2022 Volvo XC90 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Volvo has come a long way from its box-shaped cars and wagons of the 1970s, '80s, and '90s. Thankfully, Volvo has never distanced itself from its family-friendly, safety-oriented image. The brand, and its products, have moved upscale, though, now teetering on the brink of the luxury class. Volvo underwent a hard reboot after Ford sold it to China's Zhejiang Geely Holding in 2010, developing new vehicle platforms from scratch to underpin today's lineup of sedans and crossover SUVs.

The original XC90 was a 2003 model produced with incremental updates through the 2015 model year. Launched as a 2016 model, the current XC90 is the company's flagship SUV and rides on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform.

The 2022 XC90 has a great stance and a wonderful profile. Its body seems tilted toward the front as if poised to launch in that direction. The roofline is long and sleek, somehow containing the big greenhouse without telegraphing bulk and height. Pronounced wheel arches emphasize athleticism, and a snub nose recalls the upright grille of the classic 245 wagon. Superior fit and finish convey quality, and the LED detail in the headlights, called "Thor's Hammer," adds a tongue-in-cheek nod to the XC90's Swedish heritage.

The interior can only be described in home interior terms like "Scandinavian Modern" and "Swedish Luxury." Natural wood and metal trim bring an authentic feel. Exquisite details, like the sliding wood tambor cover on the center console and the clear crystal gear selector handle, let you know you're in a luxury vehicle.

Volvo has committed to going leather-free in its vehicles by 2030. The XC90 can still be fitted with Nappa leather—in fact, if you want ventilated front seats, you must choose this option. The non-leather selection is "tailored wool blend" upholstery, which Volvo promises is easy to care for and long-lasting. Our test car came with the leather seats, a happy accident during a week of high temperatures and unbearable humidity. We'd recommend comparing the two interior options before committing—the wool blend is not for everybody.

The XC90 comes with a choice of three powertrains. T5 models use a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder. T6 models get a supercharged and turbocharged version of that engine. The T8 has a plug-in hybrid powertrain with the supercharged/turbocharged gasoline four-cylinder engine and an electric motor, or a turbo gas engine and an electric motor in the extended-range model.

T5 models put out 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while T6 models bump that to 316 hp and 295 lb-ft. T8 models muster a combined 455 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque from gasoline and electric sources. T5 models are front-wheel drive (FWD) with available all-wheel drive (AWD), while T6 and T8 models are AWD only, the latter using its electric motor to drive the rear wheels. Regardless of powertrain, all XC90 models use a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission.

The XC90 engines use Premium (91-octane) gasoline. The EPA estimates T5 FWD models to achieve 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25 mpg combined, and T5 AWD models come in at 20 mpg city/28 mpg highway/23 mpg combined. T6 AWD models are rated at 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway/22 mpg combined.

The T8 gets a 27 mpg combined rating on gas and 55 MPGe with an 18 mile EV range. The extended range variant gets a 26 mpg combined gasoline rating, a 66 MPGe rating, and an EV range of up to 36 miles. Charging the battery from "empty" to fully charged takes about five hours at 240 volts (Level 2).

It's easy to get lost in the sea of numbers surrounding the XC90 (or any vehicle, for that matter). The driving experience, however, is superb. The XC90 is a big SUV but handles like a smaller one. Body roll is minimal and controlled. Our test vehicle was a top-of-the-line T8 Inscription extended range, which meant we experienced spirited acceleration. The electric motor pours in its torque early, eliminating any sense of turbo lag and smoothing out the power delivery. The XC90 is not a rip-snorting hot rod, but it does have enough going on to make it fun to drive.

The XC90 comes in six-passenger and seven-passenger configurations, depending on whether you select captain's chairs with a center console or three-across seating in the second row. Volvo makes it simple to get into the third row with a one-handed slide and fold of the second row. The third row is fine for kids, but adults will not be pleased with the lack of legroom and thigh support.

The XC90 can carry up to 15.9 cubic feet of luggage behind its third row. Fold that row flat, and you've opened 41.8 cubic feet of space. With the second and third rows folded, the XC90 can swallow up to 85.7 cubic feet of cargo. Alternatively, the XC90 can tow between 4,000 pounds and 5,000 pounds, depending on configuration and powertrain. That's not what you'd want to tow a two-horse trailer over a steep grade, but it'll do for a pop-up camper or a couple of personal watercraft.

Volvo makes the most of the XC90's interior space, with ample door pockets, seat back pockets, console storage space, a big glove compartment, and more. This SUV suits a family tour, with comfortable, supportive seating and an airy, spacious cabin, made even more light and bright by the standard laminated panoramic moonroof. Our test drives took place during a heat wave accompanied by 90% humidity, which gave us an excellent chance to test the air-conditioning system, once considered a Volvo weakness. The XC90 was a sanctuary from the weather, cooling rapidly on demand and never complaining about the heat. We have little doubt about the Swedish brand handling the winter; now we're willing to recommend it for the summer, too.

