Nov. 25th, 2024
Volvo’s newly designed XC90 features an attractive suite of tech, styling and polished design updates – all superbly showcased on a two-day drive between Denmark and Southern Sweden.
Volvo debuted its XC90 back in 2002 winning the North American Car of the Year Award, but it was the Swedish carmaker’s second-gen iteration in 2015 that brought a modern Scandi design aesthetic to the luxury SUV market and changed the game in the three-row segment – its clean lines, elegant interiors, and advanced technology resonated with buyers looking for luxury and family-friendly utility. It remains the brand’s best-selling model in the U.S., with almost one million sold worldwide, the uber-popular 7-seater hasn’t received a complete redesign in a decade. To stay competitive in its class while keeping hybrid and PHEV options in the lineup, Volvo opted for a “2025.5” midcycle refresh with new look exterior detailing and a redesigned cabin, among other revisions. A recent visit to Scandinavia rewarded with time behind the wheel in the T8 Ultra plug-in hybrid and B5 Ultra mild hybrid.
The B5 AWD
After a very civilized Volvo team briefing over ‘fika’ (a cherished Swedish social custom involving coffee and pastries), I set out from Copenhagen Airport under steely grey skies in a B5 Ultra that sported a handsome Denim Blue exterior and coordinated interior and rode on 21-inch 5-multi spoke diamond cut wheels shod in winter tires. Because, Sweden and Volvo and safety first. The drive route that morning took us across the 10-mile long Øresund Bridge (the longest road- and rail bridge in Europe that connects Denmark and southern Sweden) for a leisurely drive to the town of Skanör before circling back up the coast to the Volvo Landscape at Limhamn, a small beachy neighborhood on the outskirts of Malmö.
Light on traffic, the mostly two-lane roads provided ample opportunity to get acquainted with the new 11.2-inch center display, which features Google built-in and promises a more seamless interface user experience with Media, Navigation, and Climate Settings permanently on the home screen. Alongside aesthetically pleasing details (of which there are many) with their chrome inserts and premium high-touch materials, the tailored dashboard and door panels are what I noticed first and foremost: in this model, a light ash trim paired with a charcoal grey textile on the dash and seats dressed in a navy herringbone weave upholstery inspired by the ocean made from 100% recycled polyester. Practical touches abounded in the cabin, too, including a redesigned tunnel console with a new and always handy wireless phone charger. Even the air vents feature an elegant vertical blade design.
The new 11.2-inch center display
A stop in Skanör provided the chance to get a better look at some of the also sharp and modernized exterior design details, including the sculpted hood, front fenders, and air intake with counteracting slats. Volvo’s signature Thor’s hammer design headlights have been slimmed down too and feature a matrix-design LED technology that allows you to essentially stay on high beam without worrying about oncoming road users when driving in the dark.
The B5 AWD mild hybrid pairs a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that produces 247 hp and 266 lb.-ft. of torque promising 0-60mph in 7.3 seconds and with speed limits ranging from 70 km/h (43mph) on country roads and 40 km/h (24mph) through small towns and villages it meant the heads-up display frequently flashed to let me know I was (unintentionally) speeding. Despite the cabin being whisper quiet and ease of acceleration so velvety smooth you could barely notice, thanks to Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA), part of Volvo’s Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS) that also includes collision avoidance, collision mitigation, and driver support technologies, meant sound alerts served as a gentle nudge to ease my foot off the gas although an automatic adaptative pedal response was another setting option.
The 7-seater has 85.7 cubic feet of cargo capacity
Herringbone weave upholstery
Unintentional speeding aside, I made it safely to the Volvo Landscape at Limhamn in time for lunch and an immersive dive into other elements of the new-look XC90, including its gorgeous sustainably sourced materials, textiles, and ‘Scandinavian living room’ inspired cabin with Head of Interior Design Lisa Reeves and the Bowers & Wilkens High Fidelity audio system, which features a whopping 19 separate hi-fi speakers, including the audio makers iconic Tweeter-on-top center speaker. Sold as part of the Ultimate package, it’s a three-dimensional in-car experience that faithfully replicates the surround sound listening modes of a recording studio, concert hall and jazz club. As someone who appreciates the power of sound and music but in no way considers myself an audiophile, it completely knocked my socks off.
After going down the Bowers & Wilkens rabbit hole, there was just enough time for a stab at a timed trunk packing challenge using assorted Tetris-shaped cushions (that I failed miserably) but showcased the XC90’s clever use of space and interior storage versatility (an impressive 85.7 cubic feet of cargo capacity on the 7-seater) before switching cars for the afternoon.
The T8 eAWD
From the Volvo Landscape, I hopped in the T8 eAWD Ultra for a 45-minute scenic drive into the countryside, ostensibly to the Österlenchoklad café and shop in the hamlet of Skåne-Tranås. A light but warm silver high-metallic with delicate rosé tones, its Bright Dusk exterior really popped despite the overcast skies, much like the interior whose Bright theme featured seats dressed in Cardamom quilted Nordico (a leather alternative fabric) and a subtly contrasting charcoal headlining with cardamom textile door panel inserts and Brown Ash décor. Plus, a personal Volvo favorite touch: the oh-so-chic crystal gear shifter by Swedish glassmaker Orrefors.
Despite following Google Maps, a series of missteps took me to a horse farm followed by a gravel quarry where I became well-acquainted with the 360°camera making a series of multi-point turns. After almost an hour following scenic country roads with no chocolate shop in sight and daylight fading fast, I admitted defeat and headed back to Malmö. Along the way I noted that the air suspension made the drive feel even more refined. The sound insulation was next-level, with road noise barely perceptible. While standard FSD damper technology on the B5 felt great, the T8’s electronically controlled active chassis monitors the car, road, and driver 500 times per second, which made cornering more dynamic and perfectly reduced roll.
Crystal gear shifter by Orrefors
Bright interior on the T8 eAWD
Between the comfortable seats, climate system and air quality system, which monitors incoming air and reduces dust, pollen and particulates (a massive plus for allergy sufferers), and ease of connectivity for a seamless digital experience, despite driving for more than four hours – and spending at least one of those getting a bit lost – by the time I pulled up in front of the hotel in Malmö’s Hyllie Station well after dark I felt surprisingly fresh. Dare I say, almost well-rested. In some circles, you might still encounter outdated clichés about cars that ‘drive like a Volvo’ or Volvo drivers being unassuming individuals who prioritize safety over flashiness. But, if performance, comfort, and cutting-edge safety features can come wrapped in such a sharp-looking yet practical package that oozes Scandi-cool sophistication and legitimate eco-credentials like this, well, then sign me up.
A Zero-Emissions Automotive Future
For those hesitant to fully embrace electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids are an excellent middle ground between traditional internal combustion engines and EVs. The new XC90 smartly caters to the growing demand for eco-friendly vehicles that deliver strong performance and versatile range and allows Volvo to meet market needs while scaling its fully electric lineup and aligning with a goal for PHEVs and EVs to account for 90 to 100% of sales by 2030 – and positioning the brand as a leader in a zero-emissions automotive future.
Available in three model trims (Core, Plus and Ultra) with seven exterior colors, including Mulberry Red, a new for 2025 “elegant blackish red hue inspired by Scandinavian autumn” and three new diamond-cut alloy wheel designs in 20”, 21” and 22” sizes, pricing starts at $58,450 for the “2025.5” Volvo XC90 B5 AWD mild hybrid (Core) and runs to $80,700 for the line-topping T8 plug-in hybrid (Ultra). volvocars.usa.com.
Visually upgraded rear lamps with darkened design
