Volvo XC90 Review (2024)

Introduction

Volvo's XC90 flagship has been with us for over two decades.

In that time, Volvo worked its way up from being an above-average family brand to muscling its way in with the German big boys.

Deservedly so, too – its cars offer premium quality from a manufacturer that knows exactly what international customers want despite being tucked away in Northern Europe.

The spacious practicality of the XC90 has always been a strong selling point, but now its imposing stance, elegance and sophistication mean that Volvo can make would-be Audi and  BMW drivers take notice.

Of course, those automakers, along with Land Rover, offer formidable competition, but Volvo insists the XC90 is more than up to the job, with generous equipment levels and oodles of luxury on offer.

While we're reviewing a 2024 model here, Volvo has recently refreshed its flagship SUV for 2025 to make it the 'best XC90' yet, with improvements to the exterior styling, tech, suspension and electric range (for plug-in hybrid variants. 

So, does the Volvo XC90 still go toe-to-toe with its southern competitors? Read on to find out.

At a Glance

We're testing the 2024 model year of the Volvo XC90 - and it looks formidable, bold and sophisticated.

The front end has Volvo’s trademark wide grille, complete with the diagonal line through the middle of the badge.

The headlights look imposing but not overly aggressive. Two air intakes at the bottom leave enough room for some shapely bodywork, which weaves its way around the sides of the air intakes to create a lower grille and front splitter.

The sides feature creases to demark the wheel arches, and an indentation in the bottom of the doors, while a prominent roof spoiler overhangs the rear window.

Viewing the car from the rear reveals another significant part of Volvo's design language: the shoulders around which the taillights are housed.

It is sleek and athletic without being excessively boisterous or ostentatious.

And don't forget that a Volvo XC90 lease comes with seven seats as standard while five seats is an option.

Key Features

The XC90 we're testing here is offered in a trio of trim levels that are bountifully equipped.

The entry-level Core gets 19-inch black diamond-cut alloy wheels and a nine-inch infotainment touchscreen with Google Android-derived software. The tech includes Google Maps satellite navigation, Google Assistant voice control, Apple CarPlay, and a digital radio.

You also get four-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, leather-upholstered power-adjustable heated front seats with memory function and four-way powered lumbar support. A wireless phone charger is included, too.

Next up, is the Plus trim. It boasts 21-inch alloy wheels, full LED headlights, rear sun curtains, a 360-degree camera, a gloss black exterior décor, tinted rear windows, a crystal gear knob and a remote key. You also get ventilated Nappa leather upholstery, ventilated front seats with powered side bolsters and a Harman Kardon premium sound system.

Choosing the top-of-the-range Ultra trim gets you 22-inch alloy wheels, active air suspension, a head-up display, chrome exterior décor, laminated windows, massage front seats, and a Bowers and Wilkins high-fidelity sound system.

In terms of power, there are two to pick from, both of which are 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol units. The mild hybrid B5 powertrain incorporates mild hybrid capabilities, producing 250PS. Alternatively, there’s the T8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV), outputting 455PS.

Range & Batteries

Choosing the T8 PHEV gets you an 18.8kWh (14.9kWh usable) battery with a claimed electric range of 42.9 to 45.4 miles, depending on trim.

In practice, these mileage figures are largely meaningless as you won't achieve them in the real world. Mid-to-high 20s are more likely, possibly low 30s, if you're careful.

The quoted figures, though, are significant when it comes to company car tax bands, which we’ll explain later.

Performance & Drive

We are testing the T8 PHEV powertrain on the 2024 model year XC90, which can run from zero to 62 mph in a stirring 5.4 seconds. That is more than adequate, although even the B5 mild hybrid with a significant power disadvantage can do it in 7.7 seconds.

The B5 should suffice for most people's needs, and its lower leasing price will make it a tempting option for many.

That said, the PHEV is effortless by comparison. Whereas the B5 needs to work hard to achieve a decent level of performance, the PHEV has abundant poke.

As a result, overtaking on motorways and getting up to speed - plus the general reassurance that, if extra power is needed, it’s readily available - make the T8 more versatile.

That said, if you don’t mind operating on just the power of the electric motors, you can run the XC90 without the engine at all, and it’ll be just fine. That means you can make shorter journeys on electric juice, even if it involves a short run on the motorway at 70mph.

The eight-speed automatic transmission, which is common to both mild and plug-in hybrid models, is reasonably responsive and shifts smoothly.

In terms of ride comfort, the XC90 is set up more firmly than some rivals, and you'll feel ridges, and potholes. As a result, the ride can feel unsettled at low speed, although this is less of a problem on faster roads at higher speed.

