2025.5 Volvo XC90 First Drive Review: Same As It Ever Was

This is a first drive for a vehicle that wasn’t meant to exist.

The XC90 was meant to quietly fade into the background, handing the Volvo flagship torch over to the new, all-electric EX90. But like so many other brands, Volvo is walking back its EV plans: instead of going fully electric by 2030, the new plan is 90-percent electrification. Thus a decade after it first debuted, the XC90 is getting another facelift with tweaked looks and improved tech, now serving as a co-captain of the Volvo squad.

Not the platform nor powertrains: the tried-and-true underpinnings of yesteryear continue on with this 2025.5 model. North American buyers continue to get the choice of 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-fours: the B5 mild-hybrid produces 247 horsepower and 266 pound-feet, and the B6 adds an electric supercharger for 295 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. (The B5 will be available in the US but not in Canada.) Meanwhile the T8 plug-in hybrid continues to augment gas with a rear-mounted electric motor and 18.8-kilowatt-hour battery pack, totalling 455 hp and 523 lb-ft. An eight-speed handles shifting duties in both, with standard all-wheel drive.

Visual changes dominate the list here, with styling changes inside and out. The cabin also sees the typical facelift-time increase in touchscreen real estate.

Volvo’s design language is a timeless breath of fresh air in a market often driven by quick trends. Most of the changes are subtle: some more body-color bits in the bumpers, darker taillights for a sharper contrast with the LED signature, and new wheel designs. The nose sees the biggest update with thinner, EX90-esque headlights hewing closer to the “Thor’s Hammer” light signature, now framing a wider grille. The slats running both parallel and perpendicular to the logo is a cool bit of modernism that works surprisingly well. In Euro-spec B5 or top T8 trim, the XC90 remains a handsome rig.

Our two days of driving are spent with both powertrains, taking in a blend of highway and scenic backroads from Copenhagen to Mälmo and back. The base B5 engine does a respectable job of moving the XC90 along and no more. Progress is relatively smooth, though shifts from the eight-speed ‘box are noticeable both up and down.

The T8 remains the (pricey) pick. Don’t let the 455 hp fool you: this still isn’t a sporty choice, but rather is capable of creamy forward motion no matter the situation. With a good charge in the battery, it takes a concerted effort to wake the gas engine up, allowing the XC90 to waft down the road with an electrified hush. Shifts are smoother than in the mild-hybrid model, too.

Efficiency figures are unsurprisingly stationary here: the T8 continues to offer a 27 mpg (8.9 L/100 km) average alongside a 33-mile (53-kilometer) all-electric range. The B6 average 23 mpg (10.4 L/100 km), while the B5 holds a 1 mpg advantage over that.

Like the powertrain, the XC90’s handling skews way over on the comfort side of the spectrum; as it should, really. The name of the game is (and always has been) stress-free progress, and the latest XC90 rolls on unperturbed. Volvo has tweaked the standard suspension, fitting new dampers while softening the spring rates and adding a stiffer anti-roll bar. The result is a well-judged ride through dreary weather, the B5 maintaining course no matter what. The T8 we sample later on is fitted with the optional air suspension, which is unchanged from the previous year. It’s even smoother, with no harshness despite the upsized wheels running winter rubber.

Steering effort and feedback are both light, in both models. The brake pedal is reassuringly firm, with a flawless pass between friction and regenerative braking.

While the ride is so comfy Sade would approve, more road noise permeates the cabin than I expect. Volvo says it has added more sound-deadening foam in the pillars, so this might be one of the areas where the rest of the segment has upped the bar. It’s not unruly by any means, but it’s something I want to put to the test on home turf in the future.

One area that nets zero complaints from myself or my driving partner is front seat comfort. Simple in shape and yet oh-so comfortable, they are a joy to spend the day in, especially with the varying weather putting both the heating and ventilation to work. Volvo’s available massage function remains one of the best in the business, too. There are a few new finishes for the facelift, many of which are sustainably sourced from the EX90 and EX30. A new navy herringbone, for instance, looks great and is made from recycled materials. Space in the second row remains plentiful. Our testers were all two-row models, but we expect the third row to remain the same experience as before.

The rest of the cabin sees a glow-up as well. A redesigned dashboard emphasizes the width of the XC90, while providing a canvas for ample textile and wood use. The vents are more elegant in look and operation, while the door-mounted speakers are just ornate enough, stopping shy of ostentatious.

A rejigged center console is a mixed bag. No complaints about the continued usage of an actual shifter as well as a twist-action start-stop: yes, please. The “two-plus-one” cupholder setup is a little odd; the dinky middle slot is unlikely to matter much to us Trenta-gulping North Americans. The forward-mounted wireless charger is welcome, since there’s still not much storage aft of the cupholders. This is due to the battery placement, which wraps around the transmission tunnel. Great for weight distribution; not so great for practicality.

Sitting front and center is a larger, 11.2-inch touchscreen. This is largely similar to the one found in the new EX models, featuring a slick Google Built-In setup that is faster and easier to multitask with. Paired with the handful of remaining physical controls it’s easy to use. We especially like the persistent mapping, which can easily handle changes to multi-step routes without throwing a fit. The aforementioned Bowers & Wilkins sound system still impresses.

Unfortunately the XC90 still makes do with wired Apple CarPlay, a surprise for any 2025 model, never mind a luxury one. Volvo says it could arrive in a future over the air (OTA) update—we’ve heard that before.

That the 2025 Volvo XC90 is largely the same under the skin is a good thing: this three-row is one smooth operator, which is why it has remained one of our favorites in the segment this whole time.

The updated style and tech keep the package fresh, and give buyers another option if they aren’t ready for the full-electric EX90. The march of progress means competitors have eclipsed the T8’s combination of power and range, but taken as a whole, the XC90 remains a well-rounded SUV with an ageless charm.

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