Hygge On 4 Wheels: The Volvo XC90 Is Back

By Jeremy Taylor & Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby

2 months ago

The long-serving XC90 petrol SUV gets a second facelift as electric car sales flag

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It’s a stay of execution for the combustion-powered family favourite XC90 as Volvo scraps plans to only sell EVs by 2030. Jeremy Taylor and Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby discuss.

Is The Volvo XC90 Here To Stay After All?

J-TP Hang on, I thought the XC90 was history? Wasn’t it due to be replaced by the electric EX90 we wrote about last month?

JT – Indeed it was – except, like every other EV maker, Volvo is battling with the slowdown in growth of the electric market. The company had previously pledged to end combustion engine sales by 2030 but that has been revised.

Oh dear. So, we can expect to see ICE (internal combustion engine) models for a good few years yet?

Yes, although the Swedes have finally stopped building diesel models and the latest, all-wheel drive XC90 is now only offered with a choice of a plug-in hybrid and two mild hybrid petrol versions.

I still prefer the Volvo to the BMW X5 and Audi Q7. It just looks much smarter. What’s different about the latest XC90? It looks very similar to the electric EX90, doesn’t it?

Well, you can see there’s a fresh grille, headlight and bonnet design to give the XC90 a more stylish ‘face’ that’s more in keeping with the EX30 and EX90 electric models.

And the big touch screen now looks even bigger?

It is, and the interface is also much better. There are revisions to the air suspension too, improving ride comfort thanks to adaptive dampers. Standard equipment on all models includes a heated steering wheel, four-zone climate control, parking sensors and a powered tailgate.

Well, you need that for the huge boot! That’s why we love a big Volvo estate: because you can cram so much inside.

Nothing has changed there – the XC90 is as practical as ever. Prices start at £63,790, with various spec levels up to £84,150. Hygge on four wheels…