XC90 - Momentum vs Inscription vs R-Design

XC90 - Momentum vs Inscription vs R-Design

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DiamondLights

Original Poster:

333 posts

53 months

Monday 11th July 2022
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Having just sold my X3, I need something with 7 seat optionality. Not essential but a nice to have.

Nearly all the XC90s available in my price bracket are Momentums so my question is, is it worth going up to Inscription or R-Design? I mean, the R-Design look is far far nicer, but ultimately it's a 2L Diesel that's not gonna move like my 3L petrol did. So is it worth going for an older R-Design if the Momentum is there?

Also, when looking at both, do i go for standard or Pro editions? nearly all the Volvos seem so well kitted out, not sure how worth it really is?

Appreciate your help as I have never owned or driven a Volvo.

ClaphamGT3

11,527 posts

250 months

Monday 11th July 2022
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We have had two of the new shape XC90s, both Momentums. Both bought 2and hand as household roundabouts.

With both, I was clear I didn't want an R-Design - the big wheels and low profile tyres ruin a great ride and the seats are uncomfortable compared to the Momentum & Inscription.

I was agnostic about Momentum vs Inscription. In the end, both times I bought I found well spaced Momentums that we've been more than happy with

DiamondLights

Original Poster:

333 posts

53 months

Monday 11th July 2022
quotequote all
ClaphamGT3 said:
We have had two of the new shape XC90s, both Momentums. Both bought 2and hand as household roundabouts.

With both, I was clear I didn't want an R-Design - the big wheels and low profile tyres ruin a great ride and the seats are uncomfortable compared to the Momentum & Inscription.

I was agnostic about Momentum vs Inscription. In the end, both times I bought I found well spaced Momentums that we've been more than happy with
thanks this is good to know. Did you get any price movement on the dealers? Am mainly looking at Volvo dealerships but they dont seem to be budging much.

ClaphamGT3

11,527 posts

250 months

Monday 11th July 2022
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With the one I bought in May, a reasonable amount. Got a good trade in for the old one and about a grand off the new one

Murph7355

38,905 posts

263 months

Monday 11th July 2022
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I agree with Clapham. A well spec's Momentum is the way to go IMO.

What age car are you looking at?

Ours is 2016. I don't think the bigger driver's screen became standard for a couple more years. Get it.

Panoramic roof makes a big difference to the interior.

Nappa leather ditto. Ours is blond with dark wood inserts and looks great. Has also stood 2x young kids pretty well.

Later cars lost a number of options I think, both inside and outside (colours and wheels). I think the difference between Pro and Standard are pretty much bundled options. But could be wrong.

They are great cars. Don't go in thinking about performance. It's not what they are about. They are brilliant family transport. (Just did a 5.5hr trip to Cornwall in one hit, loaded with luggage etc... No dramas).

DiamondLights

Original Poster:

333 posts

53 months

Tuesday 12th July 2022
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Murph7355 said:
I agree with Clapham. A well spec's Momentum is the way to go IMO.

What age car are you looking at?

Ours is 2016. I don't think the bigger driver's screen became standard for a couple more years. Get it.

Panoramic roof makes a big difference to the interior.

Nappa leather ditto. Ours is blond with dark wood inserts and looks great. Has also stood 2x young kids pretty well.

Later cars lost a number of options I think, both inside and outside (colours and wheels). I think the difference between Pro and Standard are pretty much bundled options. But could be wrong.

They are great cars. Don't go in thinking about performance. It's not what they are about. They are brilliant family transport. (Just did a 5.5hr trip to Cornwall in one hit, loaded with luggage etc... No dramas).
Thanks really good info. I am looking at 2017 onwards ideally, my wife is a bit worried about going to a 6/7 year old Diesel (despite being ULEZ), just given we are cash buying so it's a lot to put down for an older vehicle. That's why I am primarily looking at picking one up through a Volvo dealership.

Agree on the performance bit, i hadthe performance car and i loved it, so my point is if I am going for a Volvo, it's more about relaxed and comfy drives.

I guess the question is, how much more worth it is going for a 2017/18 over a 2016? Am looking for something under 50K miles.


