Volvo hasn’t torn up the rulebook for its seven-seat flagship XC90, but quietly sharpened it. We took it for a drive; here’s how it went
Few realise that Volvo’s indicator click is said to be modelled on the sound of a Swedish branch snapping. Engineers reportedly experimented with birch and pine before settling on oak, the source of the crisp, organic tick that accompanies every signal. Spend time with the new XC90 and that same Scandinavian sensibility is evident throughout: calm, confident, and composed amid the noise of the world outside.
Rather than reinventing its flagship SUV, Volvo has chosen to refine it. The updated XC90 introduces thoughtful design and technology improvements without theatrics. The result is a smarter, quieter, more intelligent vehicle that preserves its essential character as the understated luxury family hauler.
Two powertrains keep the range clear. The B5 mild hybrid pairs a 2.0-litre petrol engine with a 48-volt starter-generator to deliver smooth, efficient performance. For more power, the T8 plug-in hybrid offers 455hp, up to 64km of electric-only range, and a 0–100km/h sprint in 5.4 seconds. With a total petrol-electric range of over 800km, long weekends are a tranquil affair.
Over three days of errands and expressway drives, the XC90 proved its refinement. Frequency-Selective Damping smooths over patchy tarmac, while available air suspension and an active chassis—monitoring conditions 500 times per second—keep it balanced.
Quiet power
Silence remains a Volvo strength. Laminated side glass, additional insulation, and acoustic foam reduce wind, road, and engine noise to a whisper, so even third-row conversations carry easily. Seating remains exemplary: supportive, well- shaped, and built for distance.
Interior revisions are subtle but astute. A sharper 11.2-inch touchscreen now runs Google built-in with over- the-air updates. Storage has been rethought, the wireless charger sits exactly where it should, and ambient lighting complements clean horizontal lines to create the atmosphere of a modern living room.
Audio is equally well considered. The B5 comes with a 14-speaker Harman Kardon system, while the T8 gains a 19-speaker, 1,460W Bowers & Wilkins unit that is capable of recreating the acoustics of a concert hall or jazz club. Either way, the soundscape is superb.
The XC90 remains handsome, though refreshed with a reworked grille and bumpers, new wheel designs, and slim Matrix LED headlights featuring Volvo’s signature Thor’s Hammer. These headlights adapt their beam intelligently, avoiding glare while illuminating the road ahead like daylight.
Safety, predictably, is comprehensive. From lane-keeping and run-off-road mitigation to systems designed to avoid collisions with cars, pedestrians, cyclists, and even large animals, the XC90 continues to shoulder much of the mental load. It is, in every sense, among the safest ways to move seven people in comfort.
If it is not broken, do not fix it. The Volvo XC90 understands its role: a handsome, forward-looking SUV that evolves with care, rather than chasing reinvention. Sometimes evolution is the smarter move. Volvo XC90
