates itself with a sport-tuned suspension and interior and exterior upgrades.
All 2012 XC90s get Bluetooth music-streaming capability and a new exterior color choice, Caspian Blue. R-Design models receive big 20-inch alloy wheels and xenon headlights.
Volvo’s XC90 wasn’t the first upscale SUV on the market when it debuted a decade ago, but it intended to be the safest of the bunch while providing a comfortable, car-like ride. Ten years after it made its initial bow, the 2012 XC90 still offers a lot of safety and versatility in a rugged-on-the-outside, refined-on-the-inside SUV. The vehicle also bucks the bigger-is-better trend, with the ability to seat seven in a body smaller than others in this segment such as the Acura MDX, Buick Enclave and Nissan Pathfinder. Throw in XC90’s all-weather ability, semi-luxury cachet and laudable warranty with complimentary scheduled maintenance, and it’s a utility vehicle that appeals to both head and heart.
Used 2012 Volvo XC90 pricing starts at $7,457 for the XC90 3.2 Sport Utility 4D, which had a starting MSRP of $41,275 when new. The range-topping 2012 XC90 3.2 R-Design Sport Utility 4D starts at $7,413 today, originally priced from $44,075.
Original MSRP | KBB Fair Purchase Price (nat'l average) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
$41,275 | $7,457 | |||
$44,075 | $7,413 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for used 2012 Volvo XC90 models in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly.
The 2012 Volvo XC90 delivers good on-road performance, wringing the most out of its 6-cylinder engine. Volvo pegs XC90’s 0-60 mph time at 8.7 seconds. That isn’t sports-car fast, but neither is it SUV laggardly. Thanks to a wide track and stability control system, the XC90 performs well in emergency maneuvers. Unlike other SUVs with higher ground clearance, the Volvo doesn’t feel top heavy and takes corners with confidence. Feedback is good from both the steering wheel and brake pedal. Models with the optional all-wheel drive employ a computer-controlled Haldex system that can instantly deliver up to 50 percent more torque to the rear axle when needed for extra traction. When not in use, 95 percent of the engine’s power goes to the front wheels.
Standard leather seating and an available wood steering wheel and shift knob give the XC90 a premium feel. A total of 12 – yes, twelve – beverage holders provide enough drink storage for a trip through the Sahara. Innovative and flexible seating arrangements such as a flat-folding front passenger seat allow the XC90 to be a car you could sleep in or fill with surfboards. There is seating for seven, but the third row is cramped for most adults, and when in use, leaves a scant 8.8 cubic feet of storage. The second row is roomy and has a sliding center section that allows a child safety seat to be moved closer to the front passenger.
“Stylish” and “SUV” are often mutually exclusive terms, yet the XC90 manages to be both with aplomb. With a ground clearance of 8.9 inches, underbody protectors and a bulging hood, the vehicle looks like it doesn’t mind the rough stuff. Yet its contoured lines and elongated taillights give the Volvo XC90 an elegance all its own, especially in the flowing rear.
Sliding Center Child Seat
This parental favorite allows the front-seat passenger to easily reach a child in the second-row safety seat.
Streaming Audio
This new feature enables a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone to stream music to the Volvo’s audio system, plus create playlists using Pandora or Grooveshark.
All 2012 Volvo XC90 models come with a 3.2-liter 6-cylinder engine that runs on regular unleaded and is mated to a 6-speed Geartronic automatic transmission. Also standard are a passenger compartment reinforced with high-strength steel, a power moonroof, an integrated child booster cushion, a 160-watt stereo CD system with HD radio, power-adjustable front seats, and dual-zone climate control. R-Design models add xenon headlights, color-coordinated wheel arches and R-Design grille, rear skidplate, and interior badging. A navigation system is standard on Platinum editions of the 3.2 and R-Design models.
All-wheel drive can be had in all versions of the XC90, as can heated side mirrors, rain-sensing wipers and an interior air-quality system. Blind-spot monitoring, heated front seats, a dual-screen rear-entertainment system, walnut steering wheel, and a kayak cradle are further add-ons.
The 240-horsepower, 3.2-liter inline 6-cylinder is now the sole engine in the 2012 XC90 as Volvo has ceased offering the Yamaha-built V8 in the vehicle. Still, the 6-cylinder gives the XC90 more than adequate power and, though it isn’t exceptionally fuel efficient, does not require premium gasoline.
3.2-liter inline-6
240 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm
236 lb.-ft. of torque @ 3,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/22 mpg (FWD), 16/22 mpg (AWD)
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We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology.
Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing.
Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)
We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.
Each Certified by Volvo vehicle has to pass a rigorous test with more than 170 points, to give you safety and security for every moment.
Curb Weight | 4667 lbs. | ||
---|---|---|---|
Fuel Capacity | 21.1 gallons | ||
Front Head Room | 39.7 inches | ||
Front Leg Room | 41.0 inches | ||
Max Seating Capacity | 7 | ||
Minimum Ground Clearance | 8.9 inches | ||
Overall Length | 189.3 inches | ||
Front Shoulder Room | 58.3 inches | ||
Towing Capacity, Maximum | 4960 lbs. | ||
Trunk or Cargo Capacity | 85.1 cu.ft. | ||
Turning Diameter | 40.0 feet | ||
Wheel Base | 112.6 inches | ||
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) | 6080 lbs. |
Adaptive Headlights | Available | ||
---|---|---|---|
Alloy Wheels | Available | ||
Fog Lights | Available | ||
HID Headlights | Available | ||
Moon Roof/Sun Roof | Available | ||
Number of Doors | 4 doors | ||
Power Folding Exterior Mirrors | Available | ||
Privacy Glass | Available | ||
Roof Rails | Available |
City | 16 mpg | ||
---|---|---|---|
Highway | 23 mpg | ||
Combined | 18 mpg |
Drivetrain | AWD | ||
---|---|---|---|
Transmission Type | Automatic | ||
6 speed | Available | ||
Recommended Fuel | Regular |
Horsepower | 240 @ 6400 RPM | ||
---|---|---|---|
Torque | 236 @ 3200 rpm | ||
Engine | 6-Cyl, 3.2 Liter | ||
0 to 60 | 8.7 seconds | ||
Top Speed | 118 mph |
Basic | 5 years / 50000 miles | ||
---|---|---|---|
Powertrain | 5 years / 50000 miles | ||
Corrosion | 12 years / Unlimited miles |
Used 2012 Volvo XC90 | Used 2012 Chevrolet Equinox | Used 2013 Suzuki Grand Vitara | Used 2012 Nissan Murano | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Price | $8,161 | $7,366 | $7,411 | $7,406 | |
KBB.com Rating | 3.6 | 3.9 | 2.5 | 3.8 | |
Consumer Rating | 4.1 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.4 | |
Fuel Economy | City 16/Hwy 23/Comb 18 MPG | City 22/Hwy 32/Comb 26 MPG | City 19/Hwy 26/Comb 22 MPG | City 18/Hwy 23/Comb 20 MPG | |
Fuel Type | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | |
Safety Rating | N/A | 4.0 | N/A | 4.0 | |
Seating Capacity | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
Basic Warranty | 5 years or 50000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | |
Horsepower | 240 @ 6400 RPM | N/A | 166 @ 6000 RPM | 260 @ 6000 RPM | |
Engine | 6-Cyl, 3.2 Liter | 4-Cyl, 2.4 Liter | 4-Cyl, 2.4 Liter | V6, 3.5 Liter | |
Drivetrain | AWD | FWD | 2WD | AWD |
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