Volvo XC90

Volvo XC90 at a glance

The XC90 was Volvo's first SUV. A concept appeared at the Detroit show in January 2001, and the production car followed there a year later. It was North American Car of the Year and Motor Trend SUV of the Year for 2003, and the second generation repeated the Motor Trend title and won North American Utility Vehicle of the Year in 2016. The brand's story is told in the history of Volvo, and the range is in the Volvo catalogue.

First generation (2002–2014)

Design and layout

The first XC90 shared the P2 platform with the S80 and the all-wheel-drive V70 Cross Country. Its design combined a high, estate-like body with the trapezoidal grille and broad shoulders of contemporary Volvos. All engines were mounted transversely: this short engine package left room for a larger front crumple zone and a longer cabin. Updates in 2007, 2010 and 2012–2013 brought a revised front and rear, new interior trim, LED tail lights and LED daytime running lights.

Engines and gearboxes

Gearboxes included a 6-speed manual and 4-, 5- and 6-speed automatics (Geartronic). AWD used a Haldex clutch that normally sent almost all torque to the front wheels and moved it rearwards when they slipped; the front-drive bias explains why the XC90 was never a true off-roader. Petrol engines were thirsty: the 2.5T used about 15 L/100 km in town and the V8 about 20 L/100 km, while the D5 averaged about 7.5–11 L/100 km.

Cabin and seven seats

The cabin seats seven. The middle bench consists of three individually adjustable seats; the centre one slides forward to bring a child closer to the front seats and can convert into a booster seat or a table. The two third-row seats fold into the floor, leaving 613 litres with a flat load floor, and with the rear seats folded the XC90 carries objects nearly 3 metres long. The split tailgate's lower section doubles as a bench. Rear passengers have their own audio controls and air vents.

Safety innovations

Volvo designed the XC90 to be as safe as its saloons, and it introduced several firsts:

• Roll Stability Control (RSC): a gyroscopic sensor detects the risk of rollover and reduces engine power and brakes individual wheels.
• Roll-over protection (ROPS): a roof structure reinforced with ultra-high-strength boron steel.
• Third-row curtain airbags: inflatable curtains covering all three rows, with the strengthened third-row seats placed above the rear axle for side-impact protection.
• DSTC, SIPS and WHIPS: stability control, side-impact protection and whiplash-reducing front seats.

Active bi-xenon headlights turn up to 15° in each direction, and a reversing camera shows the planned path. The IIHS rated the XC90 Good and named it a Top Safety Pick.

Second generation (2015 to today)

Design and platform

Revealed in Stockholm on 26 August 2014 and on sale from 2015, the second XC90 was the first Volvo on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA). More than 90% of its parts were new. Designed under Thomas Ingenlath, with an interior by Robin Page, it introduced Volvo's "Thor's hammer" LED daytime running lights and a vertical-bar grille, building on the XC Coupé concept of 2013. The body mixes aluminium with several grades of high-strength steel, the drag coefficient is 0.30, and lightweight construction cut weight compared with the old car despite larger dimensions. Production is at Torslanda, with assembly in Malaysia and India.

Engines, gearbox and drive

All engines are 2.0-litre four-cylinder Drive-E units with direct injection and turbocharging; the T6 adds a supercharger, and the T8 combines that engine with an electric motor driving the rear wheels.

Every engine uses an 8-speed Aisin automatic. AWD uses a fifth-generation Haldex system; front-wheel drive was offered with smaller engines in some markets. The T6 reaches 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and 230 km/h. The T8's battery grew from 9.2 kWh in 2016 to about 18.8 kWh in 2021, when its electric motor was upgraded to 107 kW. Volvo built its last diesel car in March 2024, ending the D5 and B5 diesel.

Chassis

Suspension uses double wishbones at the front and an integral-link rear axle with a transverse composite leaf spring, mounted on steel subframes. Optional air suspension raises or lowers the car depending on road conditions and driving mode.

Dimensions, interior and boot

The cabin replaced most buttons with a Sensus portrait touchscreen of about 9 inches and a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, with leather, wood, metal and, on top versions, an Orrefors crystal gear selector. The three second-row seats adjust individually, and the third row suits passengers up to about 170 cm. The load floor is up to 2,040 mm long with the seats folded.

Safety and assistance

Euro NCAP tested the XC90 in 2015 and gave it five stars, with 97% for adult occupants, 87% for child occupants, 72% for pedestrians and 100% for safety assist. Its IntelliSafe systems included City Safety, which detects vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and large animals and brakes automatically, including when turning across traffic at junctions; Run-off Road Protection, which tightens the seat belts and absorbs vertical forces if the car leaves the road; Pilot Assist semi-autonomous steering and speed control; and blind-spot and cross-traffic alerts.

Facelifts

• 2019 (2020 model year): new grille and bumpers, Android Auto, brake energy recovery and the B5/B6 mild hybrids.
• 2021: T8 renamed Recharge, with a bigger battery and electric motor.
• 2023: trim levels renamed Core, Plus and Ultimate.
• September 2024 (2025 model year): new headlights and grille, an 11.2-inch touchscreen, more recycled materials; Ultimate renamed Ultra.

The all-electric Volvo EX90, unveiled in late 2022, was first presented as the XC90's successor, but in September 2024 Volvo confirmed that both will be sold side by side.

Rivals: how the XC90 compares

The XC90 competes with the Audi Q7, BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE and GLS, Range Rover Sport, Lexus RX and the Volkswagen Touareg. Its strengths are safety, seven proper seats, a calm Scandinavian interior and the plug-in hybrid option; its weaknesses are the lack of six-cylinder engines in the second generation, a firm ride on the largest wheels and expensive parts. Volvo's other large cars include the S90 saloon and V90 estate. More Swedish models are listed among Swedish cars.