2016 Volvo XC90 review
Volvo XC90 highlights
Customer rating
Pros
- Sharp looks inside and out
- Solid handling
Cons
- Four-cylinder engine lacks punch
- Touchscreen infotainment isn't as easy to use as many rival systems
Mileage (EPA estimate)
20 city, 25 highway, 22 combined
Pricing for current inventory
(no current inventory)
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Volvo introduces an all-new, revitalized XC90 for 2016
The all-new 2016 Volvo XC90 was a long time coming, but it has what it takes to succeed: It's bigger, more efficient, and better equipped than before, yet it's still practical and upscale, as you'd expect from the Swedish brand. Five or seven people can fit in its stylish cabin, which now has a 9-inch touchscreen and configurable digital instruments across the lineup. Above the base Momentum trim level, there's the R-Design, which adds sporty design tweaks inside and out, and the plush, top-level Inscription.
The engine powering the XC90 is signaled by T5, T6, or T8 badging. The T5 uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with 250 hp, while the T6 adds a supercharger to up the 2.0-liter's power to 316 hp. Topping that is the T8, which adds an 87-hp electric motor and battery pack to up output to 400 hp. The T8's plug-in hybrid system allows about 14 miles of range on battery power alone. All come with an automatic transmission. The base T5 engine is available with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, plus seating for five; the rest come with all-wheel drive and seven-passenger seating standard. The 2016 XC90 strongly reasserts Volvo's place in the family-hauling SUV world, but it battles far more rivals than it once did.
All Volvo XC90 years
2016 Volvo XC90 trims
T5 Momentum: The base 2016 XC90 gets you leatherette upholstery, heated mirrors, a panoramic sunroof, a nine-inch central touchscreen, a navigation system, lane departure warning, dual-zone automatic climate control, and more.
T6/T8 Momentum: Adds to the T5 with full leather upholstery, heated front seats, third-row seating and four-zone automatic climate control, LED adaptive headlights (T8), and power thigh support for the front seats (T8).
R-Design: The sporty XC90 gets extra equipment like 20-inch alloy wheels, automatic high-beam control, unique exterior trim, a sport steering wheel with shift paddles, upgraded sport seats, illuminated step plates, aluminum mesh cabin accents.
Inscription: Adds to the R-Design with trim-specific wheels and upgraded leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats with adjustable side bolsters, rear side window shades, and more.
5 reasons to buy the 2016 Volvo XC90
1. Luxury-focused interior
Volvo has really upped its game with regard to impressive interiors. With a comfortable leatherette (premium vinyl) upholstery as standard, you can also upgrade to the available leather and premium leather seating. Add in available features like power thigh support for front-seat passengers and heated and ventilated seats, and you can see how this XC90 is all about comfort. The T8 plug-in hybrid even has a handmade gear shifter made out of pure Swedish crystal.
2. Standout standard features
For a lot of vehicles, the standard stuff just doesn't cut it. If you want to ramp up the features, the 2016 XC90 is ready to rock as standard. Those must-have items you're looking for are here—you'll love the standard panoramic sunroof, a nine-inch central touchscreen, leatherette upholstery, heated mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, and more.
3. Plenty of utility
SUVs are well-loved for their practicality and for a good reason, too. They have space for your stuff, plus room for your passengers. The 2016 XC90 has 15.8 cu-ft of cargo space behind the third row. With the seats folded down, however, that capacity increases to an impressive 85.7 cu-ft—perfect for bringing all your gear on your next beach vacation.
4. Sporty design
The "sport" in SUV, in this case, is the cool R-Design trim level. Outside you get big 20-inch alloy wheels and unique exterior trim. Inside you'll find a sport steering wheel with paddle shifters, cool sport seats, and aluminum mesh cabin accents. So if you want to do the school run in style, check out the 2016 Volvo XC90 R-Design.
5. Plug-in hybrid power
You can find the 2016 Volvo XC90 with the available T8 twin-engine plug-in hybrid powertrain. You'll get both a supercharger and a turbocharger pushing extra air into the engine for increased power—not to mention you also get a powerful electric motor helping things along.
