Whereas only a mid-cycle replace, the 2025.5 Volvo XC90 will get some high quality updates. However extra importantly, it retains a lot of what makes it a Volvo. As a Volvo spokesperson informed me, consider the newest XC90 as an “old friend who keeps getting better.”
Volvo’s flagship debuted all the best way again in 2002. The second era, which the 2025.5 is an iteration of, got here out in 2015. This car isn’t any spring rooster, however gross sales proceed to be sturdy.
I flew midway across the globe to spend a couple of days driving the newest XC90 to be able to carry you first-hand expertise impressions of this Swedish luxurious SUV. Whereas a lot of the expertise was chilly, windy, and moist, I used to be at all times very snug inside each the B5 and T8 variations of the XC90 that I skilled.
In Quick: The XC90 has chiseled out its personal place available in the market and this newest refresh simply makes it higher. Whereas I’m not a fan of the bottom mild-hybrid powertrain or commonplace suspension, the 2025.5 Volvo XC90 T8 eAWD plug-in hybrid with air suspension is a three-row luxurious SUV worthy of consideration.
Powertrain:
B5 (gentle hybrid) 2.0L turbo inline-4-cyl., B6 (e-supercharged mild-hybrid) 2.0L turbo inline-4-cyl, T8 (PHEV) 2.0L turbo inline-4-cyl. with 18.8 kWh battery and rear motor
Transmission:
8-speed auto
Energy:
B5 247 hp and 266 lb.-ft., B6 295 hp. and 310 lb.-ft., T8 455 hp and 523 ft.-lb.
Efficiency (0-60 mph):
B5 7.3 sec., B6 6.4 sec., T8 5.0 sec.
Floor Clearance:
8.1″-8.5″
Payload:
B5/B6 1,565 lbs., T8 1,440 lbs.
Max Towing:
5,000 lbs.
Curb Weight:
B5/B6 4,442 lbs., T8 4,910 lbs.
Gasoline Capability:
18.8 gal.
Gasoline Financial system (hwy/metropolis/comb):
B5 30/23/26 MPG, B6 26/20/23 MPG, T8 27/26/27 MPG and 33 miles electrical vary
MSRP:
mannequin beginning costs of $59,745-$81,195 (together with $1,295 vacation spot cost)
Very usable PHEV powertrain
Air suspension offers spectacular consolation
Spectacular infotainment
Much more quiet cabin
Nice contact factors
Clear Scandinavian design
Base powertrain is missing in oomph
Normal suspension is missing in refinement
No wi-fi Apple CarPlay
Sunvisors aren’t efficient for facet window use
Bryon Dorr
2025 Volvo XC90 Evaluation
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This refreshed second era XC90 three-row luxurious SUV is only a good car to spend time in. The design is clear and the 2025.5 updates make a top quality car even higher.
What’s New Outdoors?
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Let’s dive proper into what’s new. The obvious updates are the brand new grille and lighting. These updates have additionally necessitated slight modifications to the entrance air intakes, entrance bumper, hood, and entrance fenders.
The headlights are an up to date, fashionable tackle Volvo’s ‘Thor’s Hammer’ type lighting design that’s slimmer and stretches all the best way to the grille. The brand new headlights are a 15-segment matrix mild know-how that’s stated to offer a “wide and long light pattern.” I discovered them to work fairly properly within the dreary grey fall climate I skilled in southern Sweden and northern Denmark.
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Whereas the rear of the car doesn’t actually change, the taillamps have been up to date in know-how and tinted.
New 20 to 22 inch wheels, three new designs, additionally elevate the fashionable look of this Scandinavian SUV.
There are each Darkish and Shiny exterior trim choices on the newest XC90. The brand new coloration for 2025.5 is Mulberry crimson.
What’s New Inside?
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An enormous replace contained in the 2025.5 Volvo XC90 is the 11.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, with Google built-in. Whereas it seems a bit tacked onto the sprint, as a substitute of built-in into it, it’s functionally superb. It’s primarily the identical as discovered within the newest EX30 and EX90 electrical autos, which is an efficient factor.
