Volvo XC90 review: refreshed family PHEV is my new favourite SUV

Introduction

It’s hard to beat a big Volvo. There are plenty of family-sized premium SUV options out there, but the XC90 has always been a top contender for getting seven people from A to B in total comfort. That’s especially true now it has been given a thorough in-and-out overhaul for 2025 and beyond.

Volvo has brought the latest tech, a smartened-up interior, and sharp exterior styling more in keeping with its push into electric motoring – without copying the fully electric EX90 too closely. Underneath the XC90 remains slightly more old-school, with mild- and plug-in hybrid power on offer. The T8 PHEV tested here is the best of the bunch, with 44 miles of electric driving for regular journeys like school runs, and a combined range ready for epic road trips.

It’s still firmly in luxury territory, then, but the XC90’s subdued Scandinavian approach should still appeal even if you’re sniffy about SUVs in general.

The styling

This might not be an all-new car, but the revised Volvo XC90 has a fresh and contemporary feel to the way it looks, both inside and out. The exterior dazzles thanks to new T-shaped headlights, which feature matrix design LED tech to shine brighter at the bits of the road you actually need illuminated. At the rear, the lines have been carefully honed to give the SUV a bang up to date appearance.

The best bits have been saved for the interior. The cockpit is now an exercise in opulence, with fantastic seats wrapped in cruelty-free synthetic material that feel great to the touch. There’s a beautifully executed dashboard area and a very practical centre console that has been revamped for ease of use.

My test car was an Ultra trim, which had all the extra trimmings including 21in alloy wheels, a head-up display and massaging seats. The exterior upgrade gives the car real road presence, but tastefully so. There are Core and Plus variants available with fewer options boxes ticked, but neither are exactly lacking for interior tech or onboard safety kit.

The drive

It might be big and burly, weighing in at over 2,200kg, but the Volvo XC90 is a doddle to get down the road. The 2.0-litre, four cylinder petrol engine can work in tandem with the electric motor to propel the car from 0 to 62mph in just 5.4 seconds. There’s all-wheel drive and excellent steering, which feels perfectly weighted for parking and other tight manoeuvres. Those jobs are made much easier by the on-board cameras, while the high-up driving position and excellent door mirrors also do their part.

I did quite a few motorway miles during my time with the Volvo XC90 T8 and it was effortless in that scenario. It’ll also do nearly 500 miles combined using the combination of the petrol engine and small battery/electric motor arrangement. Setting off, the PHEV is as quiet as you’d expect. However, when I put my foot down the lofty Volvo delivered quite a surprise both in terms of the power on tap and the way it had a very decent exhaust grunt too.

This feels like the perfect type of SUV to take on a long road trip. Equally though, the Volvo XC90 T8 does feel very manageable around town. I think it would suit me down to the ground as someone with a home charger. That range is enough to allow to get by doing most of my shorter journeys using battery power alone. However, the Volvo XC90 T8 is so good to drive I think it would tend to push me to drive it further, even if I didn’t have to.

The technology

One of the first things to excite me with the refreshed Volvo XC90 T8 was the audio system, which was hard to miss thanks to the interior being peppered with Bowers & Wilkins speaker grilles. The sound quality was everything I’d expected too, with no less than 1410 Watts to play with making it bliss for anyone into their music.

I’d already had a demo from one of the Bowers & Wilkins staff, who revealed the innermost workings of the audio setup. The ability to tweak the 19 speakers into projecting sound just how I liked it was hugely impressive.

The 11.2in touchscreen that sits in the middle of the dashboard area is another notable improvement. While there are lots of similarities with what has gone before, Volvo has clearly worked hard to make the in-car system much more intuitive and user-friendly. Anyone familiar with the Volvo EX30 will find much that is the same, but somehow, I found it all worked a little more easily. There’s also the benefit of the Google software, which delivers the same no-nonsense experience as it does on tablets and smartphones.

Volvo XC90 T8 verdict

Considering most XC90 buyers are likely going to be family types wanting to cover a mix of journey distances, the T8 PHEV definitely feels like it’s the one to plump for. Its electric range is mighty practical (though there are rivals that can go further per charge) and while not the last word in driver engagement, the Volvo badge shrugs off a lot of the stigma associated with other SUV brands.

That sad, the T8 will set you back at least £72,650. The B5 mild-hybrid version starts at a slightly more attainable £63,790, if you’re not able to benefit from overnight charging. Either way, you’re getting an awful lot of car for your money. For safety, styling and Scandinavian charm, little else can match it.

Volvo XC90 T8 technical specifications

Powertrain	2.0-litre petrol engine, permanent magnet synchronous motor
Battery	18.8kW
Power	449bhp (combined)
Torque	523lb ft
0-60mph	5.4sec
Top speed	112mph
Range	44 miles (electric only) 500 miles (combined)
Charge rate	6.4kWh
Cargo volume	302 litres (7 seats) 680 litres (5 seats)