Taking a quick pit stop
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Volvo hit the ground running with the original XC90 in 2002 - a car that many commentators called one of the best family cars on sale, being practical, good to drive, and of course incredibly safe for the era. Volvo kept toiling away and introduced a second generation model in 2015, which was facelifted in 2019 and is still around today.
Over that time it’s become more expensive and ever more luxurious, and can be seriously considered alongside premium SUVs from the likes of Audi, BMW, and Mercedes. Today the lineup is all-hybrid, and technology and safety are still two of the reasons you might opt for Volvo’s offering. Read on to find out more about the latest Volvo XC90, its engines, and its trim levels.
The XC90 has the same appeal it always has. It’s every bit a premium product but has an image that’s a little more under-the-radar than the German equivalents, smart styling inside and out, plenty of luxurious features, and an enviable reputation for safety. In fact, safety is probably one of the main reasons many people will consider the XC90, and it’s absolutely filled with active safety technology, from auto braking, oncoming lane mitigation to prevent you straying across the centre line of a road, and run-off-road mitigation which can steer you away from the road edge and even brake to help keep the car on the black stuff.
Another XC90 strong suit is space. At five metres long it’s now the size of a luxury saloon and Volvo has packed in seven seats, plus 300 litres of boot space even with the third row in place. The interior itself is very Scandinavian - not too flashy, sensibly laid out, and tastefully decorated. The portrait layout touchscreen isn’t the easiest in this class to use but it has plenty of features.
All XC90s are currently powered by some variant of a 2-litre, four-cylinder engine, and a degree of hybrid assistance. The petrol engines are a bit noisy, having to work hard to move along a fairly large and heavy car, but the diesel is admirably refined. Ride quality is good - though it’s at its best on the smaller alloy wheel sizes available - and handling is neat and tidy, though the XC90 never shrinks around you, and can feel slightly intimidating where the roads get tighter.
That’s something in common with most cars of this size though. The XC90’s rivals include models such as the Audi Q7, BMW X5, and Mercedes-Benz GLE. The Volvo is a little less brash in its styling than this trio, though the German models have more confident handling and better engine lineups. The Land Rover Discovery is another option, with a huge cabin and real off-road ability, should you need it.
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If you have the budget then the plug-in hybrid T8 Recharge shows off the XC90 to its best. It’ll need plugging in regularly to deliver on its economy potential, but for such a large and pretty quick car, it can be surprisingly affordable to run with electric power hauling it around. For most people though, or those that can’t charge up regularly, there’s still a lot to be said for the diesels - the earlier cars badged D5, or later ones dubbed B5 D, with official economy nearly nudging 40mpg, and a good turn of pace. Spec-wise, you don’t need to look much above basic Momentum trim, which is already very well equipped.
The trim levels you see below are how the XC90 range has looked since 2022, and befitting one of Volvo’s range-topping models, all are comprehensively equipped. Among earlier XC90s, you’re looking at Momentum, Inscription, and R-Design trim levels, which are roughly equivalent to the newer grades but may not be quite as well equipped, owing to their relative age.
The Volvo XC90’s exterior dimensions are:
The Volvo XC90’s boot space is:
A new list price of more than £40,000 means that although all XC90s feature hybrid technology and therefore get a £10 VED discount compared to regular petrol and diesel cars, they’re also all subject to a hefty surcharge. As of the 2024/2025 tax year, you’ll pay £590 per year to tax an XC90. This figure is applicable for the first five years after the car’s first, CO2-based year of taxation, so from year seven onwards you’ll pay a lower rate.
The XC90 is a large premium SUV, and has insurance group ratings to match. An earlier D5 in Momentum trim starts at group 39 (out of 50), while a later B5 P Core begins at group 40. The T plug-in hybrid in Ultimate trim tops the list with a group 45 rating. These ratings are par for the class however - a BMW X5 spans groups 43 to 50.
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How many Volvo XC90 cars are available for sale?
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