2024 Volvo XC90 Plug-in Hybrid

　　

2024 Volvo XC90 Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　, rating written byMark TakahashiNews Editor

　　Nick Yekikian has worked in the automotive industry since 2019. He has written close to a thousand car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 200 vehicles over the course of his career. Nick is the News Editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Automobile Magazine and Super Street. When Nick isn't zipping around town in his latest used-car find, he's probably making digital art in Photoshop or playing disc golf with friends.

　　On its own, the 2024 Volvo XC90 has a lot going for it. It's the largest SUV in the Swedish carmaker's portfolio, it's available as an efficient plug-in hybrid, and it's elegantly styled inside and out. With Volvo's fanatical devotion to safety tech, it's also a strong pick for growing families, but it's starting to show its age after eight years without a redesign. Still, even with nearly imperceptible changes this year (new wheels for the plug-in Recharge model), the XC90 remains one of the better luxury SUVs not from Germany, especially in plug-in hybrid form.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

Volvo XC90 PHEV Insights

Trim:XC90 Recharge T8 Core

　　Recharge T8 Core 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) - $71,900 MSRPRecharge T8 Plus 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) - $73,600 MSRPRecharge T8 Plus 4dr SUV AWD w/6 Passenger Seating (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) - $74,100 MSRPRecharge T8 Ultimate 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) (Most Popular) - $79,600 MSRPRecharge T8 Ultimate 4dr SUV AWD w/6 Passenger Seating (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) - $80,100 MSRP

　　

All Electric Range

　　EPA Estimated Range not available

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors | OpenStreetMap

　　from 58067

　　

Hybrid Parts Warranty

　　8 yrs or 100,000 milesHybrid batteries are federally mandated to carry at least 8 years or 100,000 miles of warranty coverage from the manufacturer. Batteries that lose capacity more rapidly than expected should be eligible for replacement under warranty. Coverage of additional hybrid components beyond the battery itself will vary by automaker.

　　

Charging at Home

　　No charging time information available

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　No rebates available in 58067

　　See All PHEV incentives

　　

Cost to Drive

　　Not Available

　　XC90

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　SUV Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　See All PHEV Insights

　　

zzdcar spotlight: Efficiency and safety

Among three-row midsize luxury SUVs, the Volvo XC90 distinguishes itself by offering a plug-in hybrid model. On a full charge, you should be able to log 32 miles of electric-only driving and once it's depleted, you'll still enjoy an impressive 27 mpg from the hybrid powertrain. In addition to the fuel savings and greener footprint, the XC90 comes with a comprehensive list of advanced safety features. You also get added assurance from its excellent crash test results, earning it a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

　　

Competitors to consider

The XC90 may have efficiency and safety mindedness in the bag, but a redesign may be needed to keep it competitive against some newer rivals. Both the Audi Q7 and Acura MDX deliver more enjoyable driving dynamics without sacrificing a comfortable ride quality. All of these SUVs are rather limited when it comes to third-row passenger space, but the MDX holds an advantage for its larger cargo capacity. For more luxury-minded shoppers, the Mercedes GLE is an excellent choice. We point out where the XC90 leads and where it follows in our Expert Rating.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.5

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the XC90 drive? The XC90 is a smooth operator on the road. We tested the Recharge T8 version, which has the plug-in hybrid powertrain. It's easy to drive sedately around town and accelerate quickly to highway speeds thanks to the powerful electric assist. At our test track, our test XC90 sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds. That's about average for a three-row luxury SUV.

　　Emergency braking from 60 mph was a tad longer than the segment average, but the Volvo's low-grip all-season tires are mostly to blame for the longer distance. The brakes themselves are easy to modulate and make coming to a smooth, considered stop easy.

　　While you don't get anything more than average handling in the XC90, it's composed and sure-footed on the road thanks to its all-wheel-drive system. Its suspension also maintains excellent control of the XC90's considerable mass over most any type of road surface so you needn't shy away from a twisty, scenic back road.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the XC90? While the seats are typically a highlight in Volvos, our test XC90 had wool upholstery instead of the typical leather. While it's nice to have a different material used, the wool is stretched tightly, and some of our editors thought they were a bit too firm. The ride quality is similarly taut, and even smaller lumps and bumps in the road can be felt through the seat. If it was up to us, we'd go for the leather seats and their softer padding (they also come with ventilation while the wool seats do not) and smaller wheels to ensure the ride is a tad more comfortable.

　　Those small gripes aside, the XC90 did prove to be a great cocoon. Outside noise and errant vibrations were kept to a minimum, and the high-quality feel of the interior only adds to the XC90's credibility as a modern luxury SUV.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below