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By Jonathan Crouch

This improved version of the second generation Volvo XC90 aims to make the most of its sleek Swedish design values. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 63

Volvo's second generation XC90 is a seven-seat luxury SUV that has given key rivals like Audi's Q7 and the Land Rover Discovery a lot to think about. Safe, efficient, clever, practical and stylish, it has re-established this Swedish maker as a credibly prestigious automotive brand. This significantly revised version offers slightly smarter styling and a more up-to-date cabin. It's well worth a look.

Backgroundword count: 209

The Volvo XC90 is just about the perfect example of a vehicle that created a niche for itself that no rival could seem to penetrate. If you wanted a 7-seat luxury SUV that was never really a sports utility vehicle, that was supremely comfortable and, above all, was neither shouty like a German nor trying too hard to fit in with the country set like a Land Rover, it was plum perfect. Nothing even got close. Because of this, the first generation XC90 hung around for ages. After all, why mess with a winning formula? Later versions, sold right up to 2014, tidied up the basic formula but were otherwise much the same as the models that first rolled into dealers in 2002. That's one heck of an innings. At least though, it paved the way for something different. There was no way that the second generation XC90, which originally arrived in 2015, would be a mere 'evolutionary' design. Even so, few were ready for quite the radical change Volvo's Chinese owners Zhejiang Geely eventually funded. This was a very different car - and was further usefully updated in 2019, before a further update package arrived in Autumn 2024 to create the model we're going to look at here.

Driving Experienceword count: 260

There are no engineering changes for this updated XC90, which means a continuing 2.0-litre four cylinder petrol-only choice of mild hybrid or Plug-in hybrid power, with AWD and 8-speed auto transmission standard-fit. Most mainstream XC90 customers will continue to opt for the entry-level B5 unit, which is turbocharged and offers 247bhp and 360Nm of torque - enough for 62mph in 7.7s. As before, the alternative is the T8 Plug-in hybrid, which is turbocharged and supercharged and delivers a combined 455hp output, with a thumping 709Nm of torque. 62mph from rest is dispatched in just 5.4s, yet this car can also give you up to 44.1 miles of EAER-rated pure electric driving range when fully charged. There are no changes to handling dynamics: on the road, the XC90 should still feel class-competitive, with its neat balance between comfort and agility. It can't match a Cayenne or an X5 across twistier tarmac, but then you wouldn't expect it to. Grip and traction are pretty good, provided differently according to powertrain choice. Avoid base trim and your XC90 will come with the brand's 'Active Four-C Chassis' package, which gives you four-corner adaptive dampers and electronic air suspension. Helped by Volvo's light, stiff 'Scalable Product Architecture' (SPA) platform, handling strikes a good balance between comfort and agility; cruising refinement meets the required executive standard; and there's the potential for a mild amount of off road prowess. A standard 'Pilot Assist' system offers a degree of highway-orientated autonomous driving technology. And you might be interested to know that conventional variants can tow up to 2,700kgs.

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