Volvo XC90 review

Planning for every scenario family life throws at you is impossible. Life’s too full of curveballs. For example, you pick up your child from football practice and their five friends want a lift home, too; or you’re packing for a family holiday staring at a pile of luggage that’s taller than you are. Sound familiar? Then take a look at the Volvo XC90.

The XC90 is the largest and most practical SUV in the Volvo line-up, and it comes with seven seats as standard. The current-generation XC90 has been around for a while now, but an update in 2025 included revised front-end styling and a more modern, Android-based infotainment system.

Volvo XC90 vs Range Rover Sport video group test

So are the changes enough to keep the Volvo XC90 competitive with its key rivals – namely the Audi Q7, BMW X5, and seven-seat versions of the Land Rover Defender? Is it plush enough inside to rival even pricier alternatives, such as the BMW X7? 

Read on to find out. Or, if you're interested in the all-electric equivalent of the XC90, see our Volvo EX90 review.

What’s new?

- October 2025 - Black Edition introduced with four exterior paint options and an all-black interior, available with Plus, Plus Pro and Ultra trims

- April 2025 - Plus Pro trim introduced with 21in diamond-cut wheels and ventilated Nappa leather seats

- October 2024 - Revised XC90 revealed with new styling, a new 11.2in touchscreen and new paint and upholstery options

- August 2024 - Plus Edition and Ultra Edition replace Plus and Ultra trims, bringing larger wheels and more no-cost paint colour options

How fast is it and which motor is best?

The entry-level petrol Volvo XC90 (badged B5) is our pick, mainly for its balance of performance and price. It has 247bhp and deals with 0-62mph in a respectable 7.7sec. On the road, the acceleration feels brisk, although rival diesels, such as the Audi Q7 45 TDI, are noticeably stronger at low revs – potentially making them better for towing. 

Meanwhile, the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) XC90 T8 will do over 70mph using battery power alone, but with the petrol engine and electric motor working together it has 449bhp. That makes it properly quick. Is it a full-blown sports SUV like the Audi SQ7, though? Well, no – its performance isn’t that breathtaking. But it feels quicker on the road than the Range Rover Sport P460e, and when we tested the T8, it ticked off 0-60mph in just 5.0sec flat. 

All XC90s come with an eight-speed automatic gearbox that’s responsive, but still not quite as reactive as the BMW X5’s excellent eight-speed auto. 

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

The XC90 fails to defy physics like the BMW X5 does. Where the X5 feels truly agile and steers with pinpoint accuracy, the XC90 feels less wieldy. Still, it’s a big, tall, heavy car, so that’s not unusual, and it’s more nimble than the Land Rover Defender. 

Ultimately, if you’re not looking for the last word in handling finesse and just want a luxury SUV that’s easy to drive, you won’t be disappointed. The XC90 has enough grip and composure to shrug off a twisty B road and feels stable on the motorway. 

As for ride comfort, the entry-level XC90 B5 Core with conventional suspension is pretty cushioning. But we recommend Plus trim, which comes with air suspension as standard that makes for an even smoother, more relaxing experience. 

Sure, you’ll still feel the odd shudder over a vicious ridge or pothole, but mostly it’s supple and settled. Air suspension is even more of a boon on the heavier T8 PHEV, and avoid bigger wheels if you can – they tend to make the ride more abrupt. 

As good as the XC90’s ride is, to get the very best ride quality in a luxury SUV or seven-seat SUV, you can’t beat the Audi Q7 or BMW X7. 

Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?

The XC90’s brakes are progressive and its standard eight-speed auto gearbox is generally slick. As is the T8 PHEV when it switches between petrol and electric power; and, naturally, the T8’s quieter than the B5 petrol when running in electric mode. 

But when the T8’s petrol engine wakes up there’s very little difference in noise between it and the B5 petrol. In both cases, you can hear the petrol engine working under hard acceleration, but it’s not raucous and fades away at a steady cruise. 

That said, while the XC90’s engines aren’t overly intrusive, they aren’t the smoothest. Why? Well, the XC90’s available only with four-cylinder petrols, while many other luxury SUVs, like the Audi Q7, BMW X5 and Range Rover Sport, have silkier, six-cylinder motors.  

At speed, wind noise is relatively well suppressed, but there is a little more road noise than the quietest cruisers in the class. Those include the Q7 and X7, which also have less suspension noise, too.

What’s the range and efficiency like, and how quickly can it charge?

The XC90 T8 PHEV can officially do up to 44 miles on electric power alone. What about in the real world, though? We managed 35 miles on a warm day from its fully charged, 25.7kWh battery. 

Rivals have bigger batteries and better ranges, though. For example, on the same day that we tested the XC90 T8, the BMW X5 xDrive50e managed 50 miles before firing its petrol engine, while the Range Rover Sport 460e carried on for 60 miles before exhausting its battery.

The Range Rover Sport P460e will also charge quicker, with a peak charging speed of 50kW – but it’s worth pointing out that you’ll only get that speed from a public CCS charger, which is likely to cost you more in electricity than running on petrol. It only really makes sense to charge up a PHEV at home on a cheap electricity tariff, and it’ll take around 4.5 hours to fully regenerate the T8’s battery using a home wall box.

