Volvo XC90 review
The Volvo XC90 is a luxurious, supremely comfortable, and incredibly safe seven-seat SUV that redefines what a premium family car can be.
Author: Charlie Harvey
22nd Dec 2025 – 9 mins read
Before 2002, Volvo was famous for its big, safe estate cars. Then the XC90 arrived and changed everything, quickly becoming a benchmark for large, family-friendly SUVs thanks to its huge practicality and legendary safety. The first-generation model was so good it stayed on sale for over a decade. The second-generation XC90, which landed in 2015, was a true game-changer. It introduced a stunning new design language, inside and out, that has since defined the entire Volvo range. With a minimalist, high-quality cabin, a huge amount of standard safety kit, and incredible levels of comfort, the XC90 moved Volvo firmly into the premium league. It’s a car that combines Scandinavian cool with seven-seat practicality better than almost anything else on the road.
Pros
- Properly spacious, with enough room for seven adults
- A beautifully designed, high-quality interior
- Outstanding comfort and refinement on the road
Cons
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were optional extras on some models
- It has a high list price compared to some rivals
- The petrol engines don't quite suit the car's relaxed character
Interior
Dashboard & tech
Stepping inside the XC90 is like entering a calm, minimalist Scandinavian living room. Volvo completely ripped up the car interior rulebook, replacing clusters of buttons with a large, portrait-oriented nine-inch touchscreen that controls almost everything. It creates a beautifully clean and uncluttered look that still feels modern today.
The interior quality is simply superb. Everything you touch feels expensive and well-made, putting it on par with the very best from Audi and BMW. While the touchscreen can take a little getting used to, the overall effect is a cabin that is both stylish and incredibly relaxing to spend time in.
Comfort
If you’re looking for a comfortable car, there are few that do it better than the XC90. It’s a supremely relaxing car to travel in, whether you're on the school run or crossing a continent. The ride is wonderfully smooth, soaking up bumps and making long journeys feel effortless. Only models with the largest 22-inch wheels can feel a little firm, but it's a minor complaint.
The seats are fantastic, offering brilliant support and comfort. The cabin is also incredibly quiet and refined, isolating you from the world outside. For pure, long-distance comfort, the XC90 is one of the very best cars on the market.
Quality
The second-generation XC90 cemented Volvo’s position as a true premium manufacturer. The quality throughout the cabin is excellent, with high-end materials and a feeling of solidity that inspires confidence. While Volvo's reliability record hasn't always been perfect, and some early cars had software glitches, the XC90 generally feels like a very well-engineered and robust vehicle. This is a car that feels built to last, which is exactly what you want from a premium family SUV.
Practicality & boot space
Interior space
The original XC90 was famous for its practicality, and the current model is no different. It’s a hugely spacious car, and a key advantage over rivals like the BMW X5 is that it’s a proper seven-seater.
There's a fantastic amount of space throughout the cabin, and unlike many so-called seven-seaters, the third row of seats is genuinely usable for adults, not just children. This makes it an incredibly versatile family car, perfect for big families or for when you need to give lifts to your kids' friends.
Boot space
The XC90’s practicality continues when you get to the boot. Even with all seven seats in use, you still get a very impressive 451 litres of space, which is more than enough for a big weekly shop or a few suitcases.
If you fold the third row of seats down (which most people will do most of the time), you’re left with a huge luggage area. Fold all the rear seats down, and it turns into a van, with an enormous 1,951 litres of space. It’s a car that can handle everything family life can throw at it.
Driving
Driving experience
The XC90’s focus is very much on comfort and relaxation rather than sporty handling. It's not a car that you’ll be throwing around corners like a BMW X5, as it feels bigger and has more body roll.
Instead, it encourages a calm and relaxed driving style, where you can enjoy its superb refinement and comfortable ride. Despite its size, it’s surprisingly easy to drive, with light steering and a great view out. The array of standard cameras and parking sensors also helps make manoeuvring this big car a stress-free experience.
Performance
All XC90s use a 2.0-litre engine, paired with a smooth eight-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel-drive as standard. The most popular and best-suited engine is the D5 diesel, which produces 232bhp. It offers a great balance of performance and efficiency, with plenty of pulling power to make the big XC90 feel effortless.
There are also T5 (247bhp) and T6 (306bhp) petrol engines, which are quicker but feel less suited to the car’s relaxed character. For those looking for maximum efficiency, the T8 plug-in hybrid offers a brilliant combination of electric-only driving for short trips and powerful performance when needed.
Running costs
Fuel economy & CO2 emissions
This is a big, heavy, luxury SUV, so running costs are going to be quite high. The D5 diesel is the most sensible choice for most, with an official fuel economy figure of around 37mpg. The petrol engines are considerably thirstier.
The T8 plug-in hybrid is the star for low running costs, especially if you have a short commute and can charge it regularly. It offers a significant electric-only range, which could mean you barely use the petrol engine at all on a day-to-day basis.
Value for money
The Volvo XC90 is a premium car with a premium price tag. However, you do get an awful lot for your money, including seven seats and a huge amount of standard safety equipment. Like most big luxury cars, it depreciates quite heavily from new. This is fantastic news for used buyers, as it means you can pick up a nearly-new example for a huge saving compared to its original list price. A used XC90 represents a phenomenal amount of luxury, safety, and practicality for the money.
Reliability & Warranty
Volvo has a good reputation for building solid, long-lasting cars. The XC90 has been known to have some software issues, particularly on early models, so it's important to check that everything works as it should. However, the mechanical parts are generally very robust. From new, all Volvos come with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty.
Safety
Safety features
It’s no exaggeration to say the XC90 is one of the safest cars on the road. When it was tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP, it achieved one of the highest scores ever recorded.
Volvo’s goal is that no one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car, and the XC90 is packed with technology to help achieve this. All models come with an incredible amount of standard safety kit, including an advanced autonomous emergency braking system, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, and adaptive cruise control.
Trims & Engines
Trim levels
The XC90 is available in a range of generously equipped trim levels.
Momentum: The entry-level model is packed with kit. It comes with leather upholstery, heated front seats, satellite navigation, a nine-inch touchscreen, automatic LED headlights, and a host of safety features.
R-Design: This popular trim adds a sporty look. It comes with a different grille, sports seats, larger alloy wheels, and glossy black exterior trim.
Inscription: This is the luxury-focused trim. It adds softer Nappa leather, ventilated front seats, and a range of stylish chrome exterior details.
Pro versions: Many trims were also available as a 'Pro' version, which added more equipment like a panoramic sunroof, a head-up display and an upgraded sound system.
Engines
All engines are 2.0-litre units paired with an automatic gearbox and all-wheel-drive.
D5 Diesel: The 232bhp diesel is the most popular engine. It offers a great blend of strong performance and reasonable fuel economy.T5 & T6 Petrol: The petrol options offer more power (247bhp and 306bhp respectively) and are smoother and quieter, but they are also much thirstier than the diesel.T8 Twin Engine Plug-in Hybrid: This powerful plug-in hybrid combines a petrol engine with an electric motor for a total of 390bhp (or more on later models). It offers a significant electric-only range, making it incredibly cheap to run on short journeys.