2021 Volvo XC90 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

It’s rare for an automaker to successfully reshape its image through design, but that’s exactly what happened when the current-generation XC90 debuted as a 2016 model. Volvo has a reputation for conservative styling, but the XC90 added more character, while still remaining recognizably a Volvo.

Unlike Lexus, which tried to shake off a stodgy image with a radical styling revamp, Volvo kept many of its traditional styling features, including a boxy profile and a blunt front end with a rectangular grille. However, the details make the difference. Lines are a bit softer than previous Volvos, there’s more chrome in place of unpainted plastic, and the LED headlights with “Thor’s Hammer” daytime running lights are a distinctive touch that blends nicely with the rest of the design.

Sporting extra chrome trim and (optional) 21-inch alloy wheels, our Inscription test car was the flashiest of the XC90 trim levels. The midlevel R-Design (which gets a new gloss-black grille surround for 2021) goes for a sportier look while, as the base model, the Momentum doesn’t get any extra jewelry. The XC90 R-Design comes standard with 20-inch wheels, while the XC90 Momentum gets 19-inch wheels, with a new design for 2021.

Like most modern SUVs, the XC90 is actually a car-based crossover. It shares Volvo's Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform with other "90" series models, including the S90 sedan and V90 wagon, as well as the smaller "60" series models, including the XC60 crossover, S60 sedan, and V60 wagon.

“Swedish minimalism” is a cliché, but that’s exactly what you get with the XC90 interior. It doesn’t try to overwhelm you with flash, just offering nice-looking materials, thoughtfully arranged. Volvo’s matte-finish wood trim has a more natural appearance than the heavily lacquered trim pieces in most other luxury cars, and it’s hard to think of another car that offers a wool upholstery option (Nappa leather upholstery is also available). Our test car also had an Orrefors crystal shifter, a high-end touch that actually seemed a bit out of place in the otherwise restrained interior.

All three XC90 powertrains are built around a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission. In the base T5, the engine is turbocharged, producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. In the T6, the engine is both turbo- and supercharged, upping output specs to 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.

Finally, the T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid powertrain (also called Recharge, in line with Volvo’s new branding for electrified models) takes the T6 engine and adds electric assist in the form of an integrated starter/generator motor, and an electric motor for the rear axle. The combined output is 400 hp and 472 lb-ft. In Canada, an all-wheel-drive (AWD) drivetrain is standard on all models, and front-wheel drive is not offered in our market.

While 400 hp is more than enough to move an SUV of this size, it’s important to remember that most of that power is being generated by a small engine. Even with electric assist and two forms of forced induction, the inline-four isn’t as flexible as the six-cylinder or V8 engines available in competitor SUVs. The XC90 also struggled to accelerate away from stops on electric power, meaning the gasoline engine inevitably had to be called in to assist even at relatively low speeds.

So, while the XC90 Recharge was designed to be more efficient than traditional luxury SUVs, you often have to choose between efficiency and power. Volvo included three drive modes—Pure (all-electric), Hybrid, and Power—but Pure mode was really only useable at low speeds, with gentle acceleration. Like many other plug-in hybrids, the XC90’s gasoline engine automatically kicks in at a certain point in the accelerator pedal’s travel, so making the most of the all-electric Pure mode was difficult.

However, the XC90 excels at old-school luxury. Even with the aforementioned 21-inch wheels, ride quality was excellent, helped by an (optional) air-suspension system. The XC90 wasn’t tuned for sporty handling, but the suspension also kept body roll in check through corners, so passengers won’t feel like they’re on a roller-coaster ride. The cabin was also impressively quiet; the only noises you’ll hear will be the air conditioning and seat ventilation fans on a hot day.

XC90 models also have a respectable 2,250-kilogram (5,000-pound) maximum towing capacity. That should be enough to handle a decent-sized trailer or boat, but if you plan to tow something really big, note that the Lincoln Aviator is rated to lug up to 3,040 kilograms (6,700 pounds).

The three-row 2021 XC90 is available in six-seat or seven-seat configurations, depending on whether you opt for second-row captain’s chairs or a bench seat. Most similarly sized luxury SUVs are available with a third row of seats, although the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE are not.