Volvo's Sensus infotainment system was among the first, after Tesla, to bring tablet-like functionality to the touchscreen interface. Familiar smartphone or tablet gestures, like pinch, pull, and swipe, make the system intuitive to tech-savvy users. Unfortunately, we found the system in our test car to be a bit glitchy and slow to respond, almost like it was overwhelmed with input. The system worked better when we connected an iPhone 11 Pro and used the Apple CarPlay functionality. We did not test Android Auto, but the XC90 has that capability.

The touchscreen interface is a nine-inch diagonal, portrait-oriented unit mounted in the top portion of the center stack, where it is close to the driver's line of sight. This position minimizes the time a driver's eyes need to be off the road to gather information or enact a setting change. A 12.3-inch digital instrument panel offers easy configuration, customization, and crisp graphics. The $1,650 Advanced package includes a head-up display, a feature we recommend for improved driver awareness and safety. The package also includes a 360-degree surround view camera system and an advanced air cleaner for improved interior air quality.

The XC90 comes with standard Harman Kardon Premium Sound, but the $3,200 Bowers & Wilkins upgrade is the audiophile's delight. Its standout talent is surround sound staging, with a sonic model of the Gothenburg Cathedral as its showy feature.

Volvo includes two front USB-A ports and two rear USB-C ports for convenience and device charging. The XC90 comes with a WiFi hotspot with a complimentary trial subscription. The Volvo Care smartphone app is free for four years, providing remote lock/unlock function and other vehicle controls.

Volvo's well-earned reputation for safety is one reason so many of those old Volvo wagons prowled the suburbs, first as family haulers and then as first cars for many teenagers. The 2008 campaign Vision 2020 embodied the company's commitment to safety, announcing the plan "that by 2020 nobody should be seriously injured or killed in a new Volvo car." While the goal hasn't quite been met, the drive toward the vision continues.

The 2022 XC90 comes with a long list of safety features, including blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, parking assist front and rear, rain-sensing wipers with integrated washers, slippery road alert, lane-keeping aid, adaptive cruise control, oncoming lane mitigation, and road-sign recognition. Volvo's Pilot Assist system combines the functions of several of these safety features to keep the car in its lane, at a set speed and/or following distance, with minimal driver intervention (but with hands on the steering wheel) on highways. It's one of the better assisted driving systems available—several levels from autonomous driving but enough intervention to be safe and relaxing on a highway drive.

The 2022 XC90 received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ designation, the organization's top award. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also named the XC90 as one of its top performers with a five-star overall safety rating, its highest.

Pricing for the 2022 Volvo XC90 starts at $50,900 for the base T5 FWD Momentum, and continues with the T5 AWD Momentum ($53,400), T6 AWD Momentum ($58,300), and T6 AWD Inscription ($64,500). From there, the T8 Inscription Expression plug-in hybrid starts at $64,800, with T8 Inscription ($66,300), and T8 R-Design ($70,500) trim levels above it. Add $500 to choose six-passenger seating versus seven-passenger seating.

Our test vehicle was a 2022 XC90 T8 Inscription with an as-tested price of $84,090, including the $1,700 Lounge package, $750 Climate package, $1,650 Advanced package, $695 metallic paint, $300 integrated center booster cushion, $3,200 Bowers & Wilkins audio, $1,800 air suspension, and $1,095 destination fee.

Volvo also offers a subscription program for specific XC90 models. Varying in term, the Care by Volvo subscription includes insurance, maintenance, and tire, wheel, and excessive wear protection. Due to supply chain issues and vehicle availability, Care by Volvo currently works only for available in-stock vehicles at local Volvo dealerships, not online as it was designed to function.

XC90 plug-in hybrids models may qualify for federal, state, and local tax credits and rebates. The federal tax credit situation is somewhat fluid due to new rules set to be enacted as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, while state and local incentives vary by jurisdiction. Don't overlook the opportunity to gain significant advantages from the government, and check with your local power supplier for rebates, discounts, and special rates for home charging systems.

The XC90 straddles the line between popular and luxury SUVs and competes with gasoline models and the few plug-in models in each class. On the gas side, compare the XC90 with luxury midsize SUVs like the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, Infiniti QX60, Lexus RX L, Cadillac XT6, Lincoln Aviator, and others. On the popular side, don't overlook the Buick Enclave, Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, and Jeep Grand Cherokee L. The list of competitors for the XC90 T8 plug-in hybrid is a bit shorter, with the Lincoln Aviator and Kia Sorento making up the group.

Nostalgia may draw shoppers to the Volvo showroom, but the impressive design features and technology could send them into the future behind the wheel of a new vehicle. For families looking for a safe, stylish, comfortable three-row crossover SUV, the 2022 Volvo XC90 fits the bill. Forward-looking families with plenty of disposable income should consider the XC90 T8 to get a toe into electrification ahead of the crowd.