Volvo XC90 review

While not cheap, the XC90 is competitively priced; it’s certainly cheaper to buy than an equivalent Audi Q7, BMW X5 or Land Rover Discovery. This applies whether you’re paying in cash – especially when you take into account our Target Price discounts – or financing through a PCP deal.

Opting for the T8 makes a lot of sense for company car drivers because its low CO2 output places it in a seriously low benefit in kind (BIK) tax bracket for an SUV of this size. The BMW X5 45e is an even cheaper company car, though; every month, you’ll pay well under half the tax you would for the XC90. Also, be warned that the T8’s promise of extremely low fuel consumption will only be realised if you do most of your driving on electric power. Once the hybrid battery is depleted, the petrol engine becomes rather thirsty. 

Only go for R-Design trim if you really love its sportier looks. It adds privacy glass, 20in alloy wheels and a host of more aggressive design touches, but it also ups the price. You can upgrade to R Design Pro version, which adds, among other things, 22in wheels, adaptive air suspension and a heated steering wheel. Inscription and Inscription Pro trim are more luxury oriented (these get the crystal gearknob we mentioned earlier), but the XC90 makes most sense at a price that undercuts more talented rivals, including the Audi Q7.

The range-topping plug-in hybrid T8 is available in R-Design trim and above, but adds four-zone climate control, with individual air-con for the third-row seats.

In the 2020 What Car? Reliability Survey, Volvo as a brand put in a rather average performance, finishing joint 16th out of 31 manufacturers. The XC90 was at least in the top half of the Luxury SUV class, finishing behind the Audi Q7, Lexus RX and Porsche Macan.