The Volvo XC90 Is Starting To Show Its Age: Review

2025 Volvo XC90: The Steadfast Workhorse

Picture by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1

The XC90 was a world-beater when it debuted in 2015, with a classy design, a contemporary inside, and a formidable number of powertrains. However 10 years on, and largely unchanged—save a number of gentle updates—a few of that sheen has pale. The XC90 nonetheless appears nice, and its new mild-hybrid inline-four is a pleasure to make use of. However the underlying chassis cannot ship the identical experience consolation or dealing with as its rivals. And whereas the inside continues to be a pleasant place to spend time, it feels outdated.

Engine & Drivetrain: A Trio of Hybrids

Picture by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1

The 2 most cost-effective powertrains for the 2025 Volvo XC90 are each gentle hybrids paired to a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four. The bottom B5 trim is rated at 247 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, whereas the beefier B6 is rated at 295 hp and 310 lb-ft. The highest-level T8 is a plug-in hybrid that pairs the identical 2.0-liter engine to an 18.8-kilowatt-hour battery and a 145-horsepower electrical motor, for a complete of 455 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque.

If efficiency is necessary to you, it’s the T8 you need. Volvo says it will probably dash to 60 miles per hour in 5.0 seconds. The B6 takes 6.4 seconds to achieve the identical velocity. The B5 is slower nonetheless, rated at 7.3 seconds to get from zero to 60, in accordance with Volvo.

The one transmission choice is an eight-speed automated, sending energy to all 4 wheels. Patrons select between typical coil springs or, for $1,800, air suspension, which may increase the SUV by as much as 1.57 inches, or decrease it by 0.8 inches. 

Know-how & Infotainment: Virtually, However Not Fairly

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Supply: Brian Silvestro / Motor1

Being a 10-year-old automotive, Volvo has needed to continuously replace the XC90’s infotainment to remain related. It made a giant step for 2025, shoehorning an 11.2-inch portrait-style show onto the dashboard. It’s shiny and crisp, delivering a contemporary consumer interface with Google Assistant, which incorporates helpful stuff like built-in Google Maps.

There’s additionally a 12.3-inch show for the motive force’s instrument cluster, which shows stuff like velocity, vary, and energy. In case you’re operating any type of navigation—by way of Apple CarPlay or in any other case—the map will mission onto this show, so that you don’t must look away from the street to test the place you’re going. 

Talking of CarPlay, it’s not wi-fi. Even in 2025, you want a wired connection to run CarPlay within the XC90. That’s a giant crimson flag, particularly because the all-electric EX90 will get wi-fi CarPlay proper out of the field. Fortunately, Volvo plans to appropriate this challenge subsequent yr.

Design: Growing older Gracefully

Picture by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1

The XC90 was essentially the most lovely car in its section again in 2015, and it’s held that title since. With good proportions and a good-looking face, there’s loads to love concerning the design. It appears prefer it may’ve debuted yesterday, regardless of the physique panels trying primarily the identical for the previous decade.

For 2025, the XC90 adopts a few of the design cues from its all-electric EX90 sibling, together with a diagonally striped grille and up to date “Thor’s Hammer” daytime operating lights. We’re into it.

The inside leaves a bit extra to be desired, with most of the identical controls retained over the XC90’s lifecycle. We recognize the true buttons for the steering wheel, however they really feel a bit low cost in 2025.

Passenger & Cargo House: Glorious Method

Picture by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1

The XC90 is a grasp of area utilization. Regardless of the trim, you’ll be able to go for a 5-, 6-, or 7-seat configuration. The third row folds flat for extra storage and makes for a great emergency set of seats in a pinch. (They’re fairly tight, so don’t count on adults to remain comfy for lengthy).

The entrance seats are among the many best within the business, each when it comes to consolation and adjustability. With 38.9 inches of headroom, 40.9 inches of legroom, and 56.0 inches of hip room, there’s loads of area for all physique sorts. 

With our six-seat tester, the rear baggage compartment can accommodate as much as 10.6 cubic toes of stuff with the third row deployed, 34.6 cubic toes with the third row folded, or 85.7 cubic toes with each rows folded.

Driving Impressions: Good, Not Nice

Picture by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1

The XC90 is a nice place to spend time. It’s quiet and remoted, with subdued street manners, gentle steering, and agreeable dealing with. In a vacuum, there’s not a lot to fault right here. Besides, the XC90’s rivals have caught as much as it, and normally, surpassed it in isolation and experience high quality.

Over tough or bumpy street surfaces, the XC90’s suspension transmits extra to the cabin than a BMW X5. The Volvo’s experience isn’t as refined because the more-modern autos on this section. That’s not a knock in opposition to the XC90, per se, simply an remark that the business has moved on.

In case you’re coming from one thing older, you’ll like the brand new XC90. It has a lot of the new tech you’d count on from a brand new automotive, and it appears nice. Simply don’t be shocked while you take a look at drive one thing else and discover this Volvo missing.

Gasoline Financial system: Solely Environment friendly At The High

If gas economic system is necessary to you, the XC90 gives a few nice choices. The bottom B5 mannequin will get 23 miles per gallon metropolis and 30 freeway, with a mixed 26 miles per gallon, in accordance with the EPA. Our T8 tester is much more environment friendly, with a mixed 58 MPGe whereas utilizing the electrical motor and onboard battery. With the battery empty, the inline-four can nonetheless handle 27 mpg mixed.

The mid-level B6 is the least environment friendly of the trio, rated at 20 mpg and 26 mpg freeway, for a mixed 23 mpg.

Payload & Towing: About What You’d Count on

The XC90 wasn’t made to drag enormous hundreds, however with a most tow ranking of 5,000 kilos, it will probably nonetheless tug stuff like small trailers, boats, and even light-weight vehicles. With a most weight ranking of 6150 kilos, it will probably additionally maintain as much as 1,679 kilos earlier than maxing out the suspension. The roof is rated as much as 220 kilos.

Pricing & Verdict: Good In A Vacuum

The 2025 Volvo XC90 B5 begins at $59,745, together with a vacation spot payment of $1,295. Step as much as the extra highly effective B6 mannequin, and also you’ll be paying $64,645. The highest-dog T8, in the meantime, begins at $81,995.

Our tester got here in “Extremely” guise, which added stuff like a 360-degree encompass view digital camera, a head-up show, and ventilated entrance seats. It was additionally geared up with air suspension, and a $3,200 Bowers & Wilkins sound system. Complete value out the door: $88,695.

The costs aren’t unreasonable for what you get. Luxurious vehicles are costly, and this SUV section has ballooned in common value lately. The Volvo undercuts vehicles just like the Audi Q7 and the Lexus GX, making it an interesting alternative for consumers on a funds.

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