Volvo XC90 goes into the next decade with moderately conservative changes

At a time when the first customer deliveries of the all-electric Volvo EX90 models in Finland are very close, Volvo has not yet completely forgotten and abandoned the update of its internal combustion engine models. The brand’s flagship SUV, the XC90, has received a new updated model, which the manufacturer itself calls the ‘New XC90’.

The new XC90 shares the same SPA1 chassis platform as the current model, and the new model will only be brought to Finland as the familiar T8 charge hybrid. So what has changed if the technology and chassis are the same and there are no huge differences in looks?

A smooth transition to electric cars?

The new XC90 brings elements from the all-electric side. The new and larger 11.2-inch widescreen display is familiar from the EX30 and EX90. The XC90 will now share the same interface with the all-electric models. Google functions are built into the interface, navigation is via Google Maps and updates come to the car as over-the-air (OTA) updates. The screen is not one of the largest on the market, but the fact that it is slightly tilted towards the driver adds to the comfort of use.

Externally, the most significant change in the new XC90 is the front of the car. Like the all-electric models, the redesigned front end is now quite simple and straightforward. Volvo’s traditional logo dominates the centre of the engine air intake grille, while the grille itself, when viewed at a glance, looks closed, as on the all-electric models. However, the grille is not completely closed when you look at it up close.

The front lights, known as Thor’s hammers, have been updated and are now clearly sleeker and more modern than their predecessors. In addition to the front grille and headlights, the front bumper, bonnet and front fenders have been given a facelift. At the rear, the updated tail lights are darker than the previous model. The colour palette is also new, with a new elegant Mulberry Red exterior colour.

At the same time, the new XC90 would have deserved an update at least on the electric power train side with the size of the traction battery remaining at the current 14.7 kilowatts. The charge hybrid T8 model is the only powertrain that will be available in Finland for the new XC90. The powertrain with a two-litre engine on the front axle and an eight-speed automatic combined with an electric motor on the rear axle will do the job comfortably, although the novelty of this has worn off. There are clearly more sophisticated hybrid power trains on the market.

Volvo advertises an electric range of up to more than 70 kilometres on a single charge. During the test drives on flat country roads in southern Sweden, it was not possible to make precise measurements of the electric range, but in reality, in good conditions, you could expect a range of between 50 and 70 kilometres.

In colder weather, the large interior spaces alone consume so much heating energy in addition to driving that it is unlikely that a reading of more than 50 kilometres is even dreamed of in winter. A larger driving battery capacity would have been one of the biggest factors warming the heart of the Finnish motorist in the new XC90.

Guaranteed quality

The test cars were equipped with the higher Ultra trim level, where the light Bright dusk exterior colour combined with the interior’s light, part-cloth upholstery and real wood panels brought out the car’s Scandinavian elegance at its best.

The seats, with their pleasantly long thigh support, provide good support for longer drives. The seats in the test cars were upholstered in new leatherette. The feel of the leather made you wonder for a while whether the seats were actually real leather or not. Volvo says the leather is made from recycled materials and biological raw materials from forests in Sweden and Finland.

In addition to artificial leather, a new fabric upholstery made from recycled polyester is also available. A third interior option, genuine nappa leather, offers the most luxurious feel.

The new XC90 is available with a traditional suspension and an air suspension. The test cars were only equipped with the air suspension, which seemed to be an excellent pair for the 2,300 kg and 5m car underneath on the more twisty country roads. The air chassis is not fully adjustable to your taste. The feel and height of the chassis can only be adjusted according to the driving profile, being 20 mm lower than normal in Power mode and 40 mm higher than normal in Offroad mode.

The new XC90 has also received an improvement in interior sound insulation thanks to laminated glass and better insulated A and B pillars. At ear-splitting highway speeds, the cabin appears to be quite quiet even with the 275-wide, 22-inch friction tyres under the test car. At highway speeds, all the tire and road noise didn’t filter out, which would have been the final touch to an otherwise comfortable ride experience.

The new XC90 will only be available in Finland as a 7-seat version. The second and third rows of seats can be folded down to a fully horizontal position. With the third row of seats folded down, the boot is 670 litres. With the third row upright, the boot space shrinks to very little, providing depth for a few shopping bags or a few small suitcases.

The seats in the second row can be moved lengthways one by one, so the third row can accommodate even an adult with reasonable legroom.

For sound enthusiasts, an optional 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system is available, offering enough depth and feel to satisfy even the most discerning tastes. Noise from outside the car was quickly forgotten when you let the system fill the interior with even lower decibels of music.

The new XC90 may confuse buyers with its name – expectations may be higher than reality delivers. But that’s only true for those behind the wheel of the latest charging hybrid Volvo. While the T8 powertrain doesn’t offer the most modern feel on the market, the new XC90 as a whole is a quality behemoth on many levels. A more apt name for the car, however, might just be the redesigned XC90, with the technical updates remaining lightweight.

Whether the XC90 will survive into the 2030s with these updates remains to be seen, but for now the car is an excellent vehicle for the conservative and, above all, safe and reliable flagship SUV looking for a ride.