Volvo XC 90 Facelift: A Long-Running Favorite Gets an Extension

The countdown starts at 3 minutes 24 seconds, at 1:59 the curtain twitches, Volvo CEO Jim Rowan has already taken his seat. Then it begins: He explains that not all customers can or want to drive electrically yet, which is why they introduced a "new" XC90 that isn't actually that new. And although the EX90 was supposed to replace it and the XC90 is currently not that up-to-date, it is still timeless enough to be extended a bit longer.

If he was a footballer, he might be comparable to Müller from FC Bayern – who doesn’t play the main role anymore, but is still the most Bavarian in the increasingly less Bavarian FC Bayern. And so the XC90 also holds its ground in Torslanda, Volvo's main plant, while the EX90 comes from Charlotte, USA.

In Germany, there will only be B5 and T8 in the future

Engine-wise, Volvo remains modest: B5, B6, and T8 are what it's called in the future, hidden behind these names are two mild-hybridized four-cylinders and one coupled with an electric motor, which makes the T8 still a plug-in hybrid. Thus, the T8 remains the top model with plug-in hybrid drive. As a PHEV, the Volvo XC90 T8 with its 18.8 kWh battery is supposed to be able to travel up to 70 kilometers purely electrically, in reality more like 50 to 60... We would have expected a bit more, but the body couldn't just be restructured for a larger battery. Many competitors offer here up to 100 kilometers or more...

The two-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with its 228 kW / 310 hp is supported by a 107 kW / 145 hp electric motor, resulting in over 700 Nm of torque. It accelerates to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds, and is still limited at 180 km/h. With the battery reserves, it should offer up to 800 kilometers of range according to WLTP.

Then there's the XC90 B5, powered by a 184 kW / 250 hp four-cylinder. We have to do without the B6, which comes with a turbo and electric supercharger, delivering 221 kW / 300 hp. In the B5, the 48-volt lithium-ion battery and integrated starter/generator are supposed to help reduce emissions and fuel consumption in real driving conditions by up to 15 percent.

Visually, only details have changed – the XC90 remains a long-lasting car

Basically, only details have been changed on the XC90 built since January 2015: New lighting units front and rear, modified seats, and a slightly altered cockpit. Thankfully, the operation remains largely untouched and old school – many preferred the "old" Volvos over the EX30 and EX90 here! But the 11.2-inch display has been content-wise adapted to EX30 and EX90. According to Volvo, the versatility and practicality on board the Volvo XC90 have also been optimized – partly in response to feedback from current owners. The center console offers more storage space than before, including an additional cup holder. The wireless charging pad for cell phones has been moved to a more conveniently accessible location.