Volvo XC90 SUV
New from £62,850 / £592 p/m
Is the Volvo XC90 SUV a good car?
Read our expert review
Words by: Autotrader
"The pace of technological change is so rapid these days some cars can become obsolete almost as soon as they are launched. Volvo doesn’t seem to be worried about that, though, and has treated its flagship XC90 seven-seat SUV to the second major update since its debut nearly a decade back. That makes it old in car terms, but with the all-electric EX90 joining the Volvo line-up these changes are designed to keep the XC90 as the combustion-powered alternative in the range for customers not quite ready to make the switch. Changes include a new set of front lights and a restyled radiator grille, plus modifications to the suspension and a more advanced, Google-powered infotainment system."
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Running costs for a Volvo XC90
There are two models available, a B5 mild hybrid and a more powerful T8 plug-in hybrid. Click here if you need a refresher on hybrid tech and translation for what that means! Anyway, as both have four-cylinder engines for the petrol-powered side they don’t cost as much to run as similar premium rivals with bigger motors, the T8 offering the best of both worlds. Which is to say the sort of performance an upmarket SUV capable of carrying seven like this should have, yet with the running costs of a supermini if you make proper use of the electric element of its drivetrain. Officially, the XC90 can do around 40 miles without even using the petrol engine, though you’ll need to be able to plug it in somewhere to benefit and some fresher rivals have bigger batteries and much more usable electric range.
Reliability of a Volvo XC90
The second-generation Volvo XC90 has proved to be a dependable car, with owners praising it highly in reliability surveys. Few issues have been reported over the years, with the most commonly encountered faults being onboard electrical glitches. Volvo offers the industry-standard warranty of three years and 60,000 miles, but this can be extended for a fee to either four years and the same mileage cap, or even four years and 80,000 miles if you want. The extra reassurance, the hybrid battery pack in the T8 is covered by its own specific warranty of eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever is sooner.
Safety for a Volvo XC90
‘Volvo’ and ‘safety’ go together like strawberries and cream on the basis it has long upheld the wellbeing of its customers as sacrosanct and includes the three-point seatbelt as among the innovations it has introduced to the automotive mainstream. At heart the Volvo XC90 is a big, solidly built SUV with a host of advanced driver assist safety (ADAS) systems fitted as standard, including an off-road mitigation setting which automatically protects the passengers as best it can if the worst happens and the car heads into the scenery. This generation of the XC90 picked up a full five-star Euro NCAP award when it was evaluated in 2015, with particularly high scores for adult occupant safety and driver assist systems. The tests have got more stringent since then, but we’d be surprised if the Volvo couldn’t still bag a five-star accolade if it were retested.
How comfortable is the Volvo XC90
You should buy an XC90 with optional air suspension if you can, as we think it offers the more comfortable and quieter ride quality overall. Even the standard set-up is excellent, as it now features more advanced suspension for improved ride comfort. The fact remains that the air suspension gives the XC90 the elegant glide a prestigious SUV like this deserves, though, while every model is fitted with the comfiest seats in the motoring industry. Suffice to say, long-distance journeys in an air suspension equipped XC90 would be a pleasure, not a chore.
Features of the Volvo XC90
Volvo has equipped the updated XC90 with an 11.2-inch Google-powered infotainment system, which is a substantial improvement on what went before. There’s still quite a lot of screen-prodding needed to control various functions, such as the air conditioning, but in general it is more intuitively laid-out and sharper to look at than the old set-up. Besides that, there’s a wireless smartphone charging pad and a digital instrument cluster, and even base-grade XC90s have plenty of useful standard equipment. For some of the grander technology – such as the utterly tremendous 19-speaker, 1,400-watt Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system, or even ventilated and massaging front seat – you need to fork out for the top-spec Ultra model, which as a T8 most certainly isn’t cheap to buy.
Power for a Volvo XC90
Both B5 or the T8 drivetrains have plenty of power to move the Volvo XC90’s sizeable stature along, but for the genuinely impressive performance you might expect from a high-end SUV you need the T8. Altogether, its ‘twin-charged’ (this means it has both a turbocharger and a supercharger fitted) 2.0-litre engine and electric motor serve up the sort of power that would rival something like a V8-powered Audi SQ8. And there’s enough performance from the electric motor that the XC90 feels plenty swift enough even when it’s moving on electric power alone.
Lease deals
These deals are based on terms of 8,000 miles, for a 36 month lease with a 6 months initial payment.