"I prefer the Volvo XC90's ride with air suspension, but I didn’t find the passive suspension you get with the B5 Core uncomfortable" – Oliver Young, Reviewer

What does the interior look like and is it well made?

The XC90’s interior is typical Volvo: clean and classy. It looks really swish inside, and very light and airy if you go for the lighter shade of trim rather than all black. You don’t have to go for the top-spec trim to get the benefit, either. 

Even the entry-level Core trim comes with attractive ‘Nordico’ quilted faux leather and checkered aluminium trims on the doors, dashboard and centre console. It’s real metal, too, rather than sprayed plastic, which you get a lot of in the BMW X5. 

Plus trim, which is our pick, swaps the aluminium trims for real brown ash wood and adds a crystal gear selector, too, while Plus Pro and Ultimate trim gain real nappa leather upholstery. 

It doesn’t just look good inside, either. The materials feel lovely to the touch, the buttons work with precision, and everything is screwed together solidly. 

On some levels, the XC90’s interior finish outdoes more expensive rivals, like the Range Rover Sport, and you’ll need to up your budget and go for a BMW X7 to get anything that feels more premium. 

Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?

All Volvo XC90s come with electric adjustment for the driver’s seat, including adjustable lumbar support and an extendable seat squab. On Plus Pro trim you can also plump up the seat’s side bolsters (around your midriff) to hold you in place more securely, too. The simple truth is this: the XC90’s front seats are super supportive and about the best there are. 

Combine that with lots of steering wheel adjustment and perfect pedal placement (in relation to the seat and steering wheel) and you can get comfy behind the wheel in no time, whatever your shape or size.

So far, so good, then, and it’s just as good when it comes to seeing where you’re going. The XC90 has large windows all round and relatively thin pillars at the front, sides and rear. All of which means it’s easy to see out whether you’re going forwards, backwards, or joining the traffic from roundabouts and junctions. It’s better than many rivals in this respect.

Just in case there is a blind spot anywhere, you have help from standard-fit front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera, while a 360-degree camera with bird's-eye view is standard on mid-spec Plus and above.

The standard adaptive LED headlights with automatic high-beam assist help you see better at night as well.

Are the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

While the driving position is spot on, we wish there were more physical buttons inside the XC90 to make operating all its features a little easier – but then we’d say the same about most of its rivals, too. 

Pretty much all the features, including the climate controls, are operated using the tablet-style, 11.2in infotainment touchscreen. There's also Google Assistant voice-control, which, to be fair, is pretty good at understanding simple commands, such as changing the temperature.

The XC90’s latest touchscreen represents a step on from the previous car’s 9.0in screen in some respects, but not others. The good bits include the larger screen, which is also higher definition than before and generally more responsive. And being Google-based, the infotainment system comes with other Google Apps as standard, such as Google Maps, and you can download other apps like Waze. 

Wireless phone charging is standard, as is Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring, but that isn’t wireless like it is in most of the XC90’s rivals – to use it you have to connect your phone via a USB-C. Android Auto isn’t available. 

Other issues range from some needlessly small icons that make life very hard when you’re using the screen to make adjustments on the move. We'd prefer a rotary controller, which is what you get in the BMW X5 and BMW X7. 

Then there’s the software. Yes, it’s responsive, but also prone to glitches. We encountered a number of these while testing the car, although Volvo did say that over-the-air updates will fix them in due course. 

The standard 10-speaker stereo sounds decent enough, but there’s a 13-speaker Harman Kardon upgrade on Plus models, and a truly excellent 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins upgrade with Ultimate trim. 

"The XC90 has an airy, open feel inside and its driving position is pretty lofty. I enjoyed having such a commanding view of the road and being able to see out easily while parking." – Oliver Young, Reviewer

How much space does it have for people?

This is a big SUV, so, as you’d expect, the Volvo XC90 offers more than enough head and leg room to keep even tall adults happy up front. There’s also generous shoulder room, although not quite as much as you get in an Audi Q7 or Land Rover Defender.

There are two large cupholders and a storage bin positioned between the front seats. The two front door pockets can each hold a large water bottle with space left for other smaller items, and the glovebox is large enough to store more than just the user manual. 

What about in the rear? Well, the second-row seats in the XC90 slide and recline as standard, and are also great for accommodating taller passengers. Head room is ample, and there’s more leg room in any of the three middle-row seats than a number of rivals, including the BMW X5, Land Rover Discovery and Range Rover Sport. In the unlikely situation that you’ll need more space in the middle row, check out the BMW X7. 

A more obvious reason to buy the X7 is to gain more space in the third row. You see, the X7 will fit adults in its two fold-out rear seats relatively easily. Getting larger adults in the third row of the XC90 will be more of a squeeze; while it’s doable, they won’t be comfortable back there for a long trip. Mind you, they’ll be better off than they would be in the BMW X5’s tighter third row. 

