Volvo XC90 Review (2015-present)
Volvo XC90 cars for sale
4.0
Expert review
Pros
Tastefully designed interior
Hugely comfortable over long distances
Practical, spacious and safe
Cons
Slightly noisy engines
Infotainment system not the best
Audi, Mercedes or BMW rivals feel better built
The CarGurus verdict
The XC90 has always been a good option for those after a comfortable, relaxing and practical SUV, and the second generation continues that trend. It’s a far more modern and capable offering, while its elegant interior and restrained exterior styling may help tempt buyers away from the usual German options.
However, although it drives better on the road than a Land Rover Discovery, competitors such as the Porsche Cayenne and BMW X5 are more rewarding and capable. The interior is also not quite on a par with that offered by the Audi Q7, which has a more capable and easy-to-use infotainment system as well.
Nevertheless, the sheen of quality and cool, and the composed and subtle look of the XC90, may swing the balance for some, particularly when coupled with its sensible running costs. Just don’t tick too many options boxes, or go for too high-specification a model, as the price can quickly get exorbitant.
What is the Volvo XC90?
When Volvo introduced its first generation of XC90 in 2002, few probably expected it to still be on offer over a decade later. It was a popular car, though, in part thanks to its remarkable practicality and comfort, so its continued existence made sense.
Production of the first-generation XC90 finally drew to a close in July 2014, after countless awards and after more than 636,000 had been built. The flagship position in Volvo’s range was quickly filled, however, by the introduction of the second-generation XC90 in 2015.
It had big shoes to fill but Volvo pulled off a remarkable feat and delivered yet another desirable, capable and practical all-wheel drive (AWD) SUV. Underneath its familiar yet modernised and more attractive exterior sat Volvo’s new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform, which was coupled with a new range of efficient Drive-E engines.
How practical is it?
Brilliantly so. The three seats in the middle row can be slid forwards and backwards separately, thus enabling you to make the best use of the space on offer and tailor it to your needs. Meanwhile, the rearmost row offers more space than you’ll find in most rivals – even average-sized adults can sit back there, though taller occupants might struggle.
With the rearmost seats folded down, you get a big boot, too, with up to 1,856 litres of storage space on offer with all the rear seats folded, and if you go for a car with the optional air suspension, you can lower the rear end of the car by pressing a button, which helps when you’ve got heavy bags to load.
What's it like to drive?
Engine options included a 2.0-litre diesel, badged D5, which was soon joined by a flagship petrol hybrid version called the T8 Twin Engine. A model called the T6, which used the same powerful 2.0-litre petrol engine as found in the hybrid, was also offered. All were all-wheel drive, and all used the same eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Any version of the XC90, however, is a cosseting and relaxing car to drive. The diesels are flexible and refined, while the more powerful options give the Volvo a decent performance edge. It’s not as compelling to drive as, say, a Porsche Cayenne or BMW X5, but it handles well and doesn’t roll to an uncomfortable degree, and its dynamic performance is leagues ahead of its predecessor.
Its finely finished and plush cabin, accommodating interior and refined ride further make it a great car to travel long distances in. Predictably, though, its big footprint can make it tricky to deal with in tighter spaces and on narrower roads.
Technology, equipment & infotainment
Trim levels for early models included Momentum, R Design and Inscription, but every XC90 got lots of kit, including cruise control, leather trim and an infotainment system with satnav. High-performance upgrades from Polestar were soon available, too, and more powerful diesel Powerpulse D5 and petrol T5 engine options would eventually join the line-up as well.
Apple CarPlay support was subsequently announced in January 2016, followed by Android Auto in December 2016, making the Volvo’s Sensus media system more capable and flexible.
Those with families will be particularly pleased to hear that the second-generation XC90 remains a safe option as well, scoring 97% for adult occupants and 87% for child passengers in Euro NCAP crash testing. Altogether, it netted the maximum five-star rating.
Volvo XC90 running costs
The first generation of XC90 was quite expensive to run, even in diesel form, but advances in technology have made this modern second-generation Volvo far more manageable on that front. It’s still an expensive and heavy SUV, though, so don’t expect hatchback-like running costs.
Early on, cleaner versions of the XC90 such as the diesel D5 and hybrid T8 fell into low tax bands – with a pre-March 2017 T8 being eligible for £0 annual VED, for example. The T8, in particular, can be appealing for company car drivers due to its low CO2 outputs and low Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) ratings. Other models did cost more to tax, though, so be mindful of that.
However, subsequent changes to the taxation bands on 1 April 2017 means that all XC90s registered will now eventually pay the same annual rate of £140-£150. That said, you will pay a costlier first-year rate on many a new XC90, low-emissions T8 aside, and the £40,000- list price of every version of Volvo’s SUV means you’ll pay a further premium on VED for five years. Consequently, check the details of each version you’re looking at carefully to avoid any surprises.
Things are a little less wince-inducing on the fuel economy front, with all variants averaging over 30mpg on the claimed WLTP test cycle. The B5 diesel is claimed to offer up to 41.5mpg, the B5 and B6 petrol around 30mpg, and the T8 up to 100.9mpg – although much diligence will be required to attain that. Some of those figures might not sound impressive but you have to remember that they are on the more realistic WLTP test cycle and that the XC90 is a large all-wheel-drive automatic SUV. It’s no lightweight, either, as the minimum kerb weight is 2105kg. The T8’s even heavier, weighing in at 2320kg in running order.
Servicing shouldn’t prove expensive, beneficially, and is required every year or 18,000 miles. We got a quote of £280 for a minor service for a D5 and £475 for a major service, which is needed every other year. You can quickly find out what the costs might be, too, as Volvo allows you to get pricing and book servicing appointments online. A range of finance, service and insurance options are further offered to help keep things in check.
Before buying an XC90, do remember to get an insurance quote or three beforehand – as many variants sit in insurance group 40 and beyond.
Volvo XC90 reliability
Buy a new XC90 and it will come with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty. It also comes with a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty on the paint and either eight- or twelve years’ warranty against rust perforation. If you buy a plug-in hybrid model, the battery is also warranted for eight years or 100,000 miles.
The warranty offering isn’t exceptional, but it’s on a par with most mainstream rivals, offerings from Toyota, Kia and Hyundai aside. More prominently, Volvo performs generally very well in customer satisfaction and reliability surveys, so major grief should be rare. There were some negative reports and hiccups in earlier cars, mind, but those issues seem to have been dialled out.
Every new Volvo does come with three years’ roadside assistance, reassuringly, and extended warranty options are available for those who are considering long-term ownership of a new XC90. If you’re buying a used XC90, however, you do need to check out the government’s recall website, as early cars, in particular, were the subject of several recalls. These included issues with cooling systems, intake manifolds and an airbag deployment issue. If you can’t ascertain if a car has been updated, get in touch with a dealer for further advice.
Buying a used XC90 is made easier by the availability of the Volvo Selekt scheme, which offers an array of carefully prepared used cars. These cars, if they’re under five years old, come with a minimum of a 12-month warranty, 12 month’s roadside assistance, MOT test cover and a 30-day/1500-mile satisfaction guarantee.
Older cars are available, too, up to an age of seven years and a mileage limit of 100,000 miles. Cars over five years old will come with a six-month warranty, but extensions are available.
- Unlike in the original XC90, the base diesel engine in the second-generation model offered up stout performance. The D5, with the Geartronic automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, would accelerate from 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds, and Volvo also claimed an average mpg of 49 in early form. The T6 was quicker, taking 6.9 seconds to reach the same speeds, but it averaged closer to 30mpg. Versions such as the T8 were even quicker, with its combined petrol engine and electric motor's 401bhp granting a 0-62mph time of just 5.6 seconds. It was initially capable of covering 28 miles on pure electric power alone, too, and was reputed to average a heady 134.5mpg while emitting just 49g/km of CO2.
- If you're looking at a new car the current XC90 comes with a lengthy list of standard kit, including the Sensus nine-inch infotainment system, a powered tailgate, dual-zone climate, parking sensors, heated seats, a 12.3-inch digital dash, LED headlights and keyless entry and start. Momentum, R-Design and Inscription trims are offered, along with the option of the B5 mild-hybrid petrol or diesel, the more powerful B6 petrol and the range-topping T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid. New Pro versions of the trims are available as well, which add extra luxury features.
- 2020 model year cars had a series of upgrades, as Volvo facelifted the exterior, added restyled wheels, a new grille, new kit, safety system upgrades and a new mild-hybrid 48-volt diesel model called the B5.
- The cheapest new buy: The least costly new XC90 is the petrol B5 mild hybrid in Momentum trim. It’s quick, claimed to average 33.2mpg on the WLTP test cycle and emits 193g/km of CO2. Momentum might be the base grade but it comes with an array of kit, so few will be disappointed. The diesel version is only a little more, though, and it’s quicker and more efficient.
- The best all-rounder: Unless you really want some more luxurious features, or you want the more powerful B6 or T8 variant, stick to the entry-level XC90. Otherwise, the final price can quickly start creeping into Porsche Cayenne territory, and that’s a better car to drive.
- The best used buy: Again, to keep costs sensible, go for one of the diesel versions of the XC90. Go for a car that’s been looked after and properly maintained, too, to avoid any problems later down the line. Stick to models with smaller wheels as well, if you want the best ride quality.
- For the eco-minded: The most economical new XC90 is the T8 Plug-in hybrid, which sits under the brand’s new Recharge branding. It’s claimed to average 83.1-100.9mpg on the more realistic WLTP test cycle. It’s also the fastest of the range, dispatching the 0-62mph sprint in just 5.8 seconds. Like all new Volvos, though, it’s limited to 112mph. Otherwise, the diesel B5 is the less costly option and averages up to 41.5mpg.
