Too old or more relevant than ever? Updated Volvo XC90 T8 PHEV driving REVIEW

In regards to driving experience Thomas - try once to test drive XC90 with Polestar software on T8 + pneumatic suspension. That one is for fun and driving experience even in normal Drive is much better with Polestar software.

Volvo 2025:
Updates the car

People 2025:
Nobody wants to
give 100k for 10 year old platform! Platform is 10 Years Old!!! Are they Normal!!!??

Volvo 2027:
New platform, brand new generation, "drastically improved".

People 2027:
Volvo 2015 was peak Volvo.

me:
With every Single car, same fucking shit...

Too bad it's so expensive for what's offering

Fun fact: The arrow through the Volvo logo on the grill always points to the hood release location.

But Volvo is Chinese now, why is so expensive then ???

Excellent review as always :) Thomas spot on as usual!

Volvos still is and always has been depressing.

Ugly exterior and interior … looks like a whale with a computer video game setup inside its head… putting an iPad on the central dash is one of the dumbest ideas in the auto industry, as is putting a moving glass roof in an SUV and a crystal gear shifter and climate controls in a touchscreen and twist on/off switch … Is there still no drive-mode switch on the steering wheel?

5 seat still exist, but not very popular

It would be perfect if the handling of this car is closer to the Germans

Timeless design❤

Aside from the tacky screen on the dashbt,it looks great. They need to learn how to integrate the laptop into the dashboard.

I liked the XC90 interior more than the ES90, at least from the driver's seat. I prefer the exterior looks of the predecessor, but this is more aligned with contemporary EV looks and I guess will stand the test of time well. It's too expensive and not an economic PHEV drive. All in all, a lot of competitors the Kia EV9 feels better and it's an EV, the Kia Sorento and Skoda Kodiaq are cheaper and improved. But this is still a Volvo, a proper Volvo. It's class.

I switched from an all electric car to a plug-in hybrid because I got tired of hunting for charging stations and waiting at charging stations for other users to unplug during long trips. I am so much happier with the Volvo V60 Polestar Engineered. BTW, awesome background scenery!! Kid cage!

Haha, the Germans have spoiled their interiors with excessive screens, cheap plastic, and unnecessary gimmicks. Meanwhile, Volvo kept its interior design with only minor updates, and now it feels unique and luxurious.

Tested a XC90 2 months ago with air suspension : totally disappointed. Was like a boat on a moving sea. Makes me sick with my son. Air suspension miss user settings as it belongs to drive mode. Also disappointed by engine, too responsive where gear shifting can be incertain on what to do on some situation. Driving assistance are too intrusive, speed limit make bips non stop.
Yes, it's confortable, very confortable, very good seats. Great capacity. But that's all. It need a serious upgrade comparing to Audi Q7, Kia EV9.

Give me 2.4 D5 diesel back, and I will vote with my money for this car.

The most dull and miss engendered car I have ever seen. A friend of mine has T6/8 from 2024 and the most premium package this car has. So that is pretty much everything good with this car.
Negatives of the car:
1) The most idiotic stuff they did is the active air suspension. It just does ride really woobly- meaning I have never got car sick- not with this one. The suspension is just terrible in my opinion.
2) Cornering - the whole car swings on the other side and feels unstable (words from the owner).
3) when cruising on a highway at 150-60km/h (90-100mph) and there’s a wind - again the car feels really unstable (owner opinion) I have never drove it myself.
* Seats are really comfortable
* Massage feature is good as well
* Sound insulation in the cabin is really good
* Car music/Sound is good
* