Noted for being of high quality with a solid reputation for longevity and dependability, premium Swedish brand Volvo have updated their flagship sport utility vehicle (SUV), the XC90.
The Modern Exterior
A new, more contemporary exterior design reinforces the XC90’s confident look. It reflects the company’s ongoing transition towards full electrification and echoes elements of their newest, fully electric cars. Updated with a broad suite of technology and design updates inside and out, the XC90 hasn’t changed much over the years so don’t be surprised that it looks pretty much as expected, as can be seen in our images.
It’s a premium seven-seater with ‘comfortable’ as its middle name. One of the safest cars on the road, and in plug-in hybrid form, it doubles as an outstanding electric car with a back-up plan, offering more than 43 miles (70 kilometres) of fully electric range on a single charge under industry test conditions. Assume this will vary in use, but it’s a decent figure for a hybrid. This means that many drivers will be able to do their day-to-day travel with zero tailpipe emissions. In fact, Volvo claim that customer data shows that around half of the distance covered by the latest plug-in hybrid Volvo cars is driven on pure electric power. Not bad.
It’s a new model and now the XC90 has more power than previously, on tap when you need it. For longer trips, the hybrid power-train is paired with an efficient petrol engine to extend the overall range to a long distance 497 miles (800km). You can also opt to deploy the full combined power of petrol and electric for constant all-wheel-drive for safer on-road motoring in bad conditions or for a little light off-road driving for which this vehicle is equipped.
The Premium Interior
The biggest news comes inside this roomy SUV. A renewed interior enhances overall practicality and brings the latest Volvo user experience as seen in the recent EX90 and EX30 electric cars, into the XC90. A larger central touchscreen with higher resolution improves the user experience and opens up a world of new features, apps and of course regular over-the-air software updates as part of a brand new infotainment system.
The renewed interior comes with a redesigned front cabin that represents the best of contemporary Scandinavian design. The dashboard has a more horizontal shape than before, incorporating decorative panels made from premium recycled materials for a more textured finish, and is split by new vertical air vents. Enhanced illumination contributes to an even more luxurious feel at night.
Volvo have also reconfigured the cabin to make it even more practical in response to feedback from owners. There’s now additional storage space in the centre console, including an extra cupholder, and a wireless phone charger behind the central tunnel, separate from the main storage area, for greater convenience. The XC90 can be specified as part of option packages with one of the best-sounding audio systems for a car, the Bowers & Wilkins High Fidelity audio system that can faithfully replicate the acoustics of a real concert, they say.
The Drive
Alongside Volvo's new line-up of fully electric cars, the plug-in hybrid XC90 T8 remains a popular choice and is one of their most important models, hence these major upgrades. This balance between fully electric and plug-in hybrids seems to be the way things are going as the premium fully electric car market is still developing globally. Thus the plug-in hybrid and mild-hybrid models will remain available over the coming years.
Historically, as with every Volvo car, the XC90 is one of the safest cars on the road today. It is equipped with an advanced safety cage, as well as a comprehensive suite of active safety features to help passengers and indeed other road users stay safe. Using radar and a front camera, the XC90 can detect if the driver has drifted into the oncoming lane and automatically steer the car safely back into the correct lane to avoid the risk of a collision. It will also intercede in the event of inadvertently running off the road, through tiredness, say. Further, the car can use braking and steering to help avoid collisions with other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and even large animals, such as the alarmingly daft and erratic moose, as Swedish drivers have found out to their cost over the years.
The ride in the XC90 is reckoned to be better than ever before as well, with typically Volvo seating comfort and improved suspension as standard. Each individual damper is now able to adapt mechanically to current road conditions to optimise both comfort and stability for a more confident and relaxed driving experience.
This can be augmented by an optional and rather good air suspension system which works together with an active chassis that monitors the car, road and driver no less than five hundred times per second to give the most comfortable ride possible.
Depending on whether you want easy access getting in or out, better aerodynamics at speed, or additional ride height for rough terrain, an XC90 with air suspension can lower itself by 20mm or raise itself by 40mm. On top of that there’s added extra insulation to certain parts of the car, which means there’s even less wind and road noise, often an issue with these big SUV models.
Volvo & MHH International
We source the full range of Volvo models both new and used. Search the UK’s VAT Qualifying XC90s on our stock list which shares the VAT qualifying Volvos for sale in the UK today. Remember that MHH International’s trusted export service for clients around the world to destinations like Kenya, Ireland, and New Zealand covers all the bases. If a Volvo XC90, or any other model, suits your needs then please get in touch to find out more.
