The Volvo XC90 is one of the best-selling and most critically well-received models from the Swedish brand. Since its inception in 2002 the XC90 has been praised for its incredible build quality and its family-friendly design. Despite its many great features, very little has changed for the XC90 in the last 12 years, and the car is starting to show its age. The refresh in 2007 and the updates over the last few years have been merely stop gaps for this; the all-new second-generation Volvo XC90->ke3145. The SUV->ke145 was just redesigned for the 2016 model year and the Swedes updated it in every department. Brand-new styling, a completely reworked interior and state-of-the art convenience and safety features are here to help the XC90 give its competitors a run for their money.

The platform is also all-new and brings a hybrid->ke147 drivetrain with it. A first for the XC90, which enters a new era that focuses on fuel economy more than anything else. Gone are the 4.4-liter V-8 and the 3.2-liter inline-six. This SUV is now a four-cylinder exclusive machine. Don't worry though, power is still up there and the amount of technology is greater than ever before.

So let’s jump right into it, shall we?

Updated 12/08/2015: Volvo's latest XC90 can now be ordered with Volvo’s integrated Apple® CarPlay experience which provides a seamless experience between the driver’s iPhone®, Sensus Connect and the car’s functions. Next to this customers can also opt for software update that includes Pandora, Yelp, and Find Parking. Customers interested in upgrading their cars with the CarPlay system will have to pay $300 and will have it installed at their retailers. Hit play to learn more about these new functions.

Continue reading to find out about the all-new Volvo XC90.

2016 Volvo XC90

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2016 Volvo XC90
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 316 @ 5700
  • Torque: 295 @ 2200
  • Transmission: Eight-speed Geartronic automatic transmission
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The second-gen Volvo XC90 is a far cry from its predecessor as far as styling is concerned. Sure, the SUV is still recognizable as a Volvo product, but the new styling is a huge step forward from the XC90 we're all familiar with. Up front, not even an inch reminds us for the first-gen model. The front fascia has been completely redesigned, now incorporating a new, modern grille and slender headlamps fitted with "Thor's Hammer" daytime running LED lights. And while the headlights are sharper and narrower, the grille is also taller and extends into the apron. The bumper, now integrated into the one-piece front fascia, carries a different air dam configuration with one large inlet flanked by two vents highlighted by chrome trims. Down below, two additional, smaller inlets round off the lower apron. The hood has also been reshaped, with muscular creases enhancing the vehicle's powerful character.

Around back, Volvo kept the XC90's traditional taillights that run along the tailgate's height. However, the units have been redesigned to embrace the tailgate's center section. The tailgate itself features a more intricate design that blends in perfectly with the new taillights. The revised bumper boasts a refined design and incorporates a dual exhaust configuration, hinting that Volvo has focused on ditching the XC90's bulky appearance.

The second-gen SUV looks a lot more familiar from the side, although it appears the Swedes have spend a lot of time in gifting it with a more pronounced beltline. With the revised wheel arches also comes a new character line, which sits above the side sills when compared to the previous model. The glass area changed only slightly, but the new chrome trim and blacked-out pillars showcase a crisper, luxurious->ke505 look.

2016 Volvo XC90 - Exterior Dimensions

Length

194.9 In.

Width

84.3 In.

Height

59.9 In.

Wheelbase

117.5 In.

Front Track

65.7 In.


Interior

The interior of the XC90 is easily the nicest and most luxurious of any of Volvo's SUV past or present. Soft Nappa leather can be found throughout the cabin, highlighted by stunning slabs of flamed-birch wood trim. To up the wow factor even further, Volvo has contracted famous Swedish glass maker Orrefors to create a gear lever made of crystal.

Thanks to the company’s new Scalable Product Architecture, the new XC90 is both incredibly roomy and unbelievably safe. The new platform has allowed Volvo to increase interior space, and the new SPA has been built from the ground up to allow Volvo to include all of the latest and greatest safety features available. As it stands, Volvo has a goal to make sure that no occupants are killed or seriously injured in any of its new cars by 2020. That is quite the goal, indeed.

