Verdict
For a time, it appeared like plug-in hybrids could be the stepping stones for the mass EV adoption. Individuals may get comfy with charging and retain the flexibleness of gasoline, whereas the general public EV infrastructure had time to construct up. The Volvo XC90 T8 is an efficient instance of why that concept by no means actually got here to fruition.
With simply 14 miles of electrical vary when it arrived in 2015, the $69,095 2016 XC90 T8 carried a price ticket almost $20,000 greater than a comparable gas-powered mannequin. Positive, it was extra highly effective and got here with a federal income-tax credit score, however neither an additional 130 horsepower nor a $4,600 financial savings from Uncle Sam may overshadow its poor worth.
A number of years on, the 2021 XC90 T8 encompasses a new title – Recharge – and advantages from a slight facelift. However Volvo failed to deal with the primary faults that prevented of us from contemplating the T8 prior to now: poor electrical vary and a considerably greater price ticket than a gas-powered mannequin. The Recharge T8 stays a poor worth, however just like the broader XC90 vary, that is nonetheless a rattling good luxurious crossover.
A automobile’s scores and verdict are relative solely to its personal section and never the new-vehicle market as a complete. For extra on how Motor1.com charges automobiles, click on right here.
Design
The XC90’s facelift for 2021 is a minor factor, and that is high quality. That is nonetheless a clear, clearly Scandinavian crossover. Crisp, easy traces create a minimal quantity of fuss within the two-box form, whereas conventional Volvo parts abound. The waterfall grille receives a small replace, adopting a concave form that ties in with the corporate’s newer merchandise – the waterfall slats stay unchanged, although, as does the positioning of the enduring Volvo badge and the strakes that cross it at a diagonal. Past that merchandise and a pair new wheel and paint choices, the XC90’s exterior is as unchanged as it’s good-looking.
Volvo’s minimalist method to aesthetic updates carries over to the cabin, which continues to be, someway, even nicer to take a look at than the outside. Smooth leather-based is in every single place, whereas matte wooden, piano black trim, and strips of steel contribute to the eye-pleasing setting. Volvo’s lack of buttons, switches, and knobs is as refreshing in 2021 because it was when the XC90 ushered in Volvo’s renaissance in 2015. And as has been the case because it debuted in 2015, this inside feels bank-vault stable. Actually, there’s little in regards to the XC90’s design that deserves criticism.
Consolation
For these within the first and second row, the XC90 is a high quality place to hang around. The entrance chairs are supportive and comfy with out feeling pillowy or over-cushioned, and so they present a formidable vary of adjustability. The second row is obtainable with both captain’s chairs or a three-abreast bench – we had the latter right here, however except you want the additional spot, go for the person seats.
A pair of adults needs to be blissful on a prolonged drive, even when they’re taller. There’s sufficient cushioning within the bench and an adjustable backrest to make life a bit extra nice. That mentioned, the XC90 lags behind the competitors in second-row legroom – the Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring provides 39.0 inches to the Volvo’s 37.0, whereas the Audi Q7 and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class are available at 38.8 and 40.9, respectively.
These values solely matter should you’re routinely utilizing the third row and must make changes to the second to account for that. Talking of the again seats, the XC90 boasts class-leading third-row legroom. The Volvo’s 31.9 inches is tight by another measure, but it surely bests the Q7 and Aviator, which each provide 29.2 inches of knees-in-the-chest passenger house. Actually, although, not one of the automobiles on this class present effectively right here – we would not put an grownup at the back of the XC90, the Aviator, or the Q7 for greater than a brief drive. In the event you want that house, get a minivan.
Area apart, the XC90’s powertrain isn’t all that spectacular by way of refinement. Positive, the gasoline engine and electrical motor play collectively effectively, however the turbo and supercharged four-cylinder was buzzy and harsh sounding throughout testing. The experience, although, is impressively quiet with the elective four-corner air suspension managing tough roads and quelling harshness from the 21-inch wheels. And there is little wind or tire noise, both.
Expertise & Connectivity
Volvo up to date its Sensus infotainment suite for mannequin 12 months 2020, bettering its load time and responsiveness and in flip, fixing the 2 largest complaints in opposition to it. Within the 2021 XC90, it booted up far faster, even in chilly circumstances – getting the heated steering wheel and seats operating can occur seconds after beginning the automotive, so wave goodbye to the times of impatient tapping as you slowly freeze on chilly leather-based.
However whereas Sensus is unquestionably faster, the XC90 tech suite’s age is beginning to present. The 9.0-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen on the middle stack feels considerably small, and the software program inside, whereas fairly, lacks the graphical punch of newer shows. Nonetheless, the final format of Sensus is straightforward to be taught, even in comparison with a well-liked setup like MBUX. The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster feels equally aged, though the primary concern there’s the shortage of customization in the best way it shows information, along with the yesteryear graphics.
This tester carried the XC90’s flagship audio system, a $3,200 Bowers and Wilkins setup with 19 audio system and 1,400 watts of energy. Not solely is it an aesthetically fairly system, however the British audio firm delivers stable, highly effective sound, together with the flexibility to simply tweak the sound profile.
Efficiency & Dealing with
Each XC90 encompasses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, however selection comes within the type of synthetic aspiration. Turbocharged fours are customary on T5 fashions, whereas T6s pair turbocharging and supercharging. The Recharge T8 vary featured right here dietary supplements its twin-charged engine with an 11.6-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack and a 67-kilowatt, rear-mounted electrical motor for a complete output of 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque. Like so many electrified crossovers, the XC90’s all-wheel drive is a perform of the gasoline engine up entrance and the rear motor on the again.
