2017 Volvo XC90 Road Test and Review

2017 Volvo XC90 City Hero ・ Photo by Volvo

Although Volvo has a long history of coupes, sedans and wagons, the face of the brand is the 2017 Volvo XC90, its largest and most expensive SUV.

First introduced in 2003, the 7-passenger SUV immediately found a loyal following and triggered a resurgence of Volvo in the United States. It proved so popular, it remained in production, essentially unchanged, for more than a decade.

Volvo introduced the all-new second-generation of its flagship SUV in 2015 with increased levels of safety, fuel economy and technology, and the popularity of the vehicle exploded once again. Two years later, the XC90 continues to stand out with inspired style, an upscale interior, and an adventurous, fun to drive personality. Plus, it’s one of just four vehicles in the midsize luxury SUV segment available as a plug-in hybrid.

Built in Sweden, the family-friendly 2017 Volvo XC90 competes very successfully against a long list of popular, high-quality SUVs including the Acura MDX, Audi Q7, BMW X5, Lexus RX, Cadillac XT5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE.

Let's take a closer look at the 2017 Volvo XC90.

Models and Pricing

Volvo offers the XC90 in a complex series of models and trim levels which can be confusing. There are three models: T5; T6; and the T8 Plug-in Hybrid. And four distinct trim levels: Momentum; R-Design; Inscription; and Excellence.

The base model is the XC90 T5 Momentum with front-wheel drive and seating for five, which starts at $46,745 including $995 destination charge. Standard features include navigation, a 9-inch touchscreen, a sunroof, a rearview camera, dual zone climate control, power front seats, and Volvo’s City Safety System. All-wheel drive is an extra $2,200. If you need seating for seven, the T6 model starts at $53,245 and the T8 costs $68,795.

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Multiple Trims

The R-Design trim level adds a sporty look with a more aggressive grille, front and rear bumpers and wheels. But it’s only available on the T5 and T6 modes. The Inscription trim level is available on T6 and T8, while the Excellence trim is a T8 exclusive and starts at $105,895.

T5 models are powered by a 250-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, which is sufficient. I prefer the turbocharged and supercharged version of the engine in the all-wheel drive T6. It makes 316-horsepower and drops the 0-60 mph performance from 7.9-seconds to 6.6-seconds. With over 400 hp, the T8 plug-in hybrid accelerates to 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds.

All models come with a smooth shifting 8-speed automatic transmission.

Extremely Family Friendly

The 2017 Volvo XC90 offers a large interior and more rear seat room than many of its competitors. It seats seven easily, and the third row is adult friendly if you’re not carpooling with the Lakers.

Parents will appreciate the Volvo's easy-to-reach LATCH connectors in the outboard seats and easily accessed upper tether anchors on the seatbacks. A cool optional extra is the ability to convert the second-row middle seat into a built-in booster seat for small children.

The XC90 scored the highest crash test rating of Five Stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick rating by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). 

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Decent Fuel Economy

Fuel economy is very good for this class. As expected, the T8 hybrid model is the fuel sipper of the brood, with fuel economy rating of 53e or a combined city and highway rating of 25 mpg. It can also be driven up to 14 miles using electric power alone, and recharging the batteries from "empty" takes just two and half hours when plugged into a 220-volt outlet.

The gas-only powered T5 and T6 models are also very efficient. The front-wheel drive T5 is rated 22 mpg city and 26 mpg on the highway. The all-wheel drive T5 and significantly more powerful T6 are both rated 22 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. I averaged 21 mpg in our T6 test vehicle over a week of mixed driving.

The Lexus RX Hybrid is the class leader with 31 mpg city and 28 mpg highway ratings. BMW’s diesel-powered X5 is rated 23 mpg city and 29 mpg on the highway.

Photo by Volvo

Opulent Interior

The interior of the 2017 Volvo XC90 is one of the best in its class. Much like its exterior, the Volvo’s interior is simple, understated, but very well appointed and exceptionally modern. It’s also extremely comfortable.

Build quality is very high. All the knobs and switches feel expensive, and function with precision. Nothing feels cheap or flimsy, and the thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel feels good in your hands. I love the big silver knob on the console which you twist to start the engine. And the Walnut wood trim looks like it was looted from high-quality furniture.

Control placement is excellent, the seat heaters warm up quickly and visibility is outstanding. The driver’s seat is height-adjustable for shorter drivers and a tilt and telescopic steering wheel is standard. Or test car even had massaging front seats which are part of the optional Luxury Package.