£708.80
Monthly payment
£4,252.78
Initial payment
- 7 seats
- 5 doors
- SUV
- Hybrid
- Automatic
- 2.0 litres
£974.31
Monthly payment
£5,845.85
Initial payment
- 7 seats
- 5 doors
- SUV
- Hybrid
- Automatic
- 2.0 litres
£986.30
Monthly payment
£5,917.82
Initial payment
- 7 seats
- 5 doors
- SUV
- Hybrid
- Automatic
- 2.0 litres
£1,000.57
Monthly payment
£6,003.41
Initial payment
- 7 seats
- 5 doors
- SUV
- Hybrid
- Automatic
- 2.0 litres
Standard equipment
Expect the following equipment on your Volvo XC90 SUV. This may vary between trim levels.
- 11.2 Centre Console Touch Screen
- 12v Socket - Luggage Compartment
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto - Wired
- Bluetooth Handsfree System
- DAB - Digital Audio Broadcasting Radio
- Google Automotive Services
- High Performance Sound
- Volvo Car Connect
- Volvo Car Connect Plus for 4 years - Unlimited Mobile Data (for In-car Apps and Vehicle Communication)
- Wireless-Inductive Mobile Phone Charging
- 12.3in Progressive Driver Display
- 2nd Row Centre Armrest with Cupholders
- 3 Spoke Tailored Sport Steering Wheel with Chrome Trim
- 3rd Row Air Conditioning
- 4-Zone Electronic Climate Control with CleanZone Air Quality System and Pollen Filter
- Autodimming Interior and Exterior Mirrors
- B-Pillar Ventilation
- Bright Metal Luggage Scuff Plate
- Centre Console Cupholders and Storage
- Chequered Aluminium Inlays
- Floor Mats
- Handsfree Tailgate Opening-Closing
- Heated Front Seats
- Height and Reach Adjustable Steering Column
- High Level Illumination
- Illuminated Front and Rear Aluminium Tread Plates
- Load Cover
- Load Protection Net
- Lockable Glovebox Compartment
- Luggage Compartment Divider with Grocery Bag Holder
- Power Driver Seat with Memory for Seat and Exterior Mirrors
- Power Operated Tailgate
- Power Passenger Seat
- Rain Sensor - Automatic Windscreen Wiper Activation
- Seats - Front Lumbar Support
- Tailored Instrument Panel and Door Tops
- Three 2nd Row Individual Folding Passenger Seats with Fore-Aft Adjustment
- Two 3rd Row Individual Folding Passenger Seats
- Underfloor Luggage Compartment Storage
- 20in Alloy Wheels - 5 Multi Spoke Diamond Cut - Black - 275/45 Summer Tyres
- Autofolding and Heated Power Door Mirrors
- Bright Chrome Front Grille and Deco
- Bright Chrome Front and Rear Bumper Deco
- Bright Chrome Lower Side Mouldings
- Bright Chrome Window Surround
- Colour Co-ordinated Door Mirrors
- Locking Wheel Nuts
- Roof Rails - Integrated Bright Chrome
- Tempa Spare Wheel and Jack
- 2x Key Integrated Remote Control Central Locking
- Airbags - Driver and Passenger
- Anti-Theft Alarm including Immobiliser - Volume Sensor and Level Sensor
- City Safety with Steering Support
- Cross Traffic Alert with Autobrake
- Driver Knee Airbag
- EBA - Emergency Brake Assistance
- First Aid Kit
- Hill Descent Control - Off-Road Drive Mode
- Hill Start Assist
- IC - Inflatable Curtains - Full Length
- ISOFIX Attachment - 2nd Row Outer Seats
- Keyless Drive - Keyless Entry and Keyless Start
- Lane Keeping Aid
- Oncoming Lane Mitigation
- Passenger Airbag Cut-Off Switch
- Pilot Assist
- Power Child Locks - Rear Doors
- Power Parking Brake with Auto Hold Function
- Rear Collision Warning and Mitigation
- Run-Off Road Protection
- SIPS - Side Impact Protection System
- SIPS Airbags - Front Seats
- Seatbelt Reminder and Pretensioners - All Seats
- Slippery Road and Hazard Light Alert
- WHIPS - Whiplash Protection System - Front Seats
- Warning Triangle
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Blind Spot Information System with Steer Assist
- Driver Alert Control
- Driver Understanding System
- Front and Rear Park Assist
- Rear Park Assist Camera
- Road Sign Information Display
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
- Adjustable Steering Force
- Automatic Transmission with Stop-Start and Manual Change Functions
- Intelligent Speed Assistance
- Touring Chassis
- Automatic Headlight Levelling System
- Automatic Matrix LED Headlights with Adaptive Shadow Technology and Active High Beam incorporating Day Running Lights
- Home Safe and Approach Lighting
- Puddle Lights
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Your questions answered
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