Edited by DiamondLights on Tuesday 12th July 09:15

ClaphamGT3

11,527 posts

250 months

Tuesday 12th July 2022
quotequote all
I really wouldnt limit yourself to 50k miles or worry too much about the latest year . Our late late 2015 ULEZ compliant one had done 82k by the time we changed it and you couldn't have told. In the 3.5 years we had it, all ot needed was a new rocker cover gasket (picked up by the dealer during a service) and a new starter motor - both covered by the extended warranty.

We really ummed and ahhed about changing ours or keeping it and running it into the ground like we had the old style one we had before. In the end the deciding factor was how much the Volvo dealer offered us in p/x.

EC2

1,514 posts

260 months

Tuesday 12th July 2022
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I’ve got a Momentum with air suspension with air suspension and a sunroof and love it. Personally I found the R Design front seats very uncomfortable and the Inscription ones moderately so so check before you buy.

I also don’t see the point in going for big wheels on these cars for anything other than vanity.

DiamondLights

Original Poster:

333 posts

53 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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thanks for all your help folks. Should be picking up my XC90 tomorrow hopefully, Momentum. Has Apple Carplay, HUD, and was a decent price that saves me a fair wedge following the sale of my X3.

Murph7355

38,905 posts

263 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
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DiamondLights said:
thanks for all your help folks. Should be picking up my XC90 tomorrow hopefully, Momentum. Has Apple Carplay, HUD, and was a decent price that saves me a fair wedge following the sale of my X3.
Congrats!

What colour? Spec?

I also echo Clapham's later comments (we also ran a mk1 to over 100k). Ours (both of them) was a lightly used demo. 2016. It's now done 82k miles. Only needed an Aux battery (don't get this done at Volvo - much cheaper to go to an indie or DIY). Cambelt was done last month (apparently very worn, but it's a 100k item). Water pump gets done at the same time. Discs and pads were done last year front and rear. Think tyres are lasting 25k miles or so.

I think we're likely to need one more 7 seater, so the plan is to stretch this one out a couple more years (will be over100k easily then) and hopefully they'll have released the BEV and some lightly used demos will be available, rinse and repeat smile


DiamondLights

Original Poster:

333 posts

53 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
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Denim blue (the dark blue colour), 2017, Momentum.

Has Apple Car Play, tinted windows, upgrade alloys to 19", running boards, rear camera. So ticks all my minimum spec, there was some nice to haves i would have liked but that was putting on 000s more in cost. This was in the right price bracket so reserved and pick up later today.

The drive will feel very different coming from a Petrol M40i X3, 0-60 in under 5secs, so i will need to retrain my brain that the car does not move how i am used to, but it was proving too costly to run. Also sold the X3 and buying the XC90 has left me a couple of grand up so as long as it runs smoothly next few years no issues.

ClaphamGT3

11,527 posts

250 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
quotequote all
DiamondLights said:
Denim blue (the dark blue colour), 2017, Momentum.

Has Apple Car Play, tinted windows, upgrade alloys to 19", running boards, rear camera. So ticks all my minimum spec, there was some nice to haves i would have liked but that was putting on 000s more in cost. This was in the right price bracket so reserved and pick up later today.

The drive will feel very different coming from a Petrol M40i X3, 0-60 in under 5secs, so i will need to retrain my brain that the car does not move how i am used to, but it was proving too costly to run. Also sold the X3 and buying the XC90 has left me a couple of grand up so as long as it runs smoothly next few years no issues.
Shame about the wheels - you get a much better ride on the smaller ones - otherwise it sounds a good car. Re performance, just remind yourself that you have gone from an X3 to an X5 equivalent and saved money into the bargain.

DiamondLights

Original Poster:

333 posts

53 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
quotequote all
ClaphamGT3 said:
Shame about the wheels - you get a much better ride on the smaller ones - otherwise it sounds a good car. Re performance, just remind yourself that you have gone from an X3 to an X5 equivalent and saved money into the bargain.
ha thanks, my wife will remind me on the money save frequently. It all adds up though, tax is lower, insurance lower, all adds up. I thought about your comments on the wheels when i saw the car originally, but the value was too good to pass up.

When i bought the BMW, it had only just come in, and i don't think they valued it appropriately. Same with this, i think they could have marketed for more but the car just came in, i enquired, sorted out and reserved. Other cars in that same bracket usually £2-3k more expensive so didn't want to hold off.