As for comfort, the increased space helps, but Volvo has paid special attention to how that space is divided. The XC90 was already praised for having one of the greatest sets of third-row seats, but they felt they need improvement anyway. The third row is capable of holding people up to 5’7” and the third row is moved slightly inward to create a theater-style seating arrangement, allowing third row occupants to see past second-row seats.

Technology

Technology has been a major focus of the redesign as well. The main interface for the car is a large touchscreen that is the size of most tablet devices. Most of the controls for the various systems of the XC90 have been replaced with touch, leaving very few actual buttons in the cabin. This makes the cabin look and feel very futuristic, but it could hamper usability.

Technology has been used to make the XC90 safer and easier to drive as well. The new and updated IntelliSafe technologies of the XC90 include systems like the extended Park Assist Pilot. Not only can this system pull a car into or out of a parallel parking spot, it can now manage to back a car directly into a standard space too. The system is also capable of displaying a full 360-degree view of the car, much like Nissan’s AroundView monitor technology. Cross Traffic Alert is another system coming to the newest version of the Swedish SUV. The system can detect if a car is approaching from either side from up to 90 feet away. This is most useful when backing out of a crowded parking space when you can’t necessarily see what is coming on either side.

Drivetrain

The second-gen XC90 has no less than five powertrains at its disposal, but the big news is the addition of a hybrid drivetrain. Dubbed T8 Hybrid, this range-topping SUV benefits from a 2.0-liter, turbocharged and supercharged four-banger and a 60-kW (80-horsepower) electric motor connected to the rear axle. Its combined output sits at 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque, while the all-electric range is rated at 25 miles. The conventional, gasoline unit comes with Volvo's brand-new, Twin Engine technology, which uses a supercharger to fill in the bottom end of the power range and a turbocharger to provide extra power higher in the rev range.

Hybrid aside, the XC90 comes with a choice of two gasoline engines. The T5 Turbo sits at the bottom of the range with 254 ponies and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the T6 Turbo, essentially the same supercharged and turbocharged four-cylinder mill found in the hybrid model, cranks out 316 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of twist. Both the T6 and the T8 Hybrid will be offered in U.S. dealerships for the 2016 model year.

Moving over to diesels, Volvo is throwing in two more four-bangers with turbochargers attached to them. The D4 will pump 190 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque in the base model, while the D5 Twin Turbo will send 225 ponies and 346 pound-feet to the wheels.

2016 Volvo XC90 - Drivetrain/Specifications

Type

D5 Twin Turbo Diesel

D4 turbo diesel

T6 Turbo engine

T5 turbo

T8 hybrid

Output

225 HP

190 HP

316 HP

254 HP

400 HP

Torque

346 LB-FT

295 LB-FT

295 LB-FT

258 LB-FT

472 LB-FT


Safety

Given Volvo has always been at the forefront of car safety technology, it's not surprising that the XC90 claims to feature the "most comprehensive standard safety package." And that's not just PR talk, as the SUV comes with an impressive amount of sophisticated tech to keep its occupants safe.

The XC90 marks the debut of two new technologies for the auto industry. First up is a "run-off road protection" system that detects what's happening in an off-road scenario. The front safety belts are tightened automatically to keep the occupants in position and help prevent spine injuries. The second feature is an automatic braking system that activates if the driver turns in front of an oncoming car. Volvo says this will come in handy at busy city crossings and on highways, where the speed limits are higher.

Other features included as standard equipment are a new Adaptive Cruise Control system with Pilot Assist, which makes the XC90 semi autonomous, and a 360-degree surround view, giving the driver a birds-eye view via cameras that are added up digitally to a one 360-degree image. The Park Assist Pilot automatically reverses the SUV into a parking spot.

Of course, all of the above adds to the numerous airbags mounted front and rear.

