Volvo steady (as always) with worthy PHEV three-row XC90 luxury SUV
Mid-size luxury hybrid sport utility vehicle buyers have it good. From the lowest entry-priced Lexus TX Hybrid ($70,010) to the highest-priced Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid ($99,195), brand loyalty reigns and poor choices are few.
The 2025 Volvo XC90, starting at the mid-range price of $73,195, represents the legacy of the Swedish manufacturer well.
Although the current generation is nearly a decade old, it constantly evolved. Several makeovers have substantially changed the vehicle, including Volvo’s second facelift to the three-row SUV in September 2024.
Debuting as a 2002 model, the XC90 is now Volvo’s best-selling vehicle in the United States with overall sales surpassing one million.
Vehicle variety is expansive. The XC90 is offered in three powertrains, including the T8 plug-in hybrid. All powertrains are available in Core, Plus and Ultra trims, the latter renamed from Ultimate.
The latest XC90 edition, designated as the 2025 1/2 model and part of the generation debuting in 2016, has several exterior and interior updates. Volvo long ago dispatched its staid exterior, with the latest modifications further modernizing the vehicle’s appearance.
Changes include redesigns for the mixed-crossed fascia, headlights and grille. A modified front bumper and updated tinted LED taillights add additional modernizing.
Interior upgrades include an 11.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, increased interior storage spaces and a repositioned wireless charging pad. The new dashboard features redesigned air vents made from recycled materials and increased sound insulation. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android AutoAdvanced voice recognition allowing hands-free control of various functions are also new.
The reviewed T8 trim remains the flagship. It pairs a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, a rear-axle-mounted electric motor and a 14.7-kWh battery to combine for 455 horsepower. The entire XC90 lineup is only available with eight-speed automatic transmissions and all-wheel drive. The EPA-estimated 0-60 miles per hour acceleration is 4.8 seconds.
In hybrid mode, the XC90 T8 achieves an estimated 58 MPGe. It has an estimated 27 mpg in gas-only operation. It also has a 33-mile electric-only range. Charging the Volvo’s 18.8-kilowatt-hour battery pack takes an estimated five hours on AC power.
Volvo’s legacy is built on steady, in-command driving and safety. The XC90 defines the reputation. The SUV advances smoothly and handles city and highway driving assignments quietly. The all-wheel-drive system is ready for handling inclement weather and has been a long-term Volvo mainstay. The regenerative braking system is equally smooth and allows far less necessary braking at slow speeds approaching stop signs and stop lights.
Standard features include Volvo’s Pilot Assist for semi-autonomous driving, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping and the carmaker’s City Safety system. It includes automatic collision avoidance.
The Ultra trim adds nearly a dozen items, ventilated front seats to front-seat passenger memory and laminated glass side door windows and 360-degree camera view. (Volvo recently recalled more than 413,000 vehicles, including 2021-2025 XC90 models, for rear-view camera delay issues.)
The chassis lift system ($1,800) adjusts ride height and adapts shock absorbers to provide additional stability. Activating the off-road mode offers increases ground clearance when needed. When the engine is turned off, the system deactivates with an eerie sound.
As a luxury SUV, all seating is constructed of high-grade, comfortable and firm leather. Seating, legroom and headroom are satisfactory. Third-row seating is not an afterthought as is common. But it is best reserved for children. The cabin also features a Bowers & Wilkins sound system ($3,200) and ambient lighting. The finesse-operated shifting knob is offered in a Volvo Swedish signature — Orrefors crystal.
With its advanced trim starting base and options, the 2025 Volvo XC90 T8 is priced at $88,695. Like its competitors, the luxury SUV offers plenty. Its steep price aligns with the segment standard and is likely comfortably acceptable by brand loyalists.
James Raia, a syndicated automotive columnist in Sacramento, also contributes business, lifestyle and sports content to several print and online publications. E-mail: james@jamesraia.com.