Overview
As the flagship crossover of Sweden’s luxury brand, the stunning Volvo XC90 lives up to its mission. A selection of four-cylinder and plug-in hybrid powertrains makes the XC90 a pioneer in a segment full of V-6s, even if its options are less refined than some of the competition. The interior is a magnum opus, with available leather wrappings, open-pore wood trim, and seats that would be at home in a modern-art museum. Touchscreen infotainment and a full complement of standard safety features sweeten the deal. And while the XC90’s strengths lie in its expertly executed design and luxurious trappings, it’s also dynamically sound, hanging with the best in its class on the road and on the track. The total package can be expensive, but it’s nearly perfect.
What’s New for 2017?
The XC90 was all new in 2016, and for 2017 the T8 plug-in hybrid model joins the lineup. The new model shares its turbo- and supercharged four-cylinder engine with the XC90 T6, but it adds two AC electric motors and a battery pack that provide extra power and 14 miles of EPA-rated EV range.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The XC90’s powertrain can be had in three flavors, all of them riffs on the theme of Volvo’s 2.0-liter turbo four. The base model features the 250-hp turbocharged T5 engine paired with front-wheel drive. The more powerful T6 version adds supercharging to the turbocharging system to result in 316 horsepower. It’s optional in the base Momentum trim and standard in Inscription models; the engine only pairs with all-wheel drive. The plug-in hybrid XC90 T8 starts with the T6 powertrain and adds two electric motors for a total of 400 horsepower. All XC90 engine variants are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The turbo- and supercharged powertrain sounds coarser than its competitors, however, and it can emit a groan at high engine speeds. The plug-in XC90 is rated by the EPA to provide 14 miles of EV-only range, and it requires three hours to charge from empty using a 240-volt outlet. The XC90 is slowed in its quest for glory by powertrain shortcomings and chassis gremlins over hard bumps. But, overall, the XC90 feels capable on the road. Our test vehicle featured Volvo’s optional air suspension, which adds Eco, Comfort, Off Road and Dynamic drive modes along with customizable suspension settings. That suspension provided a pleasant, insulated ride, and it handled most road situations well. Some clattering from the chassis over particularly sharp bumps betrays minor imperfections, one of only a few grievances with the otherwise graceful XC90.
Fuel Economy
EPA fuel-economy testing and reporting procedures have changed over time. For the latest numbers on current and older vehicles, visit the EPA’s website and select Find & Compare Cars.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The XC90’s interior is a masterpiece of the medium. From the attractive shapes to the quality of the materials, we wish there were more vehicles like this. Nappa-leather seating surfaces and gorgeous walnut wood trim make the XC90 Inscription feel even more upscale than its price tag would suggest. Optioned indiscriminately, the XC90 can have either two or four massaging seats, a crystalline shifter knob, and even a rear-seat beverage cooler with handcrafted Swedish-crystal tumblers. It may have an impressive available features list, but buyers who choose an unadorned version of the XC90 won’t have access to most of them. Even heated front seats are optional. The XC90’s wide, boxy silhouette helps in the storage department, where it offers more overall cargo volume than most competitors. Interior compartments, while beautifully designed, aren’t as cavernous as in some rivals.
Infotainment and Connectivity
A handsome tablet-like 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system is standard in all XC90s, and its operation is mostly intuitive. Volvo’s Sensus Connect system is attractive, and basic functions are easily viewed on the home screen. Climate control, seat heating and cooling, steering-wheel heating, and even some seat-position functions are accessed via the touchscreen, which makes on-the-fly adjustments somewhat challenging. We like Sensus Connect, but we’d love it if it had more hard buttons as redundant controls.
You can get the Volvo XC90 on Garisea here
