About XC90
The XC90 has twice been the most important car Volvo makes. The first generation, launched in 2002, was Volvo's first SUV, a seven-seater with a rollover protection system that became a best seller in America and stayed in production for more than a decade. The second generation, revealed in 2014, was the first car of the Geely era and set the template for every Volvo since: Thor's hammer headlights, a calm, Scandinavian cabin with a portrait touchscreen, and the scalable SPA platform.
The current XC90 uses only four-cylinder engines, a bold choice in a class that once demanded V8s, with turbocharged mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions. The plug-in, with an electric motor driving the rear wheels, has been the star of the range, and Volvo has updated it with a bigger battery and more electric-only range. A significant refresh in 2024 brought a new face and updated technology, and the XC90 now sits alongside the electric EX90 rather than being replaced by it, after Volvo saw that many buyers still wanted a hybrid.
The XC90 competes with the BMW X5, Mercedes GLE, Audi Q7, Lexus RX and TX, Genesis GV80, Range Rover Sport and Acura MDX, and is a strong seller in the United States, Europe and China. Used examples have become popular as well-built, affordable family haulers. Coverage includes reviews, model-year updates, recalls, comparison tests and the evolving balance between Volvo's hybrid and electric flagships. More than a decade into its run, the second-generation XC90 remains a quietly persuasive argument that a family SUV can be calm, safe and handsome without shouting about any of it.