2020 Volvo XC90

Post the refreshment, the XC90 has been one of the most sold Volvos in America. A brand that was mainly known for its wagons has now gotten a new identity in the form of the XC90. That said, its generous pricing and a plethora of standard driving assist features are some of its USPs and the impeccable ride quality just enhances it more.

However, people always look forward to changes and Volvo had dragged the same design language for almost a decade now, which again resulted in the decline of the sales numbers. Come 2015, the XC90 went under the scalpel and emerged as a much better iteration with a minimalistic design language, as most of the functions have now been taken over by a large touchscreen infotainment unit resting right in the middle of the dash. It has been receiving minor updates ever since the refreshment with each passing year. Oh and let's not forget, the XC90 is one of the very few vehicles to be known as the safest vehicle on the planet.

The 2020 Volvo XC90 is offered in three engine options and three trim variants, namely Momentum, R-Design, and Inscription. The starting price of the 2020 XC90 is $48,350 for the T5 Momentum trim which goes to $63,100 for the T6 Inscription model. The powertrains are distributed in different configurations T5, T6 and T8. The XC90 R-design is the sportier among all the trims, featuring major exterior and interior upgrades. The Inscription trim gets most luxury features of all. This trim is available with T6 and T8 engine options.

We Recommend

We would recommend the Volvo XC90 Momentum as it is nicely priced and available with all the latest and greatest features in standard form. It comes with features like heated front seats, four-zone automatic climate control and adaptive headlights, that only add to the luxurious setting inside. For the price of $48,350, it certainly is a steal.

The 2020 Volvo XC90 has decent overall performance. The base engine is underpowered, but two other optional engines deliver more power - cars.usnews

The base 2020 Volvo XC90 SUV T5 trim is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine throughout the lineup. The base XC90 momentum churns out 250 hp while the powerful T6 propels 316 hp. You get three engine choices with the 2020 Volvo XC90 SUV. The T5 model is the only model that comes standard with front-wheel drive, while all-wheel drive is optional. The other two available engine options come standard with AWD.

The T6 is powered with a twin-charged (turbocharged and supercharged) four-cylinder powertrain that produces 316 horsepower. It's good for daily commuting as it offers quick acceleration with no issue. At last, the XC90 T8 is offerd with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, attached to a inline-four twin-charged engine with an electric motor to propel a combined 400 horsepower. All the XC90 models are offered with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The SUV has shown decent acceleration figures despites its size. The 2020 XC90 T5 can sprint to 60 MPH in 7.5 seconds. However, other competitors are way faster in this regard. The BMW X5 turns out to be the fastest with 5.3 seconds, despite it being one of the heaviest vehicles of the lot. The best thing about the XC90 SUV is its calm and composed ride quality. It offers smooth cruising on any kind of terrain. The optional four-corner air suspension ($1,800 option in Momentum and Inspiration) further improves the ride quality. However, complete noise cancellation isn't available with air suspension equipped XC90.

All the four wheels of the Volvo XC90 come with steel disc brakes. The 2020 XC90 comes with 13.2-inch front rotors and 12.1-inch rear rotors. The brake pedal is soft and inspires confidence while driving. The SUV delivers a braking distance of 113 feet (halt from 60 mph). Also, the 2020 XC90 comes standard with automatic emergency braking. The Volvo XC90 is also capable of towing around 4000 lbs, which is pretty decent in this class. However, the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE 400 offers a towing capacity of 6600 and 7200, respectively.

The 2020 Volvo XC90 T5 variant is able to deliver 21 MPG in the city and 30 miles to the gallon out on the highway. On opting for the T6 variant, the 2020 XC90 is EPA-rated at 18 MPG and 26 MPG in the city and highway respectively. The T8 plug-in hybrid, on the other hand, is rated at 55 MPGe combined rating. The T5, partnered with the 18.8-gallon fuel tank is able to stretch out for 564 miles on the go.

Those folks at Volvo definitely were quite serious about the fuel efficiency when they decided to install a small four-cylinder into the large XC90. The XC90 is just marginally more efficient than the competitor even in the most efficient guise. That's a real disappointment considering that XC90 also has compromised performance and engine refinement compared to the rivals.

Materials, design and workmanship are very good, class-leading in some areas - Edmunds

The 2020 Volvo XC90's interior offers amazing space and features. Right from the attractive options to the material quality, we only wish that there were more cars of this kind. The third row doesn't offer much space. However, it manages to offer more legroom than some of its prominent rivals. Available as an option, the XC90 has either two or four massaging seats on offer, a rear-seat beverage cooler, a crystalline shifter knob, and handcrafted Swedish-crystal tumblers.

