2020 Volvo XC90 Road Test and Review

2020 Volvo XC90 hero ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Since initiating the brand’s current product renaissance five years ago, the XC90 premium mid-size sport-utility has been Volvo’s best-selling model. Freshened this year with a new concave grille that recalls the 1973 1800 sport wagon, upsized standard 19-inch alloy wheels, and a newly available six-passenger counterpart to the existing five- and seven-passenger models, the 2020 Volvo XC90 is effectively the brand’s flagship.

Including the $995 destination charge and in base Momentum trim, the lineup includes the $49,345 front-wheel drive T5, the $51,845 all-wheel drive T5, the $57,295 all-wheel drive T6, and the $67,995 all-wheel drive T8 plug-in hybrid. Available R-Design and Inscription trims add more features and comfort. Or, if you like, the XC90 is one of five Volvo vehicles you can subscribe to rather than leasing or purchasing outright. The 2020 XC90 T6 all-wheel drive model in base Momentum trim is $800/month including insurance and maintenance.

Drive-E Powertrain

The 2020 Volvo XC90 still offers three powertrain choices, each based on a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The T5 model is the simplest version of the engine, rated at a more-than-ample 250 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The EPA rates FWD versions at 21 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined; AWD models manage 20 mpg city/27 mpg highway/23 mpg combined.

The T6 model upgrades the engine's performance by including both turbocharging and supercharging. Output jumps to 316 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Also hooked to an eight-speed automatic and available only with AWD, the T6 nets EPA ratings of 18 mpg city/26 mpg highway/21 mpg. The T8 plug-in hybrid blends the power of the supercharged and turbocharged gas engine with an 87-hp electric motor driving the rear wheels. Total system output is a brisk 400 horsepower and an effortless 472 lb-ft of torque, while EPA ratings also impress at 26 mpg city/28 mpg highway/27 mpg combined. Equipped with a larger 11.6-kWh lithium-ion battery for 2020, the XC90 receives a 55 MPGe EPA rating for the first 100 miles on a full battery charge.

Photo by Ron Sessions

Scandinavian Sanctuary

Shown here in R-Design trim, the XC90’s hushed cabin is a sanctuary, with functionally elegant Scandinavian design elements, premium materials, muted complementary hues, and, as you would expect of a Volvo, comfortable, well-bolstered front seats. DashBOARD clutter is kept to a minimum, with most switches and control functions moved to the large center screen.

Standard fare includes a panoramic sunroof, power driver and front passenger seats with lumbar adjustment available in faux leather or a new-for-2020 wool blend, driver’s seat memory, dual-zone automatic climate control, remote keyless entry, keyless start, and, on AWD models, heated front seats. T6 models add leather seating. The R-Design version adds more generously bolstered front buckets covered in Nappa leather, an extendable driver’s lower cushion, a four-zone climate control system, a cooled glovebox, illuminated sills, aluminum pedals, a black headliner, a sport steering wheel with shift paddles, and the availability of carbon fiber trim. The range-topping Inscription model brings heated and cooled front seats covered in perforated Nappa leather and is available with massaging front seatbacks, a heated steering wheel, leather-trimmed visors and grab handles, and a faux-suede covered headliner and inside roof-pillar trim.

Photo by Ron Sessions

Sensus Infotainment

For 2020, the XC90’s standard equipment includes in-vehicle Wi-Fi, a 10-speaker 220-watt AM/FM/HD stereo with SiriusXM accessed via voice or steering-wheel controls, and a Sensus high-resolution 9-inch, portrait-format infotainment touchscreen divided into four segments to handle audio, climate control, phone, seat settings, and other ancillary systems. T6 and T8 models add navigation. The R-Design and Inscription trims have an uplevel 14-speaker, 660-watt Harmon Kardon audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The big gun, soundwise, is available only in R-Design and Inscription trims: a $3,200 1,400-watt 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkens audio system that can turn the XC90 into a concert hall on wheels.

Although it doesn't have the largest screen in showrooms these days, Volvo’s Sensus is one of the more user-friendly infotainment systems out there. A processor speed upgrade in 2019 addressed previous latency issues.

