Used Volvo XC90 2015-present review

If you believe Volvos are purely practical machines, meant for those who wake up to thoughts of school runs and weekly shops, then think again.

The Volvo XC90 is as much a luxury SUV as it is a versatile, spacious and capable car. It'll cater to a family of seven, and it's such a good all-rounder it won't leave you desperately craving one of its plush German rivals, such as the Audi Q7 or the Mercedes GLE.

Engines & Performance: Perhaps controversially, this second-generation car can only be had with four-cylinder engines, unlike the original 2003-2015 Volvo XC90 – a model that even allowed for a V8. These inline-fours initially consisted of two petrols and just one diesel: the petrols were a 316bhp 2.0-litre T6 that offers impressively quick performance and reasonable economy and a plug-in hybrid version labelled T8 with 401bhp that’s even faster and yet offers, on paper, an outstanding average claimed fuel consumption figure. A less powerful 247bhp T5 joined the range in 2018.

The sole diesel version was a 222bhp 2.0-litre D5, but a PowerPulse version was introduced a year later that increased power to 232bhp. Both diesels offer more than adequate performance and are by far the most readily available on the used market.

A subtle facelift in 2019 brought in a new 232bhp B5 diesel engine to replace the D5. Confusingly, you could also get a 247bhp B5P as a petrol engine too. Both of these used mild-hybrid technology, with an electric motor to ease the load on the engine and increase fuel economy, as well as reduce CO2 emissions and give a little performance boost, too. The other engines in the simplified 2019-onwards range were a more powerful 2.0 B6P and the plug-in hybrid T8 Recharge.

Ride & Handling: On the road, all the engines are smooth and refined and surprisingly quick. Delivering decent low-rev pull, the diesel (D5 or B5) is a relaxed performer. It picks up smoothly, and getting up to motorway speeds is an effortless experience. Then there are the petrols. Both the mild-hybrid petrol B5, T5 and, to a lesser extent, the turbocharged and supercharged T6, need to be worked harder than the diesel. But when you do that, the T5 and B5 petrols are brisk enough. Indeed the T8 hybrid can sprint from 0 to 62mph in just 5.8sec, so no one can accuse that of being tardy.

All versions ride well, too, although large imperfections can be felt a little at lower speeds. Versions with smaller wheels tend to ride better than those with the larger wheel option, however.

In the bends, the Volvo XC90 can’t match the sportier BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne for outright handling finesse, but it’s on a par with the Q7 and much sharper to drive than the wallowy Land Rover Discovery. There’s minimal body lean unless you really throw it about, and it never feels like it’s going to topple over around a series of bends.

Interior & Practicality: Inside, it's wonderfully classy and extremely comfortable. The driving position is great, visibility is good and the seats are supportive. The infotainment is controlled through a large 9.0in tablet-style touchscreen. This looks stunning but can be fiddly in everyday use. As far as quality goes, with a mix of smart materials across the dashboard and around the centre console it looks the part. There are soft-touch fabrics across the top of the dash, plus gloss-black fascias around the infotainment screen and gear lever.

Space up front in the Volvo XC90 is plentiful, in the middle row it's truly excellent for three and even in the rearmost two seats there is more than adequate room for two children or even adults for shorter journeys. Flexibility is first-class with these seats, too, with all manner of options being available.

Boot space is huge in five-seat mode and even rather impressive with all seven seats up.

Trims & equipment: There are three trim levels to choose from, in increasing levels of luxury: Momentum, R-Design and Inscription. Momentum trim is the pick of the bunch. Just look at what you get: adaptive cruise control, automatic (LED) headlights and wipers, leather seats, front and rear parking sensors, a powered tailgate with ‘gesture’ opening and closing, sat-nav, Bluetooth, 19in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, an electrically adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, a DAB radio and automatic emergency city braking. Pro versions of each trim level add a heated steering wheel, nappa leather and a head-up display - although that last one was deleted if a heated windscreen was chosen.

Only go for R-Design trim if you really love its sporty looks. It adds sports seats with electric adjustment for the passenger, privacy glass, a 12.3in digital instrument cluster, 20in alloy wheels and a host of sporty design touches, but it doesn’t really make much financial sense.

Inscription trim gets the R-Design’s 12.3in digital instrument display and electrically adjustable passenger seat, along with softer nappa leather, 20in alloy wheels, swanky ambient illumination throughout the interior and handsome walnut trim.

These ranges were simplified in 2022 to Core, Ultimate and Plus. Entry-level Core trim is our pick. Adaptive cruise control, automatic LED headlights and wipers, leather seats (heated in the front), a powered tailgate, 19in alloy wheels and dual-zone climate control are all standard. Mid-spec Plus adds adaptive LED headlights, 20in alloy wheels, a sunroof, Harman Kardon sound system upgrade and integrated sun blinds for the rear doors. The range-topping Ultimate adds air suspension, 21in alloy wheels, head-up display, privacy glass, and a Bowers and Wilkins stereo.

