XC90
Room for seven. Refined for the two up front.
The XC90 is Volvo's flagship — the model that redefined the brand a decade ago and still sets the tone for everything else. Three real rows, an interior that reads like a Scandinavian living room, and the safest crash record in its class.
From the mid $60,000s
The three things I’ll say about the XC90 first.
A genuinely usable third row
Adults can sit back there for a dinner run. That's rare — I'll show you exactly how it compares to the Q7 and MDX.
Bowers & Wilkins concert hall audio
Optional 19-speaker system with a Gothenburg Concert Hall mode. It's the reason some clients buy the car.
T8 for real efficiency
33 miles of electric-only range covers most weekday errands. The gas engine is there for the weekend drive to Charlottesville.
The most recent refresh brought a bigger 11.2" center display, sharper exterior detailing, and a quieter cabin. The B5 mild-hybrid handles daily duty; the T8 plug-in adds 33 miles of electric range and 455 hp on tap for merging.
- Families with three or more kids
- Anyone who tows a small boat, camper, or utility trailer
- Grandparents who want room for car seats on weekends
- Buyers cross-shopping the Audi Q7, BMW X5 3-row, or Acura MDX
Ways to drive it.
2.0L turbo with 48V hybrid assist, 8-speed auto, AWD.
Twin-charged 2.0L plus rear electric motor. Level 2 home charging in ~5 hours.
Safety, cabin, technology.
- IIHS Top Safety Pick+ (current model)
- Standard City Safety with intersection and oncoming auto-brake
- Pilot Assist adaptive cruise with lane centering up to 80 mph
- 360° camera and Park Pilot Assist
- Rear-seat reminder and inflatable side curtains for all three rows
- Nordico, City Weave, or ventilated Nappa in Ultimate
- Real Swedish driftwood or open-pore walnut inlays
- Panoramic moonroof over rows one and two
- 4-zone climate with rear-cabin controls
- Second-row captain's chairs available — makes the third row easier to access
- 11.2" portrait touchscreen with Google built-in
- 12.3" driver display
- Head-up display
- Bowers & Wilkins 19-speaker premium audio (Ultimate)
- Air suspension with individual damping (Ultimate)
The numbers, briefly.
“If you're comparing the XC90 to a Q7 or MDX, come do a back-to-back with me. The XC90's third row and rear-seat safety package are the two things you cannot appreciate from a spec sheet.”
Available XC90s right now.
About the XC90.
Six seats or seven?+
Six-seat with captain's chairs is more comfortable and easier to access. Seven is only better if you truly need the eighth seatbelt.
How's the T8 in winter?+
Excellent — the rear electric motor gives you instant AWD response, and the gas engine warms the cabin quickly.
When does the EX90 replace this?+
It doesn't — Volvo is selling them side-by-side. XC90 for hybrid families, EX90 for fully-electric families.