LOOKS

My favorite way to describe Volvo’s sense of vehicle design is “quiet luxury”, coming via a subdued Scandinavian approach.

Their vehicles are genuinely attractive, but more minimal in design than some rivals, while remaining user-friendly. Some luxury rivals are more over-the-top and in-your-face with their design approach, but Volvo sticks to their focus on quiet sophistication.

I was impressed by the XC90’s sharp 22-inch Black Diamond Cut alloy wheels, an understated but eye-catching grille, and matrix-design LED headlights. There’s also a panoramic sunroof with power sunshade.

Getting into the XC90 is easy for people of all heights, as its ride height is relatively low.

Moving inside the XC90, you’ll find why it’s winning awards for family-friendliness.

First, let’s talk about cargo space. Whatever your family needs to haul, the XC90 is equipped to handle it. With the rear rows down, it offers 85.7 cubic feet of space; 34.6 cubic feet with the third row down, and 10.6 cubic feet with all rows up.

In terms of seating, you’ll get 6 or 7 seats depending on configuration (bench or captain’s chairs in second row). The third row is great to have if you have a large family, but I would leave the back row for the little ones if possible, as it can be tight for adults.

Accessing all the seats is a simple process, which is important when you want to get everyone in the family in the car quickly and leave without any hassle.

In terms of quality of the interior, it holds up against top luxury rivals. Passengers will be comfortable on drives long and short, thanks to its Nappa leather upholstery or Navy Herringbone Weave seating. You also get a tailored dashboard that stands out in the segment.

Other interior features to increase your comfort include:
— Heated front and rear seats
— Heated steering wheel
— Ventilated front seats

— Four-zone automatic climate control
— Interior high-level illumination
— Power front seats with front seat memory
— Power folding rear headrests
— Sun shades on rear side doors

Through it all, you get an upscale but not flashy interior, just like the outside.

HOW’S THE RIDE?

There are several powertrain options on the 2026 Volvo XC90.

The base engine (called the B5) features a turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and delivers 247 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque.

Moving up to the B6 engine, which I tested, will get you a turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder, and numbers climb to a solid 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet.

Both of these engine options feature a mild hybrid system and regenerative braking. They also come with an 8-speed automatic transmission with start-stop, anti-lock brakes, hill start assist, Electronic Stability Control, and electric power assisted steering.

The third powertrain option is the T8 Recharge, a plug-in hybrid that offers a combined 455 horsepower and 523 pound-feet.

The 0-to-60 times on the XC90 are respectable, with the B6 engine coming in around the mid 6-second range, the B6 in the low 7-second range, and the plug-in T8 rating at roughly 5 seconds.

Overall, the XC90 offers a smooth and enjoyable driving experience — and holds its own with the top luxury rivals in the three-row SUV category. When you are driving, it feels smaller than its large size and is quite easy to maneuver.

Driving modes on my B6 model included standard and off-road (but don’t do anything too extreme), and its towing capacity maxes out at 5,000 pounds.

One option to boost the drive quality on the XC90 is to choose the Active Chassis with Air Suspension. All-wheel drive comes standard on the XC90.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY

The 2026 Volvo XC90 is among the Volvo vehicles that recently received a major upgrade to its infotainment software, with the arrival of its new, more user-friendly system called Volvo Car UX.

This new system — build around an 11.2-inch display — requires less scrolling through menus to get to the commands you want, and an updated Google-based navigation experience. I was a big fan of this much-improved system, as not only were the touchscreen commands easy to master, but voice commands were received accurately.

Some people may be unhappy initially with the lack of physical controls in the XC90, but they should be able to quickly adjust.

Quality sound system options are also offered. The base system features 10 speakers and a 220-watt amplifier. But you can upgrade to a 600-watt, 14-speaker stereo from Harman/Kardon; or even further to a 1410-watt, 19-speaker option from Bowers & Wilkins.

Other tech features include the 12.3-inch digital display in front of the driver, Multiple USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, Google Maps/Google Play Store/Google Assistant, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a wireless phone charger.

Volvo is historically known as an automotive safety leader, and the XC90 reflects that commitment, which helps make it a brand that family-focused buyers tend to prefer.

The XC90, which maxes out with a 5-star safety rating, features a host of helpful safety features, including
— Blind Spot Information System with Steer Assist and Cross Traffic Alert
— Lane Keeping Aid
— Low & High Speed Collision Mitigation, a system that detects vehicles/pedestrians/cyclists and large animals and can apply brakes to prevent collisions
— Front, side, curtain and driver side knee airbags
— Whiplash Protection System in Front Seats
— Automatic Unlocking after Collision
— Forward Collision Warning

You also get a basic self-driving system called Pilot Assist, which uses Volvo’s adaptive cruise control and lane keeping systems to guide the vehicle on its own.

Another strong safety option is the 360-degree camera which shows your entire surroundings and is extremely helpful in tight parking situations.

MPG

The 2026 Volvo XC90 has three powertrain offerings (B5, B6, and T8 plug-in hybrid), so fuel economy varies depending on the engine.

I had the B6, and my test vehicle was listed at 20 city/26 highway/23 combined, numbers I found to be mostly accurate. Opting for the less powerful B5 boosts numbers to 22 city/27 highway/24 combined.

If you go the plug-in hybrid route, you’ll get 26 city/27 highway/27 combined; plus 33 pure electric miles before gas is needed.

The plug-in version is only worth considering if you mostly take short trips, as you can theoretically avoid the gas station for extended periods of time by regularly charging the vehicle.

But if you want to stick to the gas-only approach, the B6 performance improvement makes the slight drop in fuel mileage from the B5 worth it.

And if you’re cross-shopping other SUVs in this size, the fuel mileage of the XC90 is better than many key luxury rivals.

PRICE 

My Volvo XC90 test vehicle was priced just over $80K. Its base price starts about $62K, and goes up to the high $80K range. Trim levels include Core, Plus and Ultra. And a plug-in hybrid is also offered.

While this isn’t exactly pocket change, it’s worth noting that luxury rivals offer flagship SUVs with a much higher starting price, making the XC90 a relative bargain in the grand scheme of luxury vehicles.

You can get a well-equipped vehicle in the low-to-mid-$60K range, and of course the most souped-up and fully equipped rides will get into that $80K range. But topping out some luxury rivals will get you into six-figure territory.

And the build quality of the Volvo rivals what you’ll get from these more expensive offerings, which is impressive.

The XC90’s warranty is also respectable, offering:
— 4 years/50,000 miles overall warranty
— 4 years/50,000 miles powertrain warranty
— Three years of complimentary maintenance

BOTTOM LINE  

The 2026 Volvo XC90 is a strong option for families seeking an upscale three-row SUV with strong looks, lots of cargo space, and excellent performance.

While not the first luxury brand that comes to mind, Volvo is quietly one of the best upscale offerings that is both attractive and family-friendly, and the XC90 holds up well against the big-name luxury competitors in its segment.

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