2020 Volvo XC90 review

Color options

Exterior colors:

• Birch Light Metallic

• Bright Silver Metallic

• Bursting Blue Metallic

• Crystal White Metallic

• Denim Blue Metallic

• Fine Gray Metallic

• Ice White

• Onyx Black Metallic

• Osmium Gray Metallic

• Thunder Gray Metallic

Interior colors:

• Amber

• Blond

• Blond/Charcoal

• Charcoal

• Maroon Brown

• Midnight Zinc

• Slate

Interior details

The 2020 Volvo XC90 interior is awash in upscale materials like walnut and aluminum trim, and nubuck leather surfaces. Nubuck is top-grain Nappa leather with an additional step to give it a matte finish like suede, but the end result is stronger and resistant to staining.

The leather-wrapped steering wheel sits in front of a sharp 12.3-inch driver information display. The center dash features a nine-inch infotainment screen that doesn't overpower the surrounding elegant, contemporary, and somewhat minimalist design. The seats are supremely comfortable, and the front seats offer envious amounts of headroom, legroom, and hip room.

The enormous panoramic moonroof offers nearly all the open air of a convertible. If music is your passion, the optional 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins^™ audio system provides a high-fidelity experience. You can see the uniquely designed tweeter and sub on top of the dashboard.

Child seat details

The 2020 Volvo XC90 can fit up to three car seats in the second row. This includes LATCH car seats, infant car seats, rear-facing convertible car seats, forward-facing convertible car seats, and booster car seats. The XC90 has parents in mind, as rear-facing convertible and infant seats are easy to install with flexible buckles and easy-to-reach LATCH points. The third-row seats are difficult to access with a child seat, however, and are recommended only for booster seats.

Performance

All 2020 Volvo XC90 models use a 2.0L four-cylinder engine. The 2020 Volvo XC90 T8 is also turbocharged and supercharged, alongside its permanent-magnet AC electric motor—so the performance is quite good for a hybrid. Zero-to-60 time is just 4.9 seconds, making on-ramps a cinch, and the top speed is an estimated 140 mph (according to the manufacturer, when new).

FWD and AWD models have the same quick-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission that intuitively selects the right gear. If you have a boat or trailer to pull, 2020 Volvo XC90 towing capacity is an estimated 5,000 lbs. across all models, when properly equipped.2 Yes, that figure is for the hybrid drivetrain, too. Speaking of hybrid, the 2020 Volvo XC90 AWD PHEV earns an EPA-estimated 55 MPGe combined.3 The T5 with FWD scores an EPA-estimated 25 mpg combined.

Year comparison

2003-2014 Volvo XC90 (first generation)

The 2003 XC90 was Volvo's first midsize SUV, and it was a critical success due to its rugged practicality and large, comfortable interior. Engine choices consisted of a turbo 2.5L five-cylinder, a 2.9L inline-six, or a 4.4L V8 with FWD. Put all six of the passenger seats down in one of these models and you have 93.2 cu-ft of space—equivalent to that of a large SUV. This generation earned high praise for the Haldex AWD system and dynamic stability control, making the XC90 a hero in bad weather. Towing capacity is still here too, with the ability to haul an estimated 5,000 lbs. when properly equipped (all trims and engines).

2016-present Volvo XC90 (second generation)

After a gap year where the XC90 went to grad school, the all-new 2016 Volvo XC90 returned with cutting-edge tech and an increased emphasis on luxury features. The tall wagon look is gone in favor of a sculpted traditional SUV body, with huge headlights and taillights. Massive wheels vary from 19 to 21 inches—depending on the trim—and power increased as engine sizes decreased. Apple CarPlay^® and Android Auto^™ connectivity became standard in 2018.

Updates for 2021 include headlights that turn with the steering wheel and high-pressure headlight washers. This year also gained additional USB ports, and the T8 name was replaced with "Recharge."