Headroom and legroom in all three rows is about average for the segment. That means third-row space is a bit tight for adults, and seats in both the third row and second row felt hard and lacked support. An optional power sunroof extends across the first two rows which, combined with the XC90’s upright roof profile, gave the interior a more spacious feel than the numbers might suggest, at least. Standard four-zone climate control can be augmented with a filtration system designed to trap fine particulate matter—a common form of air pollution linked to respiratory illness.

Up front, our range-topping Inscription test car sported 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with backrest massage, but even with every box ticked, you don’t get a power-adjustable steering wheel. Finding a good driving position was easy, however, although forward visibility was less than optimal due to the XC90’s tall hood. Storage space was also fairly limited, thanks to a shallow centre console storage bin and a lack of storage options on the console itself.

At 317 litres with all seats in place, 965 litres with the rear seats folded, and 1,815 litres with the second and third rows folded, cargo space for the T8 Recharge model is near the bottom of the segment. As with all three-row vehicles, cargo space is also fairly limited with the third row seats in place. Volvo does at least offer a hands-free power tailgate.

Volvo’s Sensus infotainment system proves that less is more. While other luxury automakers pile on features in an attempt to appear cutting edge, Volvo’s system just works.

The XC90 comes standard with a 9-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, and Bluetooth. Two front USB-A ports and two rear USB-C ports are standard as well. A 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system and head-up display (HUD) are also available.

The portrait-oriented touchscreen is one of the easiest to use in the business, allowing you to swipe across its various menus just like a tablet. That’s good, as Volvo didn’t include many analog backup controls. For once, though, that wasn’t an issue for us. The touchscreen worked well enough, and the lack of buttons was at least in keeping with the interior’s minimalist design.

However, the amount of text, as well as the typeface used, made reading some menus difficult while driving. The wireless charging pad Volvo added to the centre console for 2021 also won’t fit most phones, and because the XC90 only has second-row USB-C ports, drivers with newer phones might not be able to plug in up front.

The 2021 XC90 received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but that only applies to non-hybrid models, as the IIHS hasn’t updated its ratings for the XC90 T8 plug-in hybrid.

The non-hybrid XC90 models received top “Good” scores in all IIHS crash tests. They also received the top “Superior” rating for front-crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle testing, with a lower “Advanced” rating in vehicle-to-pedestrian testing. Headlights and LATCH child-seat anchors received “Acceptable” ratings.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave all 2021 XC90 models a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover testing.

Living up to Volvo’s reputation for safety obsession, the XC90 offers more standard driver assistance and safety features than most competitors. The list includes lane-keep assist and lane departure warning, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control.

Fuel efficiency is where the XC90’s reliance on four-cylinder engines comes in. The base T5 AWD uses a Natural Resources Canada rated 10.1 litres per 100 kilometres combined (11.5 city, 8.4 highway), while the XC90 T6 AWD is rated at 10.5 L/100 km combined (12.1 city, 8.5 hwy).

The Volvo XC90 T8 Recharge plug-in hybrid burns as little as 8.8 L/100 km combined in hybrid mode (we averaged 9.0 L/100 km, according to the dashboard display), but also boasts up to 29 kilometres of all-electric range, with an efficiency rating of 4.0 Le/100 km combined. To get maximum efficiency, though, you’ll need to plug in regularly. The 11.6-kilowatt-hour battery pack takes three hours to recharge from a 240-volt Level 2 AC source, and the XC90 isn’t available with DC fast-charging, which might come in handy on road trips.

In Canada, Volvo offers a four-year, 80,000-kilometre, basic warranty and a four-year, 80,000-kilometre powertrain warranty for all XC90 models.

Pricing for the 2021 Volvo XC90 starts at $65,200 for a T5 model in the base Momentum trim level (pricing does not include a mandatory $2,345 destination charge). The range-topping T8 Recharge Inscription has a $78,150 base price, but our test car had extras like 21-inch wheels, air suspension, the Bowers & Wilkins audio system, 360-degree camera system, and air-purification system, inflating the MSRP to $95,600 (Canadian, estimated).

Like most other luxury cars, the equipment that makes the XC90 truly, well, luxurious isn’t standard. Volvo at least does better than most by offering a long list of standard safety features, however. An upscale design and refined road manners also make the XC90 feel like more than just a list of features. It’s a true luxury SUV, defined by the way it drives rather than gadgets, and that is why, despite its age, the XC90 gets our praise.