Volvo XC90 review

Category: Luxury SUV

Section: Introduction

Volvo XC90 front right tracking
  • Volvo XC90 front right tracking
  • Volvo XC90 rear right tracking
  • Volvo XC90 interior dashboard
  • Volvo XC90 interior back seats
  • Volvo XC90 interior infotainment
  • Volvo XC90 right tracking
  • Volvo XC90 front cornering
  • Volvo XC90 front tracking
  • Volvo XC90 badge detail
  • Volvo XC90 PHEV charging socket
  • Volvo XC90 interior front seats
  • Volvo XC90 interior middle seats
  • Volvo XC90 interior detail
  • Volvo XC90 interior infotainment
  • Volvo XC90 boot open
  • Volvo XC90 front right tracking
  • Volvo XC90 rear right tracking
  • Volvo XC90 interior dashboard
  • Volvo XC90 interior back seats
  • Volvo XC90 interior infotainment
  • Volvo XC90 right tracking
  • Volvo XC90 front cornering
  • Volvo XC90 front tracking
  • Volvo XC90 badge detail
  • Volvo XC90 PHEV charging socket
  • Volvo XC90 interior front seats
  • Volvo XC90 interior middle seats
  • Volvo XC90 interior detail
  • Volvo XC90 interior infotainment
  • Volvo XC90 boot open
What Car?’s XC90 deals
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Target Price from £56,171
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Author Avatar
by
Lawrence Cheung
Updated09 February 2023
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Introduction

What Car? says...

The original Volvo XC90 luxury SUV was something of a trailblazer. And yet, Volvo has managed to up the ante with this second-generation model, with even more features designed to make family motoring safer, less stressful and more entertaining.

The engine line-up has changed over the years, but the basics are still here for the XC90’s sequel. It’s big, graceful and has seven seats as standard to lure well-heeled families crying out for an upmarket way to ferry around people and paraphernalia. 

So, is the Volvo XC90 a better all-rounder than other luxury and seven-seat SUVs you might be considering? Well, our road testers have driven it, and over the next few pages of this review we'll rate it against the main rivals – namely the Audi Q7, the BMW X5, the Land Rover Defender and the Land Rover Discovery.

When you've picked your next new car or SUV, make sure you get it for the lowest price by searching our free What Car? New Car Deals pages. They have loads of attractive new luxury SUV deals.

FAQs

  • The XC90 is longer and taller than the BMW X5 but is also slightly narrower.

  • The Mercedes GLE is similar in size and price to the XC90. The GLE is available as a seven-seat SUV but only with certain engines and trim levels.

  • It finished sixth out of 11 cars in the luxury SUV section of the latest What Car? Reliability Survey. Meanwhile, Volvo as a brand finished 17th out of 32 manufacturers.

  • The B5 and B6 petrol achieve the lowest fuel economy figures, at around 30mpg. The diesel fares better, with mpg figures in the high 30s. While the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) T8 can travel on its battery for around 40 miles, expect fuel economy figures to be similar to the petrol when its depleted.

At a glance
New car deals
Save up to £7,335
Target Price from £56,171
Save up to £7,335
or from £684pm
Swipe to see used and leasing deals
Nearly new deals
From £49,699
Leasing deals
From £648pm
RRP price range £61,995 - £83,130
Number of trims (see all)3
Number of engines (see all)4
Available fuel types (which is best for you?)petrol, hybrid, diesel
MPG range across all versions 235.1 - 40.9
Available doors options 5
Warranty 3 years / 60000 miles
Company car tax at 20% (min/max) £999 / £5,626
Company car tax at 40% (min/max) £1,998 / £11,252
Available colours