2025 Volvo XC90 debuts with a li’l bit of confusion
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Indeed, it’s hard to let go of certain things, and it appears that Volvo/Geely is going through the same pain. Because if you remember, the company introduced the all-electric EX90 two years ago as a successor to this aging second-gen XC90. But now, it appears that there are some changes in the plan. The XC90 will continue to be sold alongside the EX90 for the foreseeable future.
And, we are not looking at the third-gen XC90 here; this is the second facelift of the second-generation. Volvo claims to have made its flagship SUV now better than ever before. But anyway, prices start at SEK 994,000 in Sweden, £72,650 in the UK and $58,450 in the U.S.
At first glance, the styling revisions may not look significant, but if you look again, you’ll find EX90’s influence here, especially on the front fascia. The shape of the headlights and the bumper design appear to be influenced by the EX90. The side profile remains largely unchanged except for those new optional 22-inch wheels (SEK 11,000). At the rear, there’s a more pronounced light signature, but the overall rear fascia remains largely unchanged. There’s only one ‘Ultra’ trim for Swedish buyers, while UK buyers can choose from Core, Plus and Ultra trims. However, Volvo is offering Bright and Dark exterior themes for Swedish, where the latter replaces chrome with gloss black elements.
#Volvo #XC90 pic.twitter.com/Vhitk5hP17
— Sagar (@autodevot) October 5, 2024
Volvo claims to have improved the standard suspension setup. Each individual damper is now able to adapt mechanically to current road conditions to optimize both comfort and stability. Want active air suspension? Well then, you gotta pay SEK 26,900 extra.
Inside, there’s a brand-new dashboard with a design influenced by the EX90, of course. There are new themes and material choices; some of these materials are made from recycled and/or bio-based content. The gear lever has a crystal from Orrefors. Other key highlights include a 12-inch driver display, Android OS-based 11-inch central touchscreen, built-in Google services with a 4-year subscription, a 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, and four-zone climate control. The options list includes a SEK 28,000 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins High Fidelity audio system.
Moving on to the juicy bits of the story, the XC90 is available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain (T8 AWD). It’s a combination of a 2.0L 4-cylinder twin-charged (turbo and supercharger) petrol engine, an electric motor at the rear, and an 8-speed automatic transmission from Aisin. The output figures this time around are 335 kW (455 metric hp) and 709 Nm (523 lb-ft); up from 408 metric hp and 640 Nm. The official 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time is 5.4 seconds (0.2 seconds quicker), while the top speed is limited to 180 km/h (112 mph). The battery pack is a slightly larger 19 kWh unit, estimated to offer a pure electric range of up to 87 km (54 mi) in the city.
