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. On R-Design and Inscription models, 20-inch wheels are equipped.

The interior styling 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 centre 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. Apart from the standard leatherette, 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 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-litre gasoline four-cylinder. T6 models get a supercharged and turbocharged version of that engine. The Volvo XC90 Recharge, formerly referred to as 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. Recharge models muster a combined 455 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque from gasoline and electric sources. In Canada, front-wheel drive (FWD) is not offered, while all-wheel drive (AWD) is standard. The Recharge model uses 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. Natural Resources Canada estimates T5 models to achieve 11.5 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving, 8.4 on the highway, and 10.1 combined. T6 models are rated at 12.4 L/100 km city, 8.9 highway, and 10.8 combined.

The Recharge gets an 8.8 L/100 km combined rating on gas in hybrid mode and 4.0 litres-equivalent per 100 kilometres with a 29-kilometre EV range. The extended range variant gets an 8.9 L/100 km combined gasoline rating, a 3.4 Le/100 km hybrid rating, and an EV range of up to 58 kilometres. Charging the battery from "empty" to fully charged takes about five hours at 240 volts (Level 2 charger).

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 Recharge 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 centre 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 357 litres of luggage behind its third row (317 litres in Recharge models). Fold that row flat, and you've opened 1,008 (966) litres of space. With the second and third rows folded, the XC90 can swallow up to 1,855 (1,815) litres of cargo. Alternatively, the XC90 can tow up to 2,250 kilograms (4,960 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 climate control’s 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, between its AWD system and standard heated front seats, with heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and headlight washers being available on all models via the Climate package. 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, and Bluetooth functionality is standard. 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 centre 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 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. Keyless entry is standard, and a Harman-Kardon audio system is standard on R-Design and Inscription models.

Volvo includes two front USB-A ports and two rear USB-C ports for convenience and device charging.

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 in Canada for the 2022 Volvo XC90 starts at $65,200 for the base T5 AWD Momentum, and continues with the T6 AWD Momentum ($68,550, or $69,150 with six seats), T6 AWD R-Design ($73,850), and T6 AWD Inscription ($75,650, or $76,150 with six seats). From there, the Recharge Inscription Expression PHEV starts at $78,150 ($80,450 with extended range), with Recharge R-Design ($86,900, or $88,200 with extended range), and Recharge Inscription ($88,700, or $90,000 with extended range) trim levels above it. Our test vehicle was a 2022 XC90 Recharge Inscription. A $2,315 destination charge is extra.

XC90 plug-in hybrids models do not qualify for federal iZEV rebates or provincial rebates due to a starting price above the threshold offered by these programs.

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, Audi Q7, 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 Recharge 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.

Note: Images show a US model.