2023 Volvo XC90 Review, Ratings, Specs, Prices, and Photos (2024)

Andrew Ganz Senior Editor

September 13, 2022

Likes

• Purposeful lines, inside and out
• Fantastic interior
• Wide array of models and trims
• Spectacular safety record

Dislikes

• Some rivals are sportier
• Tepid base powertrain
• Wool interior should be more widely available

Buying tip

Step up to the Plus trim level and the B6 engine to best appreciate the XC90.

features & specs

What kind of vehicle is the 2023 Volvo XC90? What does it compare to?

The 2023 Volvo XC90 is a three-row crossover SUV. Shop it against the BMW X5 and Audi Q7, as well as the Jeep Grand Cherokee L.

Is the 2023 Volvo XC90 a good SUV?

With a TCC Rating of 7.5 out of 10, the 2023 Volvo XC90 is one of our top-rated models. We love its subtle style, its gorgeous and spacious interior, and its powertrains that balance frugality with performance. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

What's new for the 2023 Volvo XC90?

Volvo recast the XC90 lineup this year in Core, Plus, and Ultimate trims. You’ll find newly standard all-wheel drive, and the range-topping T8 Recharge plug-in hybrid gains a bigger battery for a bit more power and an estimated electric-only range of more than 30 miles.

Unchanged is the XC90’s slick styling, which after eight model years since a full redesign remains plenty appealing. It’s even better inside, helped out by wonderful attention to detail.

The base 2.0-liter turbo-4, or B5, engine sends 247 hp to the wheels, but we suggest stepping up to the 295-hp B6 for its extra grunt. Either way, both engines benefit from a 48-volt starter-generator system for smooth acceleration and some fuel savings. The Recharge uses Volvo’s T8 plug-in hybrid powertrain good for 455 hp and a 0-60 mph sprint of just 5.0 seconds, plus one-pedal driving to make the most of its electric mode.

The XC90 can hit 25 mpg combined in base B5 form, which is pretty good for a seven-seat SUV.

These SUVs lack the overt sportiness found in some BMW and Mercedes-Benz models, but then again most of us don’t have race-track driveways. The XC90 handles routine driving with poise.

It’s just as pleasant inside, with good space for passengers in all three rows. You’ll want to sit up front, though, where the seats can be heated, cooled, and offer massages—and even wrapped in a gorgeous wool blend in top trim.

Safety-wise, the XC90 lives up to Volvo standards with its exceptional crash-test scores and wide range of driver-assistance tech. There’s no paying extra for most safety features here. How much does the 2023 Volvo XC90 cost?

The base XC90 B5 runs $57,095 to start. We’d add the B6 engine and Plus trim for just under $65,000. The Plus trim adds such niceties as leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, and a surround-view camera system.

Where is the 2023 Volvo XC90 made?

In Sweden.

2023 Volvo XC90 Styling

Is the Volvo XC90 a good-looking car?

It’s handsome, but the 2023 Volvo XC90 doesn’t shout about it. From its simple, elegant front end to its tall, distinctive taillights, the XC90 has aged exceptionally well since its 2016 debut.

We rate it at 8 out of 10, with two points above average for its cabin and one for its exterior.

The XC90 is at its best in lighter hues, which show off subtle curves that offer nods to the brand’s past. There’s a general sense of boxiness here, but it’s also muscular and lithe—for a big SUV.

Huge 21-inch wheels best fill out the XC90’s enormous wheel arches, even if smaller wheels wearing tires with taller sidewalls offer a more supple ride. Some trims allow shoppers to select between chrome and blacked-out exterior trim, too.

Inside, the XC90 features a vertical touchscreen that cants toward the driver. The basic look is clean enough, but what really appeals here is the attention to detail. From the thin seats that offer tremendous support to gorgeous upholstery and trim hues, the XC90 manages to feel special in any configuration.

2023 Volvo XC90 Performance

Is the Volvo XC90 4WD?

Yes, for 2023 the XC90 comes only with permanent all-wheel drive. It’s not an off-roader, though.

How fast is the Volvo XC90?

Volvo offers three engines in the XC90: a 2.0-liter turbo-4 called B5 that puts out 247 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, a supercharged and turbocharged (yes, that’s right) version of the 2.0-liter turbo-4 called B6 rated at 295 hp and 310 lb-ft, and a 455-hp plug-in hybrid T8, in Volvo-speak, with 523 lb-ft.

Each is paired with an 8-speed automatic, and each definitely has its own personality.

The base turbo-4 provides reasonable acceleration but can feel winded with a full load of passengers aboard. For that reason, we suggest stepping up to the B6, especially if you live in a hilly area. Either way, these smooth powertrains boast little discernible lag thanks largely to a 48-volt starter-generator that provides some electric boost.

The T8 is downright quick, thanks in part to a larger 18.8-kwh battery pack that boosted the output from 400 hp to 455 hp. But don’t let this powertrain convince you that the XC90 is a performance-minded machine. It’s not. Instead, it’s a sedate, exceptionally composed cruiser, especially with the available air suspension that soaks up pockmarked pavement. It has an estimated range of 30 miles on electric power alone.

Sure, M and AMG versions of Germany’s top SUVs may perform better on a track, but the XC90 is tops when it comes to day-to-day usability.

2023 Volvo XC90 Comfort & Quality

The 2023 Volvo XC90 still offers one of the nicest interiors available at any price. It can easily accommodate passengers in all three rows, the big cargo area is ultra-flexible, and the materials Volvo offers set a high standard.

The XC90 is offered with two front seat designs, both of which deliver all-day comfort. The “Contour” seats on higher-end versions have slightly more adjustment and a massaging function, plus the top version of the XC90 Recharge trades leather for an innovative, sustainable wool blend that may be our favorite seat covering on the market. If only it was more widely available.

Second-row riders will find good room. Volvo charges a bit more for less to go from a three-seat bench to two second-row captain’s chairs, though the choice is yours on most trims.

Row three is easy for kids to access and offers enough space for medium-size adults to ride in relative comfort.

You’ll find about 16 cubic feet of space behind the third row, which grows to 42 cubes with the third row folded flat and a maximum of 86 cubic feet with both rear rows flat.

If the XC90 impresses by the numbers, it dazzles with its details. Even in base form, it’s a pleasant place. Step up to Ultimate trim and you’ll find open-pore wood trim, soft leather (or wool), and an Orrefors crystal shift lever.

2023 Volvo XC90 Safety

How safe is the Volvo XC90?

The 2023 Volvo XC90 has performed exceptionally well in crash tests and it comes with a wide array of driver-assistance features. Only chunky rear roof pillars prevent it from earning a perfect 10, so we assign the 2023 XC90 a 9 for safety.

Automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, active lane control, blind-spot monitors, adaptive LED headlights, and parking sensors are standard across the range. Unlike some luxury rivals, Volvo fits everything almost in its playbook in the XC90, including its Pilot Assist system that can accelerate, brake, and steer the vehicle for short stints of relaxing, hands-free motoring.