There's a panoramic sunroof available as standard across the range. The XC90 SUV offers the best in class headroom in the segment. As per Volvo, there's equal importance to all the occupants. The 2020 XC90 has a Sensus 9-inch infotainment system that includes navigation. Both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are offered as standard with the XC90. Volvo especially takes care of the audio requirements in the XC90, as it provides an impressive 19-speaker Bowers and Wilkins audio system.

The Volvo XC90`s exemplary exterior styling has turned out to be a plus point by offering best-in-class cargo across the lineup. With all three seats up, the XC90 offers a cargo volume of 16 cubic feet shared with the Audi Q7. With the second row folded, the capacity increases to 42.0 cubic feet marginally greater than the Audi Q7 (41 cubic feet). When all rows are folded, the XC90 can accommodate all of your luggage with 86 cubic feet of luggage volume. The lowering of rear-end for convenient loading of luggage is further facilitated by the optional air suspension.

The Volvo XC90 SUV's exterior is equally elegant with no small dose of strength - Kelley Blue Book

There might be plenty of crossovers that are better than the XC90 in a lot of areas, but not many look as impressive as the XC90 does. The Volvo XC90 follows the tradition by offering a tasteful design keeping a minimalistic approach. The crisp and sharp design elements add more refinement to the SUV. The front is dominated by the T-shaped headlights and the aggressive grille, while the side is accentuated by plenty of subtle character lines.

The sloping windshield is further aided by a long hood. The rear end of the XC90 perfect captivates form with functionality, as it has vertically-designed taillights along with the one-touch rear liftgate. Dimension-wise, the XC90 SUV offers a bold stance on the road. The 117.5-inch wheelbase delivers a much more spacious interior setup, than the rest of the competition. The best-in-class 9.4-inch ground clearance does help the XC90 to wade through potholes and small boulders easily.

Some of the exterior features on offer with the 2020 XC90 are-

• 21-inch bespoke alloy wheels
• Adaptive headlights
• Headlight washers
• Body-colored side mirrors
• Dual exhaust outlets
• Body-colored rear spoiler

The 2020 Volvo XC90 is one of the safest cars in the world, as it is backed by loads of active and passive safety tech. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rated the 2020 XC90 with a five-star overall crash test rating. The XC90 scored five out of five stars in the frontal and side crash tests and four stars in the rollover test. The XC90 has the highest rating of Good in five individual crash tests conducted by the IIHS. The XC90 earned the best rating "Superior" for its front crash prevention features, as well as "Acceptable" for headlights.

The 2020 Volvo XC90 is loaded with an array of safety features listed below.

• Cornering Lights
• LED Daytime Running Lights
• Engine Immobilizer
• Stability Control
• Tire Pressure Monitoring system
• Emergency Braking Assist
• Blind Spot And Lane Departure Warnings Accident Avoidance System
• Forward collision warning system
• Adaptive cruise control
• Adaptive Headlights

2020 Volvo XC90 vs 2020 Audi Q7

The 2020 Audi Q7 is one of the most well-crafted luxury SUVs in its segment. It offers a convenient package along with ample interior space. It's also one of the fastest in the segment with a supercharged V6 that's certainly more accomplished than the XC90`s small 2.0-liter Inline-4. The Volvo XC90, on the other hand, offers a sumptuous interior setup and also aces the feature front as well.

2020 Volvo XC90 vs 2020 Acura MDX

The 2020 Acura MDX is a great value-for-money car if you are looking for a spacious interior. Acura has also included plenty of semi-autonomous driving technologies. However, the Acura MDX lacks the panache of the XC90 like any other SUV in the segment. Nevertheless, for the price it is being offered at, it definitely is one of the best in the segment.

Its been two years since the inception of the second generation Volvo XC90 in the market. It still remains one of the most handsome and charming SUVs inside-out. It is very practical and offers useful third-row seating and boot space. Meanwhile, the Volvo XC90 tries to churn out maximum power from the 2.0-liter engine while the competitors bet on larger engines with an even smoother transmission setup. Having a good reputation on the safety part, you will feel relaxed while driving the Volvo XC90. All-in-all a definite steal.

More on Volvo

• Check out the new 2021 Volvo XC60, built on the new SPA platform.
• Check out the latest iteration of the Volvo XC90, unveiled for the MY 2022!

2020 Volvo XC90 FAQs

Does the Volvo XC90 come in a plug-in-hybrid model?

Yes, the 2020 Volvo XC90 does come in a plug-in hybrid variant, also known as the T8, which combines the turbocharged and supercharged T6 powertrain with a battery and electric motor. it is good enough for 400 horses.

Where is the Volvo XC90 built?

The Volvo XC90 is manufactured and assembled in the Torslanda Works, Gothenburg Sweden.

What takes care of the audio duties in the 2020 Volvo XC90?

Volvo has certainly looked after the audiophile community, with the 2020 XC90 providing a premium audio system with 11 speakers, that should be able to take care of all your audio requirements.