Interested in buying a used Volvo XC90? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

Entry to the current-gen Volvo XC90 club starts at around £20,000. For this you’ll get a 2015 or early 2016 car, petrol or diesel, with mileage of about 70,000 and a full service history, probably from a private seller or trader. Step up to between £25,000 and £27,000 and you’ll pick up a similar 2016, or maybe even a 2017, car from an independent dealer with a more reasonable mileage, while £28,000 should secure you a 2017 car again either the T6 petrol or D5 diesel.

Expect to pay upwards of £31,500 for a 2018 or 2019 car or £38,500 for a later mild hybrid car. The T8 hybrid models go for around £28,000, although most with lower mileage tend to be closer to the £35,000 mark. Expect to spend at least £35,000 on a 2020 or 2021 car, and more than £40,000 on a 2022 model.

If you'd like a nearly new model, have upwards of £48,000 to spend.

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MPG: On paper, it’s the plug-in hybrid T8 that returns the best fuel economy, at a remarkable 134.5mpg, according to the older NEDC tests. To achieve this, though, the T8 will have to fit into your lifestyle, and it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to get anywhere near that figure in the real world.

Meanwhile, the T5 petrol has a combined figure of 35.8mpg, with the T6 returning marginally less at 34.9mpg. The best (of course) was the diesel at 48.7mpg.

Under the newer WLTP tests, the diesel-engined B5 is returns an official 44.1mpg; the B5 petrol 32.5mpg and the B6 30.7mpg.

CO2 emissions: Not all the engine options available in the XC90 were available before the 1 April 2017 tax change, so we’re only concentrating on the ones that were here.

The T8 has the lowest emissions on paper of 49g/km, followed by the D5 diesel at 149g/km. Going for the T6 petrol increases the CO2 output to 184g/km.

Road Tax: Please note that, since all models cost in excess of £40,000, those registered after April 2017 will attract a higher-tax VED rate. Fortunately, this yearly additional fee only lasts between the second and sixth years of the vehicle's age, then it goes back to the flat-rate fee. The fees are currently £190 a year for the VED (£180 a year for the hybrid) and £410 a year for the luxury tax. Road tax for all models registered before this date will vary depending on the emissions the engine produces (see above for more information), with the T8 hybrid model being exempt from road tax.

Insurance and servicing: Insurance groups waver around the 40 mark (out of 50). Volvo Service Plans are designed to spread servicing costs on an interest-free monthly basis. For cars aged up to four years old, plans can be taken out for two, three, four, five and six years, with each plan covering you for the appropriate number of services to fit your mileage profile and the specification of your Volvo.

Reliability

The Volvo XC90's reliability receives good reviews from owners, highlighting a generally dependable performance with a few notable exceptions.

Real-world owner reviews, as seen in our annual What Car? Reliability Survey, reveal that while many appreciate the XC90's solid performance in the early years, some have encountered issues such as faulty warning lights, electronic glitches, and drivetrain problems, occasionally resulting in expensive repairs.

Dealer service experiences also vary, with many praising Volvo's professionalism and support, despite some frustrations over long waits for appointments and parts. This suggests that while the XC90 is largely reliable, there's a need for improvement in service efficiency and parts availability.

Explore the detailed used Volvo XC90 reliability on our dedicated reliability page.

Engine: The older D5 diesel is our pick of the range, although if you're spending more on a later model, the B5 diesel would also be our choice. It provides decent performance coupled with sensible fuel economy. The turbocharged four-cylinder T6 petrol looks a little nonsensical next to the D5, failing to provide vastly superior performance while being far less frugal. It does have better refinement at high revs, but ultimately we’d avoid it.

In the T8, like all hybrids, you’ll struggle to ever meet Volvo's claimed fuel economy figures. It does, however, have the best electric-only range in the class and, when its electric and petrol engines work together, it gives brisk performance.

Specification: Momentum Pro trim is the best one to go for; it gives you all the equipment you'll need (and more besides) without costing you a lot of money over an entry-level Momentum model. R-Design is fine if you want something sportier looking, but the ride on its bigger wheels isn't as good as it should be. If you can find an Inscription model for similar money to a Momentum Pro, then it might also be worth considering, however, it really isn't worth the additional expense.

Our favourite Volvo XC90: 2.0 D5 Momentum Pro

With a superbly built interior, a long list of standard equipment and some refined engines, the Audi Q7 offers everything the luxury SUV buyer could want. It may not be the sharpest handling SUV, but that’s more than made up for by its cosseting ride and high-speed stability. Inside, there’s masses of space, and its boot is practical.

The Land Rover Discovery has masses of space inside, including in the rearmost seats, its ride is comfortable and you get plenty of kit. Its reliability record is variable, but the Disco exudes class.

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If you're interested in finding a used Volvo XC90, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at great prices.