And you have to pay extra for seven seats in the X5 and Land Rover Defender. They come as standard in the XC90, and it’s one of the only cars on sale that you can order as a PHEV with seven seats – the X5 PHEV, for example, is a five-seater only.

How much room does it have for luggage?

With five seats in use, the XC90’s boot space is enormous. We managed to fit 10 carry-on suitcases below the parcel shelf with ease, which matches the number we got in the Audi Q7’s boot. It was also one more than the Land Rover Discovery swallowed. And while the BMW X7 can fit 11 cases in total, we reckon the XC90’s boot will fit two large pushchairs or a couple of sets of golf clubs no problem. 

Even with all seven seats in use, there’s still room for a couple of large bags in the boot, which is not always the case with seven seaters, plus there’s additional underfloor storage you can use. 

The boot isn't only big – it’s also practical. The relatively square shape, non-existent load lip and large aperture help when loading bulkier items. With air suspension fitted, it’s even possible to lower the rear end of the car by a few centimetres at the touch of a button, to make lifting heavy items in or out slightly easier.

Another key trait of the XC90’s boot is that it’s nearly the same size whether you go for the B5 petrol or T8 PHEV. Most of its rivals sacrifice significant boot capacity as a plug-in.

"When a friend asked me to help move house, the XC90 was perfect. Even as a T8 PHEV we got a sofa onboard with the rear seats folded. There aren’t many cars that’ll do that”  – John Howell, Deputy Reviews Editor

How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?

As a cash purchase, the Volvo XC90 is generally cheaper to buy than the equivalent Audi Q7; roughly on a par with the Land Rover Defender; and much cheaper than the BMW X7. Good manufacturer incentives usually make PCP finance costs competitive, too. 

We reckon the B5 petrol is the engine to choose, mainly because it’s cheaper to buy if you’re a private buyer. Fuel economy is about what you’d expect from any petrol-powered luxury SUV – even with mild-hybrid tech. Its official average is not much more than 30mpg, which in the real world is going to be 25 to 30mpg at best. You can’t buy a diesel XC90, either. Most of its rivals are available with diesel engines, and they’ll usually eek out another 5 to 10mpg if you drive them sensibly.

The XC90 T8 PHEV is well worth thinking about if you want to save on fuel costs, but that’ll only happen if you keep the battery charged to drive mostly on electric power. If you don’t keep the battery charged up the petrol engine will still only average around 30mpg, and if you charge on the public network, the electricity is likely to cost you more than filling up with petrol. PHEVs only really work if you can charge up at home.

Where the T8 makes most sense is for company car drivers, because PHEVs don’t attract as much BIK tax as petrols and diesels. However, the XC90 T8’s electric range isn’t as long as the Range Rover Sport P460e’s, and that longer range drops the Sport into an even lower tax band. 

All XC90's come with loads of kit. The entry-level Core trim is certainly worth considering. It’s reasonably priced but gets faux leather, adaptive cruise control, adaptive LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, heated front and outer middle-row seats, a heated windscreen and steering wheel, a powered tailgate, 20in alloy wheels and four-zone climate control all as standard.

Mid-spec Plus demands a noteworthy premium but we think it’s worth it for the air suspension, mainly, but also the panoramic sunroof, Harman Kardon sound system upgrade, ambient interior lighting and integrated sun blinds for the rear side windows. Plus Pro trim then adds front seat ventilation and nappa leather to that list.

Finally, the range-topping Ultra adds 21in alloy wheels, a head-up display, rear privacy glass, laminated side windows and a premium Bowers & Wilkins stereo, but it's too pricey to recommend as our top pick.

Is it reliable, and how long is the warranty?

In our 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey, Volvo came 21st out of 30 car brands – not great, then, but better than Mercedes and Land Rover managed. 

All XC90s come with a three-year, 60,000-mile manufacturer warranty that covers most components. The T8 models have their PHEV battery packs covered by a separate eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty.

How safe is it, and is it easy to steal?

The XC90's five-star Euro NCAP safety rating has now expired, but when it was tested back in 2015, it scored well across all of the categories, including protecting adults, children and pedestrians. But it’s impossible to compare those results with newer SUVs tested more recently, so that outdated 2015 rating is nothing more than food for thought.

Standard safety equipment is good, though, and includes automatic emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assistance, a traffic-sign recognition system, six airbags, traction control and Isofix mounts for child seats on the outer two middle-row seats. Blind-spot monitoring is also standard.

Security experts Thatcham Research awarded the XC90 top marks for its ability to resist being stolen and good marks for guarding against break ins. All versions come with a standard alarm and immobiliser.

"When I group tested the XC90 T8, it averaged 32.8mpg when the battery was depleted; better than the BMW X5 xDrive 50e and much better than the Range Rover Sport P460e’s 23.6mpg." – John Howell, Deputy Reviews Editor

Buy it if…

– You want a plug-in hybrid with seven seats

– You need a car with lots of passenger space and a big boot

– You value a really plush interior and lots of standard kit

Don’t buy it if…

– You want a plug-in hybrid with the best battery range

– You can’t live with a few software bugs in the infotainment system

– You want a diesel or generally smoother six-cylinder petrol engine

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