Words by: Adam Allen
Whoa, whoa, whoa!! Not so fast.
The above is a hastily summarized version of the decree issued by Volvo HQ in concert with the global automotive market’s waning interest in EVs. See, Volvo had big plans for 2025; this was supposed to be the year that their new EX90 battery electric SUV would supplant the bestselling XC90 without missing a beat on market share and sales momentum. But those plans were made in the not too distant past when customers who were eager to adopt an electric car were hitting showrooms in full force. Internal combustion engines are having a bit of a renaissance moment right now, and Volvo has correctly read the tea leaves and decided to pump the brakes on the XC90 to EX90 handoff. Smart move.
The XC90 continues to impress, even after a decade atop the Volvo sales charts. There’s a good reason for that; it has aged beautifully and is still very relevant to customers patronizing the luxury 3-row SUV space. Since 2015, It’s won the hearts of journalists and buyers alike- the former has bestowed many prestigious motoring awards on the XC90, the latter keep snapping them up at a rate not seen since the halcyon days of the 850 models. Volvo got it right out of the gate, knocking the styling and interior design out of the park, whilst keeping the bevy of safety technology the brand is known for front and centre on the menu.
The last version we sampled was a few years back wearing the mid-range T6 trim. This time around, we wanted to try the full fat T8 PHEV model which resides at the top of the heap. Our tester featured a 2.0 turbocharged four-cylinder engine and adds an electric motor to the rear axle plus a 15 kWh battery pack for electric only propulsion. The battery doesn’t charge particularly fast at 3.7 kilowatts, but your patience will be rewarded with an electric only range of about 50 kilometers. In conjunction with the gas engine, the T8 churns out a meaty 455 horsepower and 523 pounds feet of torque. It’s hard to believe that these numbers are a result of such a complex powertrain; perhaps even more impressive is how seamlessly they work with one another.
All these bits of hardware function the same you’d expect of many of the hybrids we have had in the Carpages Garage previously- you can motor along in near silence using the charge in the battery pack, the engine can be used to juice up the battery and you can use the electric motors alongside the gasoline engine for maximum thrust. And there’s plenty of that, briskly motivating the large SUV to highway speeds in under 5 seconds.
Thanks to its air suspension- a must have option in our opinion- the XC90 moves down the road with polish and poise. As long as you don’t push it too hard, it will never deviate from its composed nature. The air suspenders make it hard to criticize the XC90 for what has long been a source of angst, and that would be the so-so ride quality. Volvo engineers also fixed what we described previously as ‘wonky’ brake feel- the stoppers feel perfectly normal with none of the hybrid weirdness you might expect. We might ask for a little more effort in tuning the electric steering system for some actual feel, but most drivers will find the helm to work just fine, thank you.
Climbing aboard reveals what has long been an XC90 standout-the interior. It may have been around for nearly 10 years with little change, but that’s only because it was so good out of the gate. We’ve always been suckers for the excellent Bowers and Wilkens sound system and the seat comfort and support are beyond reproach. Of course, top notch materials and build quality are still very much an integral part of the proceedings. The biggest change we noted was the transition to a Google-based infotainment system which plays through a new 11.2-inch display. It is head and shoulders better than the old Sensus unit and makes interacting with it a pleasure instead of a chore. Given the arms race for bigger screens that permeates the entire industry it felt a bit small, but we didn’t feel cheated by its smaller footprint whatsoever.
Despite its age and slight imperfections, you won’t feel cheated by purchasing an XC90 for your own family fleet. It’s incredibly safe, sports beautiful design inside and out and is down for a road trip at a moment’s notice, no matter the weather. One day in the not-too-distant future, you’ll be enjoying all those admirable traits behind the wheel of an EX90 while its battery pack and electric motors whisk you silently along. It’s not ready for prime time just yet, but thankfully the XC90 serves as a welcome holding pattern until that one is due to arrive in showrooms.
2025 Volvo XC90 T8 PHEV AWD – Specifications
- Price as tested: $107,564
- Body Type: 4-door, 5-passenger SUV
- Powertrain Layout: Front engine/front and rear electric motors/all-wheel drive
- Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged and supercharged inline-4, DOHC, 16 valves
- Horsepower: 310 @ 5,700 rpm
- Torque (lbs.-ft.): 295 @ 2,200 rpm
- Electric motor output: 145 horsepower/228 lbs-ft of torque
- Total system output: 455 horsepower/523 lbs-ft of torque
- Transmission: 8-speed automatic
- Curb weight: 2,340 kg (5,159 lbs.)
- Observed fuel economy: 13.4L/100 km (17.5 mpg)