The Volvo XC90 has been a staple of British roads for more than two decades and it remains a firm favourite to this day. The current car has been on sale since 2015 but has been given numerous facelifts to keep it looking fresh. It continues to represent a comfortable and calm choice in a field of sportier competitors like the BMW X5, Audi Q7, and Mercedes-Benz GLE. As with all Volvos, the model blends class-leading safety standards with quiet and understated elegance and luxury, making it a popular choice with families and professionals alike.
A used Volvo XC90 can make an excellent family SUV, but service history is essential. Check the gearbox changes smoothly, the engine runs without hesitation, and there are no warning lights. Test every electrical feature, including the infotainment, keyless entry, parking sensors and driver assistance systems. If the car has air suspension, make sure it sits level and rides smoothly.
Reece Proctor is a Roadside Patrol at The AA, with practical experience in both workshop and roadside roles, and specialist expertise in hybrid and electric vehicles.
Read bioThe Volvo XC90 is a strong and well-built SUV, but it’s a large, complex car, so repair costs can be high if faults are ignored.
Common issues include:
• Infotainment lag or screen glitches on older or higher mileage cars
• Keyless entry faults
• Minor electrical issues with sensors or driver assistance systems
• Automatic gearbox wear if servicing has been missed
• Air suspension faults on models fitted with it and with high mileage
• Brake, tyre and suspension wear due to the car’s size and weight
Diesel and petrol versions are generally more straightforward to own than plug-in hybrid models. Hybrids can offer better efficiency, but the extra electrical components add complexity, so full-service history matters.
Most XC90 models need servicing every 12 months or around 10,000 miles, depending on the engine and service schedule.
Key maintenance to keep on top of includes:
• Oil and filter changes
• Brake fluid replacement every 2 years
• Cabin filter replacement when due
• Spark plug replacement on petrol models at the correct interval
• Gearbox checks and fluid servicing where required
• Suspension inspections, especially on-air suspension models with high mileage
• Tyre and brake checks
• Software updates for infotainment and safety systems
Running costs are higher than a smaller family car. Fuel, tyres, brakes, insurance and servicing can all be more expensive, so it’s worth checking the expected MPG and insurance cost before buying.
The Volvo XC90 is a spacious, safe and comfortable SUV that works well for larger families. It feels solid, has a high-quality interior and is well suited to long journeys.
A well-maintained XC90 can be a very good used buy, especially a 2015-onwards model with clear history. But a neglected one can quickly become expensive, so check the service record, gearbox, suspension and electronics carefully before committing.
The Volvo XC90 is like a comfy pair of slippers – it’s been around forever but it continues to be the very best at what it does. The car really is a lesson that modern luxury can be done differently. While it lacks the flashiness of some of its rivals, it more than makes up for it in sophistication. The result is one of the most comfortable, safe, and family-friendly SUVs on the market today.
Jack is an experienced motoring journalist who has been covering the latest new-car releases for the last 10 years.
Read bioThe XC90 is kicked off with the entry-level Core model, which is available in the UK from £65,450. Prices then continue all the way up to the top-of-the-range T8 Plug-in Hybrid, which begins at £72,760. While the higher spec cars are crammed with all the latest tech, even base models are given a good range of equipment, meaning value can be found throughout the entire range.
For those on the hunt for even lower prices, the second generation XC90 can be picked up for as little as £14,000 on AA Cars, although more recent cars – from 2019 onwards – are listed from closer to the £20,000 mark, which is around the same level as the cheapest used plug-in hybrid variants.
Over recent years, Volvo has been one of the most vocal carmakers when it comes to going green – albeit the XC90 is yet to be launched as a full EV. Despite this, the line-up is largely made up of a range of mild-hybrid petrol and diesel engine cars. Among the best engines is the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder unit which is paired with mild-hybrid technology in the B5 petrol and diesel.
At the top of the range, the deeply impressive T8 Recharge plug-in hybrid teams a 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and a hefty 18.8 kWh battery. That model produces a sizable 455 bhp and has an electric-only range of up to 43 miles. All cars in the range come, as standard, with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive.