Photo by Ron Sessions

New Six-Passenger Seating Option

The XC90’s three-across second-row bench seat that’s standard in five- and seven-passenger passenger models offers adult-friendly space with ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room. The 60/40 split fold-flat second-row bench also features power-folding outboard headrests, handy for when you’re folding down the second-row seats for maximum cargo space. The R-Design and Inscription trims add rear door sunshades and offer optional heated outboard second-row seats. An integrated child booster seat built into the middle position of the second-row bench seat is a $300 option.

New for 2020 is a six-passenger seating configuration that features a pair of second-row captain’s chairs, great when nobody wants to sit in the middle. Included with the individual seats is a handy floor-mounted mini-console with three cupholders.

Photo by Ron Sessions

Small Third-Row Seats

These individual third-row seats are OK in a pinch for adults taking a short ride. With my 6-foot, 2-inch frame wedged back there, my head was in contact with the headliner and my knees were pressing against the second-row seatback, but I fit. The seat height is low, like at a child’s tea party, and the outboard armrests are hard molded plastic, but there are cupholders and USB power points within reach.

If the XC90 is equipped with a three-across second-row bench seat, you must climb over the lowered seatback of the outboard seat. But with our test vehicle's optional second-row captain’s chairs, there's a much easier path to the rear between the two individual seats.

Photo by Ron Sessions

Cargo Hauler

One of the major reasons people buy SUVs is cargo space — lots of it. Just open the rear hatch and throw big stuff in.

With 85.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats with the second- and third-row chairs folded and 15.8 aft of the third row, the XC90 offers stowage comparable to other entries in the mid-size luxury segment. There’s also some hidden storage under the cargo floor in the spare tire well of non-hybrid XC90 models. A standard 12-volt power outlet and a hands-free power liftgate are two additional cargo area amenities.

Photo by Ron Sessions

XC90 Dynamics

No one is going to complain about not being able to keep up with traffic in an XC90. The 250-hp T5 will reach 60 mph in 7.5 seconds, the 316-hp T6 will get there in just over 6 seconds, and the 400-hp T8 hybrid needs a little over 5 seconds. Ride and handling are comparable to that of a Volvo sedan. Body integrity is very solid and there’s little if any road, wind, or engine sound wafting into the cabin, despite the large cargo enclosure. Steering effort is adjustable, but the light default boost setting fits the vehicle’s character.

Our R-Design test vehicle included Volvo’s best 4 Corner air suspension, which takes the edge off road impacts and provides a load-leveling function, and the Four-C active chassis with adaptive dampers. The R-Design's standard wheels are 20-inch alloys with all-season tires, but our tester wore optional 22-inch alloys and summer performance tires. Grip was excellent, and thanks to the adaptive shocks and short sidewalls of the 22-inch rubber, steering response was satisfying. The hybrid model has a new braking system this year that feels more linear and smooth than before, a welcome improvement. 

Photo by Volvo

Safety First

As is becoming more common industry practice, the 2020 Volvo XC90 comes standard with a lengthy list of safety and driver-assistance features. Pilot Assist, a hand’s on steering assist feature for use on highways with well-defined lane markings, and adaptive cruise control are standard on all models. Also onboard are blind-spot and rear cross-traffic monitoring, collision avoidance with City Safety automatic braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assist, road sign information, and driver alertness detection. Run-off road mitigation and protection aim to keep you from accidentally leaving the pavement, and also include bottom cushions and foot pedals that ”give” in an impact to mitigate possible injury.

Rear parking sensors and a basic backup camera are standard, while the optional Advanced package brings a 360-degree surround-view camera, front parking sensors, a head-up driver display, and active, self-cleaning LED headlamps that can swivel slightly around corners. New for 2020 is automatic rear emergency braking that not only warns the driver of a vehicle, pedestrian, or other obstacle but also applies the brakes to avoid a collision. A Steer Assist feature of the blind-spot monitoring system works to prevent the driver from changing lanes into the path of a vehicle approaching from the rear.

Photo by Volvo

Conclusion

When it comes to picking a premium mid-size SUV, the XC90 has a lot to offer. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has not yet rated the 2020 XC90 but named the 2019 model a Top Safety Pick, with Good ratings for small- and moderate-overlap front impacts, side impacts, roof strength, head restraints, and seats.

The 2020 XC90 offers an extensive roster of standard safety equipment, up-to-date infotainment technology, robust construction, Scandinavian-flavored interior design, and carlike driving dynamics in a tidy package that’s very easy on the eyes.

Photo by Volvo