There’s a bar formed button just under the touchscreen that can at all times carry you again to the house display, which is a really useful characteristic. By hitting the bar button once more the map will get greater on the display, which can also be helpful. Drive modes are additionally simply accessible on the house display.
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A brand new and improved encompass digicam system is available in very useful when navigating tight city streets.
All XC90 fashions get a brand new recycled textile deco on the sprint, simply above new curved pure ash wooden trim. Between these two new components is an ambient lighting system that appears nice, reflecting off the curved wooden.
The entrance cupholder within the console now holds two massive cups/bottles/cans and a thin can (suppose Pink Bull can) and is roofed when not in use by an accordion type wooden cowl. It additionally has a vertical telephone holder on the entrance. On the entrance of the console, past the cup holder and equipment selector, is now a big wi-fi telephone charging pad.
A brand new mid-grade ‘Nordico’ upholstery choice seems like leather-based, however is manufactured from recycled plastic and pine resin.
Identical Identical
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The 2 different inside choices carry over from 2024, a Napa leather-based or Textile. The leather-based choice is the one choice if you would like air flow and/or therapeutic massage in your entrance seats. The Textile choice solely is available in a darkish blue coloration with a big Herringbone sample and is manufactured from 100% recycled polyester. I really like the Textile feel and appear, however actually want it was supplied with therapeutic massage.
Textile — sure, material — seats supply a comfortable really feel and distinctive search for a luxurious car; (picture/Volvo)
As earlier than, the U.S. market will get the XC90 in B5, B6, and T8 variations, in three trim ranges of every mannequin — Core, Plus, and Extremely —, and in 7 and 6 seat configurations. All 2025.5 XC90 fashions are AWD, have a 2.0L turbo four-cylinder engine and a really easy 8-speed automated transmission. The B6 mannequin will get an e-supercharger and the T8 mannequin combines that turbo gasoline engine with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system.
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The B5 and B6 mild-hybrid powertrains come commonplace with Normal and Offroad drive modes, delicate and agency steering modes, and mediocre efficiency (7.3 and 6.4 seconds to 60 mph, respectively).
Volvo T8 PHEV powertrain, (picture/Bryon Dorr)
The T8’s plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain alternatively affords very competent efficiency with a 0-60 time of 5.1 seconds. With 455 horsepower and 523 pound-feet of torque on faucet, this luxurious SUV strikes its 4,910 pound weight across the metropolis and freeway with ease. That energy comes through an inline four-cylinder 2.0L turbo mixed with a rear electrical motor. It additionally affords 33 miles of all-electric vary. The PHEV will get Hybrid, Pure, and Offroad drive modes and Auto/Maintain/Cost battery utilization modes.
All 2025.5 XC90 coming to the U.S. market get a panoramic (glass) roof. The darkish tinting of the glass is nice at lowering solar glare, whereas an influence sunshade helps scale back the solar’s heating results when exterior air temps get excessive.
The non-obligatory top-of-the-line Bowers & Wilkens sound system is sort of spectacular. An effective way to expertise it totally is to make use of the demo app within the infotainment system, however it is just accessible whereas the car is in park. The sound stage choices and sound high quality are fine quality, as are the appear and feel of the stainless-steel speaker grills. The 1,410-watt audio system has 19 audio system and a novel tweeter within the middle of the sprint, which is each cool-looking and a bit distracting.
Up to date Suspension
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There are two suspensions on supply on the 2025.5 Volvo XC90.
The brand new base suspension is an FSD (frequency selective damping) setup with new softer springs, dampers, a thicker entrance anti-roll bar, and recalibrated software program for the steering. Volvo says all of this permits the wheels to maneuver extra freely however hold the physique extra managed. It says “each damper mechanically adapts its characteristics to current road conditions to optimize both comfort and stability, adding to a more confident and relaxed driving experience on all roads.” I’m not all that satisfied, as I discovered the trip to be a bit sloppy and never all that snug.
On the flip facet of the coin, the carry over from 2024 non-obligatory air suspension with lively chassis know-how I discovered to be nice over a variety of highway circumstances. Not solely did it enable me to extract probably the most efficiency out of the XC90 but additionally cruise in consolation. This non-obligatory suspension is offered throughout all fashions within the XC90 lineup, and an improve I extremely advocate.
