2020 Volvo XC90

The 2020 Volvo XC90 is a midsize, three-row luxury SUV with room for up to seven occupants. Now in its second generation, the XC90 was introduced in 2002 as the first model to be manufactured on the company’s global scalable platform known as Scalable Product Architecture (SPA). 

As the Swedish automaker’s flagship SUV, the XC90 features the brand’s trademark Scandinavian posh style. While other luxury manufacturers endeavor to make their SUVs handle like sports cars, the XC90 focuses on the job it’s meant to do and uses its extra capacity to create a spacious premium environment that can go almost anywhere.

All XC90 models are available in front- and all-wheel drive and equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged or turbocharged and supercharged engine or hybrid variant mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Three trim levels (Momentum, R-Design and Inscription) can be equipped with a variety of powertrains. T5-designated models have an output of 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque while the T6 designation indicates a 316 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The T8 is a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a total output of 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque from the combined turbocharged engine and electric motor.

Different selectable drive modes can be accessed with the turn of a touch wheel on the center console. Along with the dynamic, comfort, and eco modes, the XC90 includes an off-road setting to control traction, throttle and gear shifts over uneven terrain. It’s best used in “soft” off-roading applications like grassy fields, unpaved paths, or roads affected by adverse conditions.

The exterior of the XC90 is an elegant one, with smooth lines that flow over a substantial SUV body. It’s not small, but it doesn’t try to hide its size. Up front, the XC90 wears the latest iteration of Volvo’s design DNA proudly. It’s dominated by a grille with Volvo-distinct concave vertical vanes while “Thor’s hammer” headlights sit on either end.

The inside of the XC90 is a luxurious atmosphere, replete with supple leather on the seats, center console, and steering wheel. Metallic switches and highlights feel substantial and meticulously crafted. 

Front and center in the dashboard is the 9-inch tablet-like display interface for most of the car’s functions. Like the tablet one would have at home, it’s easy to swipe between pages displaying different menus and scrolling through the options, but that level of interaction feels a little more involved than what’s normally found in automobiles. With that in mind, it can be a little distracting to find a particular function while on the move.

Like the other cars in the Volvo stable, the XC90 is chock full of preventative safety systems to keep passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers safe. Through a sensor pod located behind the rearview mirror, the XC90 can scan for pedestrians and large animals that might end up in its direct path. Depending on the speed, the Volvo can do a hard brake to either avoid striking the object or mitigate the damage it will do to it and you. In cases where it appears a crash is imminent, the XC90 will pre-tighten seatbelts before doing a hard brake, as well as prepare other functions during the milliseconds before an impact to reduce injuries. If the unfortunate were to occur, the SUV has many redundancies engineered into it to spread impact energy away from occupants. 

Even now, with a few years under its belt since the last redesign, the XC90 continues to blend subtle high-end style and features with the flexibility required of a family-friendly vehicle.