The Volvo XC90 Is Over a Decade Old and Reviewers Still Call It the Best Family SUV Around
Both reviews make the same point with genuine admiration: rather than replace this generation with something all-new, Volvo simply refreshed it again for 2025 — and more than ten years after launch, it still leads the class it helped define.
Proof That Getting It Right the First Time Actually Works
Most manufacturers wouldn't dare keep a decade-old platform on sale without a full replacement. Reviewers keep suggesting Volvo's confidence in doing exactly that says everything about how well this car was engineered from the start.
Specs at a Glance
| Body style | Seven-seat luxury SUV |
|---|---|
| Engines | B5 mild-hybrid petrol (247bhp), T8 plug-in hybrid (406bhp) |
| T8 electric range | Just under 43 miles official |
| 0–62mph (T8) | 5.4 seconds |
| Built at | Gothenburg, Sweden |
Full Review Summary
Top Gear
Top Gear credited Volvo with essentially inventing the modern premium seven-seat SUV formula back in 2003, and rated this second generation — on sale since 2014, facelifted again for 2025 — as still the best family SUV available. They found the cleaned-up exterior design, updated interior tech and re-tuned suspension genuinely worthwhile despite being fundamentally the same car underneath, and praised standard Pilot Assist driver aids across the entire range as a genuine safety highlight.
Motoring Research
Motoring Research measured the T8 plug-in hybrid's 43-mile electric range as genuinely usable for school-run duties, and praised air suspension on higher trims for its noticeably positive effect on ride quality. They found the enlarged touchscreen looks less neatly integrated than before, comparing it to "someone stuck an iPad" to the dashboard, and flagged wired-only Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as a genuine oversight given the car has wireless phone charging. They rated the third row as a genuinely usable full seat rather than a token extra, a rarity even among plug-in hybrid seven-seaters.
Strengths
- Genuinely one of the best all-round family SUVs available
- Usable, comfortable third-row seating
- Strong plug-in hybrid electric range for genuine school-run use
- Excellent standard safety technology across the range
Weak points
- Wired-only smartphone mirroring despite wireless charging being standard
- Genuinely expensive, especially in T8 form
- Large touchscreen looks less integrated than before
- Feels genuinely large for tight urban parking
Who It Actually Suits
Buyers who want genuine seven-seat practicality, strong safety credentials and are happy to pay a premium for a car that's remained class-leading over a decade after launch. The T8 makes particular sense for anyone who can charge regularly and wants a genuinely silent school run.