Similar vehicles
If you're interested in the 2016 Volvo XC90, you should also check out these similar vehicles from Previous generation years.
The Audi Q7 is a full-size luxury SUV with three rows of seats and an impressively-trimmed interior. Audi launched the second generation Q7 for the 2016 model year. The fresh update means 2016–2022 models are powered by a variety of engine options. They include a base turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder with 252 horsepower (248 hp for 2019–2022) and a more powerful supercharged 3.0L V6 making 333 horsepower (329 hp for 2019–2022 and 335 hp for 2020–2022). As you can see, the Q7 has a little something for everyone.
Standard features on the base 2017–2022 Audi Q7 include:
Leather upholstery
Panoramic sunroof
Stylish good looks are just the beginning of the story with Infiniti's three-row 2017–2020 QX60. It also comes standard with a 3.5L V6 engine pumping out 295 horsepower. Or, you can opt for a 2.5L hybrid engine producing 250 horsepower (2017 model year only). Infiniti completely redid the QX60 for the 2022 model year, the 295-horsepower 3.5L engine remains the only option. The QX60 comes standard with FWD, while AWD is optional across 2017–2022.
Standard features on 2017–2022 Infiniti QX60 base-trim models include:
Sunroof
Power rear tailgate
Driver aids such as blind-spot monitoring and forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking (2019+)
The Acura MDX has always been a tech-focused luxury SUV and it's got a lot to love. The MDX kicked off its third generation for the 2014 model year with 2017–2022 MDX trims getting their power from a 290-horsepower 3.5L V6 engine—with optional AWD. Also available for the 2017–2019 model years is the Sport Hybrid trim, which has a 3.0L hybrid six-cylinder engine with 321 horsepower. The MDX was completely redesigned for 2022 with a new exterior and interior.
Standard features on 2017–2022 Acura MDX base-trim models include:
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability (2018+)
Sunroof
Power liftgate
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Ratings & reliability
RepairPal gave the Volvo XC90 an overall reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Above Average. This rating ranks Volvo XC90 17th out of 29 among Luxury Midsize SUVs.
View RepairPal's full rating of the Volvo XC90Volvo XC90 features and specs
T5 Momentum 2WD 4D Sport Utility
Standard Features
- ABS Brakes
- Air Conditioning
- Alloy Wheels
- AM/FM Stereo
- Automatic Transmission
- Auxiliary Audio Input
- Bluetooth Technology
- Cruise Control
- Heated Steering Wheel
- Lane Departure Warning
- Leatherette Seats
- Memory Seat(s)
- Navigation System
- Overhead Airbags
- Panoramic Sunroof
- Parking Sensors
- Power Hatch/Deck Lid
- Power Locks
- Power Mirrors
- Power Seat(s)
- Power Windows
- Rear Defroster
- Rear View Camera
- Satellite Radio Ready
- Side Airbags
- Smart Key
- Traction Control
- Turbo Charged Engine
- Automated Cruise Control
- Automated Parking
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Bowers & Wilkins Audio
- CD Audio
- Front Seat Heaters
- Full Roof Rack
- Head Up Display
- Leather Seats
- Rear Air Conditioning
- Rear Seat Heaters
- Running Boards
- Tow Hitch
Drive Wheels
Front Wheel Drive (2WD)
Engine size
2.0L
Horsepower
250
Torque (ft-lbs)
258
Engine type
Turbo Gas
Fuel capacity
18.8
Wheelbase
117.5"
Overall length
194.8"
Width
79.1"
Height
69.9"
Leg room
F 40.9"/R 37"
Head room
F 38.9"/R 38.5"
Front tires
P235/60HR18
Rear tires
P235/60HR18
Seating capacity
5
Max towing capacity
500/5000 lbs.