We, though, have the air suspension, which is only offered in the top-spec Ultra trim. It improves ride comfort somewhat and takes the edge off road undulations. However, it’s partly compromised by larger 22-inch alloys, whereas lower trims get 20 or 21-inch wheels, and we'd choose the smaller ones.

While the air suspension is good, it isn't a must-have feature, and given that the lower trims offer a decent amount of equipment as standard, we don't feel that it justifies the additional spending.

The steering is light at speed, too, which means there's limited feedback to your hands through the wheel. So, while we’d be hard pushed to call it sporty, a slightly firmer suspension setup means the Volvo resists body roll around faster bends and there’s lots of grip, aided by the all-wheel drive.

It is agile and competent for a car whose size and natural dynamics are anything but athletic.

Real performance seekers are still better off looking elsewhere – BMW and Audi have better handling alternatives – but the Volvo isn’t that far off.

Admittedly, although we’re drawn to the PHEV. It is noticeably heavier than driving the mild hybrid, thanks to a much larger electric motor and battery pack, which means the mild hybrid is the nimbler of the two.

Charging

The T8 PHEV charges at a maximum speed of 6.4kW.

That means it's well suited to home charging, where wall boxes tend to be around 7kW.

It will take around four hours to get the batteries from empty to full, and about twice as long if you’re just charging off the mains using a normal household three-pin plug.

Running Costs & Emissions

In the Ultra trim, the XC90 PHEV manages 201.8mpg, emitting 32g/km of CO2.

The figures improve to 217.3mpg if you pick the Plus trim, while the entry-level Core returns 235.4mpg. The latter reduces emissions to 29g/km of CO2.

Selecting the B5 mild-hybrid has more combustion-engined-sounding figures, but at 31.7-33.6mpg and 190-200g/km of CO2, those still aren’t bad returns for what's a sizeable seven-seater SUV.

Nevertheless, if you're a company car user, you'll quickly rule out the mild hybrid, as official all-electric range figures above the 40-mile mark are enough to bring the XC90 down from the 12% to the 8% bracket for Benefit In Kind tax.

That makes it very appealing compared with the mild hybrid's top 37% tax band.

Reliability-wise, Volvo has taken several steps forward in recent years. The XC90 is fairly highly rated, while the brand as a whole generally trumps the other premium manufacturers.

Interior & Technology

The interior of the 2024-year Volvo XC90 we're enjoying looks as elegant as the exterior – very smart and sophisticated. The XC90 is also a seven seater as standard so it'll immediately appeal to lease customers with a large family.

There are lots of plush, soft-to-the-touch materials, and the cabin gives off an air of quality that you'd expect from a brand that's trying to push the likes of Audi and BMW all the way.

There is plenty of silver décor inside our test car, too, helping to brighten up the cabin in contrast to the mainly dark-coloured interior. The shapely gear lever looks inviting to hold in the Core and Plus trims.

That said, the interior décor varies slightly depending on the model, and the centrepiece feature of the Ultra-trimmed test car is a crystal gear lever custom-made from Swedish glass.

How is that for opulence?

We are not so keen on the infotainment screen, which, at nine inches, is small by today's standards. It is housed in a piano black surround, flanked by two ugly air intakes and we’d rather these were repositioned so the screen could be larger.

Volvo usually prefers portrait screens - but any downsides or criticisms soon evaporate once you switch it on and use it. It is a Google-developed system, and it's excellent.

Unlike most cars, where smartphone mirroring is required to use Google Maps, Volvos have it native to the car. That means additional compatibility with things like the digital instrument cluster, which can display the SatNav map in a full-screen layout behind the steering wheel.

You would only be able to do that on other cars by using the in-built SatNav, with Google Maps relegated to a bit-part role via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, whereas in the Volvo, the in-built SatNav is Google Maps. This also means that Google Assistant provides excellent voice control, while the screen is sharp, responsive, easy to use, and has an intuitive menu layout.

Unfortunately, most settings, including the climate controls, are concealed within the touchscreen, meaning you'll have to press the screen to navigate.

While the screen icons are reasonable in size, they’re smaller on some menus. Again, the nine-inch screen size doesn’t help - and overall, it's less convenient to use when on the move than in models that offer a rotary dial.

Happily, the convenience and simplicity of the Google-derived system at least mitigate some of the inconvenience, notably by allowing users to change the temperature using voice control.

Ironically, while Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring is supported by the Google-designed system, Android Auto isn't available. But that's because it's largely redundant here, given that the system itself is Android-based.

The digital instrument cluster is clear and crisp, too, while Ultra-trimmed models offer an informative head-up display.

