I don't have it, but someone I know does and he says it gets dirty easily and is not
always easy to clean, eg streaks of dark shoe polish.

 

Thanks, I'll scratch that off my list. Hardest part is to find 2016/2017 new or used with air suspension in the exact color I want.

 

I have and was very skeptical about getting it because of the "clean" issue. It really isn't hard - get some good leather cleaner and treatment and it looks great. I clean it once/month.............still looks great and I have over 20K miles on it?

 

I have the amber interior and it looks like crap after 4 months, 11k miles. I am getting both seat bases replaced because the leather is peeling off. The leather on the doors and center console is also showing signs of wear. It's not just hard to clean, it's just very, very delicate (and this comes from someone who takes good care, never had a problem with previous vehicles). I am talking about the perforated Nappa.

 

Wow, this wasn't the report I was expecting.

Do you think it's Volvo's quality? I just sold my 08 S550 with the cashmere interior which is very similar to the amber interior of the volvo. After 9 years, 90k miles with just standard car washes and wipe down, it does get dirty but in no way as described here. With the proper leather cleaner, I'm confident it would have gotten an 8/10 score.

These feedback is really making me concern of dropping $70k on this car.

If you don't mind posting a photo of your seats. I'm very curious of the condition.

 

I have a 2016 T8 with the UB00 Nappa Blond leather (Blond/Charcoal) interior. I am using the car every day, have 3 boys, ... the car has a bit more than 30K kms and it still looks like new. I have used the Volvo cleansing kit once now. The leather is very easy to cleanse with this.

Was a little bit scared about choosing the blond leather (having driven cars with black leather before) but can't say that I regret the choice. Would however recommend the blond leather and charcoal combination because having also blond floor mats & carpets seems a little bit crazy to me.

Anyway, if you like the color & design... go for it.

 

I have pearl white with blond standard interior. I have had the car since the first week of January 17. It is very simple to keep clean. I clean it with Optimum Power Clean and treat it with PEARL about once a month. I really wanted the Blond but was thinking of settling for Amber because I thought it was going to be hard to maintain. It has been a piece of cake!. One thing I will mention. I hardly ever wear jeans. If you wear jeans you may have to clean it more often. Go for the Blond.

 

I've had no problems whatsoever with the blonde interior. It's the lightness that makes the interior so appealing.
As with all leather interiors, try not to slide in and out of the drivers seat - it will burnish the edge and make the leather shiny.
Use the Volvo leather cleaner. It will keep the matte appearance.
Finally, if you do wear blue jeans: the dye transfer will come out with gentle cleaning, however if you really want to be OCD, it's worth putting a small towel on the drivers seat when you are wearing jeans.

 

No problem. Like anything, maintain and clean it periodically whether blonde, amber, maple brown or black. Truth is, oils and dye transfer no matter what the color. My interior looks as new today as it was when it came from the factory.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

Yes, avoiding jeans is probably the main thing. I have the blond, no real issues so far (15k kms just under a year). I've cleaned it with the volvo wipes about four or five times just to get little marks off the driver's seat. Three boys, no issues. I would certainly not buy an XC90 without the blond leather, the interior just doesn't look the same.

 

Only 2 months in but my blonde interior is very easy to keep clean.

 

15 months in. Blue jean transfer an issue but the Volvo leather kit works great and can restore leather back to new. Some minor wrinkling in the driver seat. I figure this could happen with Amber too

 

I have the blonde / charcoal interior and I m so glad I wasn t afraid to choose this color. I have kids as well and of course, the dirt gets visible but it s very very easy to clean. I think it s the best looking interior by far, especially combined with the mat walnut.

You will read on this forum lots of people choosing black because it s easier with kids, and also because you won t see the dye transfer, lots of people choosing amber because the the darker tone is easier than the blonde leather to keep clean, but you will notice that a LOT of people love the blonde, but were afraid to go for it because of the dye transfer and/or because they have kids.

You will also notice from the blonde leather owners that it s very easy to keep it looking like new with regular maintenance using the Volvo leather kit. Also, I could not find a blonde leather owner who had regrets about his choice.

So if you have a crush on the blonde leather: go for it !! You won t regret.

However, I have a friend who got the blonde/blonde interior and who is going crazy keeping the floor clean. Go for the blonde/charcoal for sure. It looks great and it won t drive you mad.

 

unless you are getting the poor people leather it is all nappa folks, and it will all wear the same no matter the color. leather is durable but still needs care.

I'm curious as to why I've seen so many mentions of the Volvo leather kit which, before now, was never pushed by the dealers. I think this is because the XC90 is the first Volvo to widely use Nappa leather. nothing has changed over the years though, leather always needs care.

