Whereas only a midcycle 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 advised me, consider the most recent XC90 as an “old friend who keeps getting better.”
Volvo’s flagship debuted all the best way again in 2002. The second technology, which the 2025.5 is an iteration of, got here out in 2015. This automobile isn’t any spring hen, however gross sales proceed to be robust.
I flew midway across the globe to spend just a few days driving the most recent XC90 in an effort 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 comfy inside each the B5 and T8 variations of the XC90 that I skilled.
In brief: 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 customary 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 gives spectacular consolation
Spectacular infotainment
Even quieter cabin
Nice contact factors
Clear Scandinavian design
Base powertrain is missing in oomph
Customary suspension is missing in refinement
No wi-fi Apple CarPlay
Solar visors usually are not efficient for aspect window use
Bryon Dorr
2025 Volvo XC90 Evaluation
(Photograph/Volvo)
This refreshed second-generation XC90 three-row luxurious SUV is only a good automobile to spend time in. The design is clear, and the 2025.5 updates make a top quality automobile even higher.
What’s New Exterior?
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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, trendy tackle Volvo’s “Thor’s Hammer” model lighting design that’s slimmer and stretches all the best way to the grille. The brand new headlights are a 15-segment matrix gentle know-how that’s stated to present a “wide and long light pattern.” I discovered them to work fairly nicely within the dreary grey fall climate I skilled in southern Sweden and northern Denmark.
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Whereas the rear of the automobile doesn’t actually change, the taillamps have been up to date in know-how and tinted. New 20- to 22-inch wheels and three new designs additionally elevate the trendy look of this Scandinavian SUV.
There are each Darkish and Brilliant exterior trim choices on the most recent XC90. The brand new coloration for 2025.5 is Mulberry pink.
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 in-built. Whereas it appears to be like a bit tacked onto the sprint, as an alternative of built-in into it, it’s functionally excellent. It’s primarily the identical as discovered within the newest EX30 and EX90 electrical automobiles, which is an efficient factor.
There’s a bar-shaped button just under the touchscreen that can at all times carry you again to the house display screen, which is a really helpful function. By hitting the bar button once more, the map will get greater on the display screen, which can also be helpful. Drive modes are additionally simply accessible on the house display screen.
(Photograph/Bryon Dorr)
A brand new and improved encompass digicam system is available in very helpful 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 parts is an ambient lighting system that appears nice, reflecting off the curved wooden.
The entrance cupholder within the console now holds two giant cups/bottles/cans and a thin can (assume Crimson Bull cans) and is roofed when not in use by an accordion-style wooden cowl. It additionally has a vertical telephone holder on the entrance. On the entrance of the console, past the cup holder and kit selector, is now a big wi-fi telephone charging pad.
A brand new mid-grade ‘Nordico’ upholstery choice appears to be like like leather-based, however is fabricated from recycled plastic and pine resin.
Identical Identical
(Photograph/Bryon Dorr)
The 2 different inside choices carry over from 2024, Nappa leather-based or Textile. The leather-based choice is the one choice if you’d 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 fabricated 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 provide a comfortable really feel and distinctive search for a luxurious automobile; (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 seven- and six-seat configurations. All 2025.5 XC90 fashions are AWD, and so they have a 2.0L turbo four-cylinder engine and a really clean eight-speed computerized 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.
(Photograph/Bryon Dorr)
The B5 and B6 mild-hybrid powertrains come customary with Customary and Offroad drive modes, comfortable 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, however, provides 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 provides 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 sweet at decreasing solar glare, whereas an influence sunshade helps scale back the solar’s heating results when outdoors air temps get excessive.
The optionally available top-of-the-line Bowers & Wilkens sound system is kind of spectacular. A good way to expertise it totally is to make use of the demo app within the infotainment system, however it is just accessible whereas the automobile is in park.
The sound stage choices and sound high quality are high quality, as are the appear and feel of the chrome steel speaker grills. The 1,410W audio system has 19 audio system and a singular 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 provide 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 maintain 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 experience to be a bit sloppy and never all that comfy.
On the flip aspect of the coin, the carryover from the 2024 optionally available air suspension with energetic chassis know-how I discovered to be nice over a variety of highway situations. Not solely did it enable me to extract probably the most efficiency out of the XC90, nevertheless it additionally cruised in consolation. This optionally available suspension is obtainable throughout all fashions within the XC90 lineup, and it’s an improve I extremely suggest.
I’ve to notice that I appear to be within the minority amongst automotive journalists relating to this opinion — most that I belief don’t appear to assume the air suspension is value the additional price over the bottom suspension, particularly in its new kind. So, my suggestion is to check drive each back-to-back at your native Volvo seller and kind your individual opinion.
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 automobile.
Even with the fitted winter tires, at instances 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 almost all comfortable and textured. You wish to contact issues within the XC90. Even seize handles are lined in comfortable leather-like materials that appears to be stitched on.
I really like the brand new steering wheel design, because it’s comfy within the fingers and appears sharp. It additionally telescopes manner again, which is nice for tall individuals like me who don’t need our shins in opposition to the sprint. However, the steering wheel is simply manually adjustable, not energy adjustable such as you would possibly anticipate in a luxurious automobile on this class, and like the electrical EX90 provides.
(Photograph/Bryon Dorr)
Moreover the nice new central touchscreen the XC90 additionally has a 12.3-inch driver show and optionally available head-up show (HUD). All these screens work nicely collectively, are excessive decision, and have impressively clear graphics, though they could be a bit busy at instances.
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2025.5 XC90: What May Be Higher
Now, we additionally must dive into just a few of the issues that I discovered with the 2025 Volvo XC90 that didn’t impress.
First, not one of the three out there powertrain choices will get spectacular gas economic system, though none are horrible. All require premium gas. The B5 will get 26 mpg, the B6 23, and the T8 27 mpg. 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 assumed 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 the use of an over-the-air (OTA) replace quickly.
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Whereas not surprising, the third row on this SUV is kind of small. It’s completely acceptable for youths, however is a really tight match for any average-sized adults.
(Photograph/Bryon Dorr)
Whereas minor, it’s a significant oversight, for my part. The solar visors don’t prolong to supply full protection of the aspect home windows. It is a primary performance factor that has been round without end, so it is rather odd that Volvo wouldn’t provide 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 top-spec PHEV with air suspension is the model I’d suggest contemplating.
The 2025.5 Volvo XC90 T8 PHEV with air suspension is only a very nice automobile to reside with. It’s quiet inside, provides comfy seats and an intuitive and highly effective infotainment system, and is mostly only a nice place to spend time in.
It additionally has responsive driver controls, clean suspension, and is super-safe in all climate situations. High all that off with sufficient room to hold plenty of gear and/or household and buddies, and also you’ve received a fairly spectacular bundle.
Whereas the styling is a bit subdued and missing in aptitude, it’s cohesive and gratifying inside and outside. 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.
(Photograph/Bryon Dorr)
Earlier than I depart you, I’ve to handle the elephant within the room. Whereas they appear lots alike and have very comparable names, the XC90 and EX90 are fairly totally different automobiles underneath the pores and skin.
Though, with the XC90’s 2025.5 refresh, it does get most of the identical 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 now have to speak about! Nevertheless, the XC90 is missing the EX90’s Lidar and power-adjustable steering wheel.