Boot Space & Practicality

If you’re after a commandingly high driving position, the seven-seat XC90 doesn’t disappoint.

Thanks to reasonably thin windscreen pillars, it provides a great frontal view and a largely unobstructed vista to the sides at road junctions.

Out of the rear, it’s not bad either, despite the 45-degree angle of the back window, the roof spoiler above it, and the much thicker rear pillars. A rear-view camera on the entry-level model and a 360-degree camera mitigate the problem.

Front and rear parking sensors are also included as standard on all models.

Finding a comfortable driving position is easy, as powered adjustment in the front seats is standard across the range. Heated seats are also factory fitted, although you'll get additional luxuries in higher models, notably a massage function in the Ultra model. Even without it on lower trims, though, the seats are supremely comfortable.

There is a huge amount of space in the front, and even the tallest drivers won't struggle for legroom. Shoulder room and headroom are very generous, even if you position your seat as high as possible.

The second row of seats is very accommodating, and although it’s not a class leader when it comes to legroom, there’s still more than enough, even if the person in front of you is on the tall side.

Each of the middle-row seats can be reclined, and they can also slide forwards and backwards to suit you, adding further convenience.

If you’re transporting a second row full of adults on a long journey, they’ll be ferried along in comfort. The XC90 provides one of the best experiences for fully grown people who don't sit in the front.

Admittedly, the middle seat isn’t as spacious as the outer seats, but that shouldn’t be a huge issue.

You will have a hard time fitting tall adults comfortably in the seven-seater's third row, but smaller adults and children should be fine.

The mild hybrid's boot space measures 302 litres with all seven seats in place, although you get more space in the PHEVs with 316 litres - usually, it's the other way around.

With the back row of seats down, it'll expand to 967 litres and 1,007 litres, respectively, while folding the middle row reveals a gargantuan 1,816 litres and 1,856 litres, respectively.

There is some underfloor storage, which is handy if the third row is occupied, although the PHEV models don't offer as much.

As in many SUVs and people carriers, there’s no loading lip, making it easy to slide heavier and bulkier items in or out. Volvo follows traditional Swedish design methods, so everything is nicely squared. This means you can make the most of the available space.

There is also a charitable amount of additional storage inside the cabin, including a large cubby, large door bins, and a big glove compartment.

Safety

Euro NCAP tested the XC90 in 2015, so the rating has long since expired. Revisions to the crash-testing body's criteria over the years have raised the bar as safety technology improves.

Therefore, the rating may not be comparable with rivals tested more recently.

However, Volvo is renowned for safety. No Volvo has ever earned less than a four-star rating, and the last nineteen Volvos tested have received five-star scores dating back over two decades. That includes the XC90, which achieved 97% for adult occupants, 87% for children and 94% for safety assists.

The latter category consists of a suite of technology, including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and cross-traffic alert, intelligent speed assist, lane keeping aid and lane departure warning.

You also get front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, pilot assist, rear collision warning, tyre pressure monitoring, hill descent control and intelligent driver information system.

Plus and Ultra get a 360-degree surround-view camera and park assist for the front, rear and sides.

Options

The XC90 we're focusing on here is offered in five body colours: black, denim blue, dark grey, light grey, and silver.

There is also a no-cost option of having a dual-colour 'blond and charcoal' interior instead of the default all-charcoal tone.

A Car Protection package offers scuff plates and mats, and a Convenience package provides boot nets and some extra storage space for sunglasses.

There are also many individual accessories, including mud flaps, tinted rear windows, door running boards, roof rails, and a tracker.

Rival Cars

The XC90’s main rivals include the mightily impressive Audi Q7, the BMW X5 and BMW X7, as well as the Land Rover Discovery.

The Land Rover Defender is also a worthy competitor, especially if eight seats might occasionally be necessary.

The Range Rover is also a seven-seater nowadays, but it’s costly.

Genesis offers the GV80, which you might not have thought about, as well as the Mercedes-Benz GLE, Kia Sorento, and Porsche Cayenne.

Verdict & Next Steps

Few cars can last the test of time, but Volvo has somehow done it with the XC90.

A revised version has just arrived - and the XC90 is still just as tempting as ever. It offers a high level of interior sophistication, superb practicality, decent performance, and reasonable handling for such a big car.

Some of its foes can offer better ride comfort, though.

That said, you’ll generally pay more to lease most of its premium brand rivals, which means the XC90 makes even more sense.

It is very, very impressive indeed.

Where to next?

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Volvo XC90.

**Correct as of 24/09/2024. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments, or £5,361.48 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.