I’ve to notice that I appear to be within the minority amongst automotive journalists in the case of this opinion, as most that I belief don’t appear to suppose the air suspension is value the additional value over the bottom suspension, particularly in its new type. So, my suggestion is to check drive each back-to-back at your native Volvo seller and make up your personal opinon.
The distinctive engine on/off flip knob takes a minute to get used to; (picture/Volvo)
2025.5 XC90: The Good
Now, let’s dive into what I discovered to be actually good concerning the 2025 Volvo XC90, because it actually is a compelling car.
Even with the fitted winter tires, at occasions heavy rain, and a few tough rural Swedish roads the XC90 had a really quiet cabin. Volvo added foam insulation to the A and B pillars and extra insulation to the firewall for this newest replace, and it’s noticeable and appreciated.
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Each contact level within the XC90 has been optimized for consolation. They’re practically all delicate and textured. You need to contact issues within the XC90. Even seize handles are lined in delicate leather-like materials that appears to be stitched on.
I really like the brand new steering wheel design, because it’s snug within the arms and appears sharp. It additionally telescopes method again, which is nice for tall individuals like myself that don’t need our shins towards the sprint. However, the steering wheel is simply manually adjustable, not energy adjustable such as you would possibly count on in a luxurious car on this class, and like the electrical EX90 affords.
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In addition to the nice new central touchscreen the XC90 additionally has a 12.3-inch driver show and non-obligatory head-up show (HUD). All these screens work properly collectively, are excessive decision, and have impressively clear graphics, though they could be a bit busy at occasions.
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2025.5 XC90: The May very well be Higher
Now, we additionally must dive into a couple of of the issues that I discovered with the 2025 Volvo XC90 that didn’t impress.
First, not one of the three accessible powertrain choices will get spectacular gasoline economic system, though none are horrible. All require premium gasoline. The B5 will get 26 MPG, B6 23, and T8 27. Whereas 33 miles of electrical vary with the T8 PHEV may be very usable, it has been eclipsed by opponents and is one thing I believed would possibly see enchancment with this replace.
How in 2025 does this luxurious SUV not have wi-fi Apple CarPlay? It does have CarPlay, however you must plug your telephone in to allow it. I did hear whispers that wi-fi performance is perhaps coming by means of an over-the-air (OTA) replace quickly.
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Whereas not surprising, the third row on this SUV is sort of small. it’s completely acceptable for youths, however is a really tight match for any common sized adults.
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Whereas minor, its a significant oversight for my part. The solar visors don’t prolong to supply full protection of the facet home windows. It is a primary performance factor that has been round endlessly, so may be very odd that Volvo wouldn’t supply extending solar visors on the XC90.
2025.5 Volvo XC90 Evaluation Wrap-up
Sufficient cargo room for fairly a bit of drugs; (picture/Volvo)
Whereas base mannequin pricing begins just under $60k, a top-spec mannequin simply climbs over $80k. And, the highest spec PHEV with air suspension is the model I’d advocate contemplating.
The 2025.5 Volvo XC90 T8 PHEV with air suspension is only a very nice car to dwell with. It’s quiet inside, affords snug seats, an intuitive and poweful infotainment, and is usually only a nice place to spend time in. It additionally has responsive driver controls, easy suspension, and is tremendous protected in all climate circumstances. High all that off with sufficient room to hold a lot of gear and/or household/buddies and also you’ve bought a reasonably spectacular bundle.
Whereas the styling is a bit subdued and missing in aptitude, it’s cohesive and fulfilling in and out. The 2025 XC90 is unlikely to show heads and appeal to a lot consideration however will please all of the senses of its proprietor and passengers.
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Earlier than I depart you, I’ve to deal with the elephant within the room. Whereas they appear lots alike and have very comparable names, the XC90 and EX90 are fairly totally different autos beneath the pores and skin. Though, with the XC90’s 2025.5 refresh it does get most of the similar options as its full-electric steady mate. The XC90 has window switches, which the EX90 doesn’t — I do know, loopy that’s one thing we’ve to speak about! Nonetheless, the XC90 is missing the EX90’s Lidar and energy adjustable steering wheel.