Transmission
Automatic
2016 Volvo XC90 FAQ
The XC90 is built for comfort, with standard simulated leather upholstery and optional full-leather seating for the 2016 model year. You'll also get standard power-adjustable driver and front passenger seats, and the available child booster seat in the middle row. Most XC90s have three rows of seating as well, depending on model and trim, including the 2016 version.
It does, and for 2016 it is actually the most powerful engine option! The XC90 T8 Twin Engine is a plug-in hybrid variant that combines the four-cylinder engine the T6 with an electric motor for a total output of 400 horsepower. It also gets an EPA-estimated 25 combined city/highway.2
Yes, the XC90 features standard "comfort seats" upfront that are designed for great long-distance cruising. If you opt for the R-Design, you get Volvo's "contour seats," which have a deeper side bolster for more lateral support through twisty roads.
More about the 2016 Volvo XC90
Color options
Exterior colors:
Bright Silver Metallic
Bursting Blue metallic (R-Design only)
Crystal White Pearl
Electric Silver pearl metallic
Ember Black Metallic
Ice White
Luminous Sand Metallic
Magic Blue Metallic
Onyx Black Metallic
Osmium Gray Metallic
Passion Red (R-Design only)
Savile Gray Metallic
Twilight Bronze Metallic
Interior colors:
Amber w/Leather Seating Surfaces w/Charcoal Interior
Amber w/Nappa Leather Seating Surfaces w/Charcoal Interior
Blond w/Leather Seating Surfaces w/Blond Interior
Blond w/Leather Seating Surfaces w/Two-Tone Interior
Blond w/Nappa Leather Seating Surfaces w/Two-Tone Interior
Charcoal w/Leather Seating Surfaces w/Charcoal Interior
Charcoal w/Nappa Leather Seating Surfaces w/Charcoal Interior
Interior details
The 2016 Volvo XC90 features standard simulated leather upholstery, power-adjustable driver and front passenger seats, and the available child booster seat is built into the center section of the 40/20/40-split second-row bench. Most XC90s have three rows, however, including the 2016 model. The 2016 XC90 also has 15.8 cu-ft of cargo space with all seats in place. With the seats folded down, capacity increases to an impressive 85.7 cu-ft.
Child seat details
The 2016 Volvo XC90 has two full sets of LATCH connectors for securing child car seats on the driver and passenger side with one additional seating position in the middle with a tether anchor only.
Performance
The base 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine propels the 2016 XC90 from zero to 60 mph in just 6.7 seconds, while the XC90 T8 Twin Engine drops that time to an even more brief 5.5 seconds (according to the manufacturer, when new). All engine options of the 2016 Volvo XC90 are paired with an eight-speed shiftable automatic transmission.
The base 2016 Volvo XC90 with the 2.0L and FWD starts at an EPA-estimated 22/26 mpg city/highway while that number drops ever so slightly to an EPA-estimated 22/25 mpg city/highway for the AWD version.
Year comparison
2002–2014 Volvo XC90 (First Generation)
Volvo entered the luxury SUV market back in 2002 with the first generation XC90. Since then, it has spurred smaller offerings like the XC60 and XC40. The original XC90 soldiered all the way through the 2014 model year with a 240 horsepower 3.2L six-cylinder powering both the base trim and the sporty R-Design offered (2013 and 2014). Cargo space for the last two years of the first generation XC90 is 93.2 cu-ft with seats folded flat.
2016–Present Volvo XC90 (Second Generation)
After a hiatus for the 2015 model year, the XC90 was back for its second generation for the 2016 model year. Our guide has already given you the scoop on the 2016 model, meanwhile, for the 2017 model year, Volvo changed the base XC90 to a standard five-seat configuration, while T6 and T8 models still have a three-row, seven-seat layout.
Volvo added a new super lux Excellence four-seat trim for 2017 as well. Starting in 2018, Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ connectivity became standard on all models and Volvo also added more tech like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert, as well as auto-dimming mirrors inside and out.
For 2021, Volvo added standard LED exterior lighting, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and two USB-C ports for rear passengers. 2022 Volvo XC90s get mild styling updates for the exterior and standard navigation on all trim levels.
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