Rear passengers appreciated our test vehicle’s rear air conditioning vents, rear climate controls, window shades and heated rear seats, which recline.

Photo by Volvo

Cargo and Cupholders

The 2017 Volvo XC90 offers 15.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row seats, which are split 50/50 and easily fold flat. Behind the second row, which is split 40/20/40, the XC90 offers 41.8 cubic feet of space, and with both rows folded out of the way, there’s an impressive 85.7 cubic feet of cargo space. In the class, only the Acura MDX offers more ultimate space at 90.9 cubic feet. 

Waving your foot under the rear bumper opens the power tailgate -- which sounds silly, but is incredibly convenient when your arms are full of 10 gallon jugs of ketchup from Costco.

Storage inside the Volvo’s interior is generous. The center console bin isn’t huge but it’s deep, and the door pockets and front seat cupholders are large.

Photo by Volvo

It Drives Itself

Bluetooth and navigation with voice recognition are standard on every XC90, as is a large 9-inch screen, which looks and functions much like an iPad. The system responds to swiping and pinch-to-zoom, so it’s very intuitive to use. If you have a smartphone, you won’t have any issues. Apple CarPlay is an available option, but onboard WiFi is standard.

A favorite tech feature is the XC90’s Adjustable Drive-mode, which tunes the SUV’s driving dynamics to your desires of the moment. A selector on the console makes it easy to switch between its four modes; Comfort, Dynamic, Eco and Off-Road.  

For those that want the XC90 to do the driving for them, order the Convenience Package, which adds Pilot Assist-Semi Autonomous Drive with Adaptive Cruise Control. Yes, it drives itself…mostly. When activated the system operates the throttle, brake and steering, although it does ask you to touch the steering wheel often to make sure you’re still paying attention. It works wonderfully in stop and go traffic and can cruise the SUV down the interstate at 80 mph quite easily, but you’ll still need to take over for off-ramps and all city driving.

Photo by Volvo

Advanced Safety Systems

Further advanced technology is found in the Volvo’s many active safety systems. Many are standard, but a few are extra-cost options.

All XC90s come with rear parking sensors, a backup camera, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist (which will actually steer the car back into the center of its lane), forward collision warning, and low-speed automatic emergency braking. That system warns you if a vehicle or object is dangerously blocking your path. At speeds below 31 mph, it can also apply the brakes to help avoid the accident.

Our test vehicle was also equipped with the optional Vision Package, which added a blind-spot warning system and cross-traffic alert, which chimes if another vehicle approaches from the side as you back out of a parking space or your driveway.

Photo by Volvo

How It Drives

This is a large vehicle, but the Volvo XC90 feels smaller than it is from behind the wheel. This is a good thing. You never feel like you’re driving a parade float. The XC90 is easily maneuverable in the city and in crowded parking lots.

Our test vehicle was equipped with the optional air suspension, which costs $1,800. You’ll appreciate the SUV's athletic handling, but some may find the ride to be a bit jarring on rough roads even in Comfort mode. This may have been caused in part by our T6’s optional 21-inch wheels, which looked great, but sacrifice some ride compliance and road-surface isolation. And switching the Drive-mode to the Dynamic setting only stiffens the suspension further. The Lexus RX, Acura MDX and Audi Q7 are plush by comparison.

Power from the T6’s supercharged and turbocharged engine is surprising, considering it’s a four-cylinder in such a large vehicle. There’s plenty of thrust off the line and good passing power on the highway, especially in Dynamic mode. The steering is responsive and the Volvo’s brakes offer a firm pedal and good feel for smooth stops.

Photo by Volvo

Attractive Minimalistic Design

Perfectly proportioned and strikingly understated, the 2017 Volvo XC90 is attractive from every angle and our black T6 Inscription test vehicle, with its abundance of chrome trim, huge dual exhaust pipes and optional oversized 21-inch 8-spoke wheels, looked quite upscale.

XC90 is unmistakably Volvo, especially from the rear with its broad shoulders and tall vertical taillights. The designers of the XC90 thankfully resisted the cartoonish styling and overgrown grilles that have become all the rage. Instead they’ve created a painstakingly modern shape, with minimalistic sensibilities and artistic subtleties.

Much like its predecessor, the exterior design of the new XC90 isn’t exactly radical, but it’s handsome, and should prove just as timeless.

Photo by Volvo