Matched up with an eight-speed computerized transmission, the Recharge is robust off the road, owing to the electrical motor, whereas intelligent work on Volvo’s half ends in cordial relations between gasoline engine and electrical motor – the hand-off from one to the opposite feels principally seamless, which, if the Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring is any indication, is a difficult engineering feat. The Aviator is one thing of a foil for the XC90, although, with the American providing way more energy on the expense of some refinement.
Energy scores apart, the XC90 reveals its hand early and infrequently when pushed exhausting. Regardless of a wholesome 5.3-second dash to 60 (six-tenths faster than the Vary Rover Sport P400e), the turbo and supercharged four-cylinder lacks the high-speed acceleration or the general urgency of the 494-hp, 630-lb-ft Lincoln. The eight-speed transmission additionally struggles in these conditions, fumbling multi-gear downshifts in circumstances the place the driving force all of the sudden requires extra steam.
In contrast to some hybrids, the brake pedal is straightforward to modulate. There’s little of the grabbiness we usually affiliate with regenerative brakes. Actually, it is simple to overlook that the stoppers try to recapture kinetic power. Stopping energy itself, in the meantime, is greater than satisfactory for a automobile that weighs in at round 5,100 kilos.
The XC90, regardless of its cosseting four-corner air suspension, is not as tight or settled a handler because the plug-in Vary Rover Sport or the Aviator – not one of the automobiles on this class is especially swish, however the competitors does a greater job hiding its curb weight when dealing with a nook than the 5,100-pound Volvo does.
Security
Volvo’s Pilot Help energetic security suite was one of many early leaders in superior driver help tech and it stays spectacular a few years on (with much more great things to return). Customary gear on each XC90, Pilot Help marries full-speed adaptive cruise management, lane-keeping help, lane centering and different applied sciences right into a single cohesive system that drivers can interact on the press of a button.
Along with the same old energetic security gear, although, the XC90 additionally makes use of navigation information to consider curves or hills, adjusting the velocity as wanted. The combination of all of the techniques is easy and predictable, even for corners – there is not any catching Pilot Help unexpectedly.
Past this expertise, the XC90 options wonderful LED headlights and excellent sightlines to the entrance, again, and sides. Volvo made its title on security, and the newest XC90 deserves its good rating.
Gas Economic system
With simply 18 miles of all-electric vary, the XC90 Recharge falls effectively under our goal for premium plug-in crossovers, 35 miles per cost. This quantity is doubly disappointing, although, contemplating it represents only a four-mile enchancment over the unique plug-in XC90 from 2016.
The larger drawback, in my expertise, is that I’ve by no means been in a position to get an XC90 to cost at residence. Since 2016, I’ve tried charging two separate plug-in-hybrid XC90s at two separate 110-volt shops in two separate garages on two separate properties utilizing two separate Volvo-provided charging cables, and the CUVs refuse to simply accept a single electron. The primary time I assumed it could possibly be an issue on my finish, however twice? No, there’s another subject right here.
This failing was all of the extra annoying as a result of the XC90 accepted a cost from a public Degree 2 charger. Nonetheless, with a comparatively small 11.6-kilowatt-hour battery and a promised charging time on a 110-volt plug of six to eight hours, you should not must depend on a dear residence charging resolution or public chargers to benefit from the XC90’s modest vary.
Poor EV exhibiting apart, the XC90 continues to be probably the most environment friendly member of the Volvo line, returning 27 miles per gallon mixed. That is two factors higher than the front-drive T5, which is down 150 hp and over 200 lb-ft of torque on the Recharge.
As for the competitors, the Aviator can handle 21 miles on a cost and is extra environment friendly with a full battery, at 56 mpge, but it surely manages simply 23 mpg and not using a cost. However it’s the BMW X5 xDrive45e that actually ruins the Volvo’s day. The XC90’s mixed EPA ranking blows the BMW out of the water, at 27 mpg to twenty, whereas its 55 mpge determine is superior to the X5’s 50-mpge ranking, too. However the BMW will cowl an EPA-estimated 31 miles on a cost, which is inarguably extra usable than the XC90’s 18. As a PHEV is simply nearly as good as its electrical vary, the Volvo earns low marks.
Pricing
The 2021 XC90 begins at $49,695 for a gas-only, front-drive mannequin, however stepping into the T8 vary requires a minimum of $63,450 (not together with the 2021 mannequin 12 months’s $5,419 federal income-tax credit score). This seven-passenger Inscription mannequin rings up at $69,750, however then provides mainly all of the goodies. Headlining objects on the march to an $81,690 as-tested worth embody a $3,200 Bowers and Wilkins audio system and an $1,800 air suspension, that are objects I undoubtedly endorse. Much less essential are the $1,500 Superior package deal (head-up show, 360-degree digicam), the $1,700 Lounge pack (massaging entrance seats, nubuck headliner), or the $800 21-inch wheels.
Whereas $82,000 is not low-cost, the XC90 enjoys the bottom beginning worth within the class. By comparability, a Vary Rover P400e is the section’s priciest at $83,000, whereas the bottom Aviator Grand Touring rings up at $69,070. Whereas it is mainly unattainable to construct a plug-in hybrid Vary Rover Sport with content material to match our Volvo tester for lower than $90,000, the Lincoln has a formidable exhibiting with its range-topping Black Label trim.
Apart from the rear-seat leisure system, a totally loaded Aviator Grand Touring Black Label prices $83,005, or a mere $1,315 greater than this Volvo. Whether or not you favor the Lincoln or the Volvo is in the end depending on whether or not you need the American’s energy and content material or the Swede’s impeccable construct high quality and refinement.