 

this issue with jeans transferring color, does this happen even after the jeans have been washed a few times? I've never known this to happen with jeans, but maybe I haven't seen it because I live in a relatively low humidity environment compared to some folks

or maybe because I wash my jeans and the folks who get dye transfer don't wash theirs? (some folks send their jeans to the dry cleaner)

 

always happens. will also happen with leather jackets in the winter.

 

leather jackets transfer their dye to leather seats? I've never seen that, but I've never seen the jeans transfer dye, either. I have leather seats in my xc90 and I wear jeans almost every time I drive it. I have no dye transfer.

I bet it relates to local humidity, or perhaps because you guys buy counterfeit jeans. (kidding about the jeans)

or maybe you are all sweaty pigs. Have any of you seen a doctor about this?



I could see it happening when the jeans have not yet been washed, but not after a few washings. Has to be the local humidity.

or the butt sweat.....

 

I have a 2016 Momentum+ with the standard blonde leather. 10,000 miles and frequent visits of four grandchildren later, it still looks great with only occasional cleaning (I use Volvo's leather care kit).

 

Had a 2016 XC60 with blonde seats (standard leather) and never had a problem with them getting dirty. My wife's 2005 S80 with light grey seats and over 100k miles looks a little worn for the driver's seat, but very clean. I use a good leather conditioner every few months and once in awhile need to use a leather cleaner for the driver's seat. Do not be afraid of the blonde seats. For my new XC90 I stayed away from the perforated nappa seats since I figured they would not be good in case of a spill nor as sturdy as the standard leather. The extra cost was also a factor in my decision.

I wear blue jeans in the spring, fall, and winter (but in the winter usually have a coat on) and never have experienced they dye transfer others have mentioned. But then my jeans have been washed so often there is no danger of dye transfer in the wash. If you are wearing new jeans, then I could see a potential problem.

Do not be afraid of the blonde seats.

 

9K miles, 3 young kids, no problem whatsoever with blond interior other than the jean dye issue. I use Groit's Interior Cleaner for everything except the glass, and occasionally treat with Groit's leather care. I've been using Groit's products since the mid 90's and it's never let me down.

 

Nappa Amber with 22K KM (approx 14K miles) with no issues. Some jeans dye and a bit of wrenkls which is normal of Nappa.
My other car is a blond like color and 3 year has become "dirty". I invest very little time cleaning the interior of the car as I can't Unless you have the time to maintain the interior, go for something relatively easier to maintain. Otherwise the blond interior is gorgeous and the headliner that comes with it makes the car brighter in the inside.

In either case, be happy with whatever you get. I think it's all beautiful.

 

Last post here is from 3 years ago. Now with more usage, how is the Blonde Nappa Leather holding up?
Deciding between Blonde and Maroon Brown. All my cars have had light interiors.

 

Have blonde leather everywhere and blond carpets in our Excellence. Looks great after 20,000+ miles. About to trade a Cadillac ELR with light cashmere interior on a Jaguar i-Pace with ivory interior. Never had an issue with a light interior and I won't have black.

 

I would contend that a blonde interior is no more difficult to keep clean than a darker interior. I just use a damp cloth every week, or as needed, and leather cleaner every one or two months. The blonde carpet edges are probably the hardest - just vacuum and wipe down and it may not be noticeable if you have charcoal carpet.

My experience, having had both black and blonde, is that blonde is easier to "keep"
clean because one keeps up with cleaning of dirt or grime as it is noticed.

Darker interiors tend to be dirtier because people are less likely to keep them clean since the dark interior hides the dirt, et al.

So really it depends on what it means to "keep clean". Here is my interior after 4.5 years and 47K miles.

All the best from Minnesota USA,
A fine MY16 XC90 T8

 

Darker interiors tend to be dirtier because people are less likely to keep them clean since the dark interiorHere is my interior after 4.5 years and 47K miles.

Thanks for pointing it out. With darker interiors you don't actually notice all the dirt but it's there. I'll go for the blonde.

After 4.5 years the leather looks good. There are some horror stories here about stains, cracking etc, but yours looks really good.

PS I noticed you have 3M Crystalline installed. How has it held up? Would you recommend?
I'm not a huge fan of factory tinted windows of tinted windows in general.
Have been thinking about Crystalline also. I have a 4 year old kid and I should do something with the windows. Maybe if I do 50% or 60% tint, it wouldn't look too dark.

Thanks,
Joe

 

I have 2 blonde interiors with nappa leather for about 3 years now (2 young kids too). Its easy to keep the leather clean. I only wipe it one every few months and it's hard to tell from new. The hardest part to clean is area around the illuminated door step where kids step on.

 

+1 on sunshade. I also use leather cleaner and conditioner regularly, more frequent in arid climates.


All the best from Minnesota USA,
A fine MY16 XC90 T8