Unlike some of its more eye-catching German rivals, the XC90 has very much been designed to prioritise comfort over excitement and thrills. The car benefits hugely from class-leading suspension, which makes even the bumpiest of roads feel as soft as a marshmallow. It also enjoys light steering and outstanding visibility thanks to a superb raised driving position. Overall, the car actually belies its chunky size and feels much smaller and easier to drive than you might think. Volvo has worked hard to ensure that the XC90 is among the most refined cars you can buy and this pays dividends on the motorway, where road and wind noise are kept to a seriously impressive minimum.
Though not built for performance, the quickest edition of the XC90 – the Recharge T8 – can go from 0 to 62 in a brisk 5.4 seconds, however, even this top of the range model does start to sound very strained if you ask for too much too quickly – it’s certainly best to keep things civilised when you’re driving an XC90.
Volvo has long prided itself on offering drivers the very best when it comes to safety and comfort and that is something which definitely shines through when you’re behind the wheel of the XC90. The Swedish brand offers its cutting-edge air suspension system as standard on higher trim levels, leading to a soft and composed ride, no matter what the surface. Cars of this size can often feel a little agricultural and bumpy but there are no such problems in the Volvo, where bumps and potholes are handled with ease – making it one of the most comfortable drives in its class.
On the flip side, if it’s fast cornering and excitement you’re after, then the likes of the BMW X5 or Porsche Cayenne will probably be more your cup of tea. While not by any means ‘sporty’ the XC90 remains comfortable on winding, twisty roads, with good grip coming from the all-wheel drive system, just don’t expect it to get the juices flowing in the same way that some of its rivals would.
Volvo likes to take a traditional Scandinavian approach to interior design, and as such cabins of their cars adopt a tidy and minimalist look. However, that is not to say that the interiors are in any way low on quality. Inside the XC90 is bright, elegant and classy with high-quality materials used throughout. There are the usual mix of leather seat options but buyers can also plump for a ‘wool blend performance’ option which offers a unique and classy alternative.
All spec levels come with seven seats as standard and offer a huge amount of space to passengers wherever they are seated – especially in the front two rows. While the back two spots are a little snugger, they are still more than big enough for children on those long family trips away.
Even with all seven seats in use, the XC90 offers a hefty 302 litres of boot space, although this is reduced to 260 litres on plug-in hybrid models, which have batteries beneath the floor. The back row of seats are easy to fold away too, taking the capacity to 680 litres in petrol and diesel cars and 640 in plug-in hybrids. Those numbers place the XC90 around mid-table when it comes to cars in this segment, well behind the likes of the Land Rover Discovery, which offers 1,137 litres in five-seat mode.
Despite this, the Volvo still offers bags of practicality with generous storage on offer throughout the cabin. The car also boasts deep door bins, a large centre console, and plenty of cubbies for smaller items.
Despite being over a decade old, the XC90 has kept up with the latest tech, via its various facelifts and upgrades over the years. All models come as standard with a 9-inch Sensus touchscreen infotainment system and in-built Google capability, as well as both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Models throughout the range are also equipped with heated front seats, a digital driver display and wireless phone charging.
Among the features reserved for higher trim levels are a Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system, panoramic sunroof, ventilated Nappa leather seats, and semi-autonomous driving.
The XC90 is currently available in three trim levels – Core, Plus and Ultimate – as well as high-performance Recharge T8 variants. The mid-range Plus range offers a brilliant balance of equipment and quality, without breaking the bank.
When it comes to colours, drivers can choose from Crystal White, Onyx Black, Platinum Grey, and Denim Blue.
Being a Volvo, the XC90 puts safety front and centre of everything it does. The car boasts a five-star Euro NCAP rating and remains one of the safest large SUVs on the roads, despite its more advanced age. Among the standard safety features included on all modern XC90s are autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and driver attention monitoring.
The car also excels when it comes to reliability, with the Swedish brand enjoying some of the best customer loyalty of any carmaker, thanks in no small part to their impeccable build quality and impressive durability.
In real-world scenarios, the XC90’s range of mild-hybrid petrol and diesel models average between 30 and 40 mpg – a perfectly acceptable figure for a car in this sector. The most economical model – the Recharge T8 – has an official mpg figure of 217.3 mpg — although this requires frequent charging and mostly short journeys on electric power only. When it comes to CO₂ emissions, figures range from 18 g/km on the T8 Recharge to around 182 g/km for the petrol B6 models.
Annual road tax varies between £170 and £560, while low Benefit-in-Kind rates make the plug-in hybrid variant particularly appealing to company car drivers.
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