Facelifted Volvo XC90 arrives with glitzy new look

• New exterior design
• Overhauled interior
• Pricing starts from £64,000 and goes up to £84,000

Volvo’s largest SUV, the XC90, has just gone on sale, with a revised new look to keep it fighting fit against premium seven-seater rivals. The current Volvo XC90 has been around since 2015, but underwent a minor facelift in 2019 meaning it’s aged well. With the all-electric Volvo EX90 having landed recently, this update to the XC90 will keep it fresh right up until the brand goes fully-electric by 2030.

The brand has now announced pricing and specification details for the updated XC90, with the range now starting at just shy of £64,000, a couple of grand more than the outgoing model.

What does the facelifted Volvo XC90 look like?

Being merely a facelift, the new Volvo XC90 keeps the same silhouette as before, but the most noticeable difference on the outside is a completely new front grille which plays on Volvo’s classic diagonal band logo – now the rungs of the grille run diagonally through the logo from one side overlapping those of the other for an interesting asymmetrical look.

The ‘Thor’s Hammer’ headlights are now thinner for a sleeker look, while the tail-lights are mostly the same as those of the outgoing model, albeit with a revised light signature. Core models feature a ‘Bright’ styling theme which uses chrome trim as accents, while Plus goes for a ‘Dark’ look with high-gloss black detailing.

The Ultra model at the top of the range can be specified with either look. Wheels are 20 inches in diameter on Core and Plus, and 21 inches on the Ultra, while new colour options include ‘Mulberry Red’ taken from the EX90’s list of hues, and a Cardamom interior trim colour.

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What about the Volvo XC90’s interior?

The inside of the Volvo XC90 has been more heavily revised with a modernised new look. Volvo hasn’t abandoned its minimalist approach, but the dashboard gets a completely new design with wider use of textured materials, a new shape to the air vents, and a large 11.2-inch central infotainment screen that’s snappier to use with sharper graphics than the outgoing car’s nine-inch display.

Now the XC90’s infotainment system runs the same operating system as that of the Volvo EX90 and EX30 electric cars, which is designed to be more intuitive to use than the old XC90’s interface with fewer taps and submenus to access functions. Google Maps and Google Assistant are now integrated into the software and there’s a greater number of third-party apps available via the Google Play Store, while Apple CarPlay is still available for iPhone users.

In terms of trim, Core models are upholstered in Nordico, a textile made from recycled materials, while Ultra trim gets Nappa leather, along with a massage function and adjustable side bolsters. And when it comes to fancy technology, Plus and Ultra models get a 360-degree parking camera with split screen, Plus models get a 13-speaker, 600-watt Harman Kardon audio system, and if you opt for the Ultra at the top of the range, there’s a premium19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system, said to be one of the most advanced used in any car.

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What about practicality?

While the Volvo XC90’s overall proportions are the same as before, Volvo has added some useful practical touches such as a new storage space in the centre console, an extra cup holder for small drinks cans, and the wireless smartphone charger has been relocated to free up space.

As before, the XC90 gets seven seats as standard, even in plug-in hybrid models. Fold all the rear seats down and you get an absolutely cavernous 1,856 litres of cargo space, so Volvo’s largest SUV is as handy for load-lugging as it is at transporting passengers in comfort.

What engines are offered on the new Volvo XC90?

The Volvo XC90 isn’t offered with electric power – that’s the job of the latest EX90 EV – but entry-level models are offered with a mild-hybrid 2.0-litre four-cylinder, badged B5. This produces 247bhp and can do 0-62mph in 7.7 seconds, while official fuel economy is 33.2mpg. For extra power there’s another turbocharged and supercharged version of the same engine on the way with 295bhp that will do the same 0-62mph sprint a second faster – you can expect this model to be less efficient on fuel, however.

The T8 plug-in hybrid makes use of the same turbocharged and supercharged 2.0-litre engine but pairs this with an electric motor on the rear wheels as well as an 18.8kWh battery. The result is an output of 449bhp and a 0-62mph time of just 5.4 seconds.

What makes the T8 plug-in hybrid appeal the most, however, is its ability to travel for up to 44 miles on electric power alone, which is a slight increase over the old model’s figure. The official fuel economy is 235mpg with just 30-36g/km, which will make it the company car of choice from the range as it will sit in a low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) band.

The Volvo XC90 has always been a thoroughly refined car, but the Swedish brand has upped the ante by adding extra sound-deadening and insulation from road and wind noise. The suspension has gained new Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) tech which improves ride quality without negatively affecting the handling, although air suspension will still be offered as an option on Core, and is standard on Plus and Ultra trims.

How much does the new Volvo XC90 cost?

The updated XC90 now starts from just under £64,000 for the B5 AWD model in base Core trim, representing an increase of around £2,000 over the previous model. Plus trim adds another £5,000, while the range-topping Ultra trim is another £6,500 on top of that, for a price of just over £75,000.

As for the T8 Plug-in hybrid models, those now start in Core trim at just over £72,500, with similar steps of £5,000 to Plus trim, and £6,500 to Ultra, meaning the XC90 range-topper comes in at over £84,000, before you add any options. The new XC90 is available to order now, and Volvo expects deliveries to begin in early 2025.

For more information on this flagship model, check out our in-depth Volvo XC90 review or our list of the best large SUVs on sale