The XC90 V8 includes a standard third-row seat for seven-passenger capacity. There's plenty of head, hip, and legroom up front and in the second row of seats, but the flat-folding third-row is another story. While the second-row seats slide fore-and-aft to give those in the way-back a bit more legroom, make no mistake that this third row is no place for adults. At least not for adults you like.
One particularly nice touch is the inclusion of the integrated child booster seat, which is built into the center section of the 40/20/40-split second-row bench, as standard equipment. In one of the neatest seating tricks going, that center section then slides forward to put junior within easy reach of Mom and Dad.
Cargo space is a respectable 32 cubic feet with the second-row seats in place and the third-row seat folded down, and a very usable 85 cubic feet with both rows down. To make the interior that much more practical, the front passenger seat can also be folded forward to carry items up to 9.5-feet long inside with the tailgate closed.
Like most vehicles with luxury aspirations, the quality of the 2005 Volvo XC90 V8's interior materials and fit-and-finish are all first rate. The interior is a tranquil place with just a touch of wind and road noise, and the subdued burble of the V8 making its presence known only under hard acceleration.
That quiet atmosphere is all the better to enjoy the standard 160-watt eight-speaker stereo with in-dash six-disc CD changer. Audiophiles will likely prefer the optional premium sound system that features 305 watts of power, Dolby surround sound, and 12 speakers. Rear audio controls and headphone jacks, which let parents and kids listen to a different entertainment source, are standard with both systems.
The XC90 V8's interior boasts a long list of standard amenities including eight-way power-adjustable front seats, leather seating surfaces, dual-zone automatic climate control with pollen filter, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, and a power moonroof. The short list of options includes such niceties as ultrasonic rear parking assist, a DVD-based navigation system, wood steering wheel and dash inlays, a subwoofer, and heated front seats.
Given that mobile video entertainment seems to be the hottest automotive gadget going, Volvo is introducing a new, optional rear-seat DVD-entertainment system that trades the familiar single ceiling-mounted drop-down screen for dual seven-inch monitors set into the back of the driver and front passenger headrests. The system can view two different video sources at once - think a DVD movie and video games here - and includes a pair of wireless headphones, remote control, and auxiliary inputs.
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