The SUV received the "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Pricing

Pricing details will be announced later into 2014, but Volvo said a well-equipped XC90 T6 AWD will begin from $48,900. The said model is fitted with standard navigation, 19-inch wheels, a power laminated panoramic sunroof, and state-of-the-art car connectivity.

Model

Price

Volvo XC90 T6 AWD Momentum

$48,900

Volvo XC90 T6 AWD Inscription

$54,500


Competitors

Audi Q5

Launched in 2008 and facelifted for the 2012 model year, the current-generation Audi Q5 will remain unchanged until 2017, for a two-year battle with the XC90. Pretty much a shrunken Q7 with A5-inspired touches, the Q5 is less boxy and exhales more sportiness than its Volvo-badged rival. The interior might not look as crisp and high-tech as the one we're about to get in the XC90, but the Q5 has plenty of reasons to brag about. Blending the usual Audi quality with top-of-the-league luxury and well-placed trim pieces, the Q5's cabin is a nice place to be in.

Two gasoline powertrains are available for the crossover -- a 2.0-liter TFSI rated at 220 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a supercharged, 3.0-liter V-6 with 272 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque on tap. The former needs 6.5 seconds to sprint from 0 to 60 mph, while the latter can achieve the same speed barrier in 5.8 seconds. Top speed is limited at 130 mph on both versions. The diesel Q5, on the other hand, moves itself with help from a 3.0-liter six-cylinder that sends 240 horsepower and a whopping 428 pound-feet of torque to the wheels. Pricing for the German crossover begins at $37,300.

Read our full review on the Audi Q5 here.

BMW X3

The BMW X3 gets a major overhaul for the 2015 model year, receiving a host of visual cues seen on the larger X5 SUV. The front end is now more attractive and aggressive, thanks to a redesigned bumper and revised headlamps, while the rear fascia looks fresher after receiving a new bumper and reshaped taillights. The new interior is the most refined you'll get in a X3 until a new generation comes out and boasts new cabin trim options, revised upholstery, and brand-new chrome inlays.

More big news can be found under the hood, where BMW is willing to drop three different engines. The smallest unit of the lineup is a 2.0-liter inline-four that benefits from 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, while the range-topping crossover gets its oomph from a 3.0-liter inline-six with 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet at its disposal. Lastly, a newly introduced 3.0-liter turbo-diesel with 180 ponies and 280 pound-feet of torque delivers that perfect combination of power and fuel economy a lot of customers are looking for nowadays. The 2015 X5 retails from $38,400.

Read our full review on the BMW X5 here.

Conclusion

The second-generation XC90 is everything Volvo said it would be. It sports a spectacular exterior design for an SUV and one of the most luxurious and futuristic-looking cabin in its segment. State-of-the art technology makes it safer and easier to drive, while the engine lineup was developed to satisfy a wide range of customer needs. Powerful yet fuel-efficient, the gasoline and diesel four-pots have been joined by a hybrid drivetrain boasting revolutionary technology. The new XC90 is most certainly ready to go out and meet its competitors and we're just dying to hop aboard and test it for ourselves.

Update History

Updated 09/17/2015: The new Volvo XC90 was awarded the "Top Safety Pick+" rating by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Updated 10/02/2014: Volvo revealed pricing details for the XC90 and announced the company is now taking pre-orders for the new SUV. Also, for those of you whom missed the show, the XC90 was also presented at the 2014 Paris Auto Show and you can now watch a series of images from the official unveiling.

Updated 8/26/2014: A fresh batch of photos of the Volvo XC90 have been leaked. There are a lot of them to enjoy so click on the gallery and see fanciest production Volvo we've seen in quite some time.

Updated 8/27/2014: Following a series of leaks, Volvo released the majority of the information on the 2016 XC90.

Spy Shots

June, 5 2013 - First Mule Caught Testing

February 3, 2014 - First real XC90 out testing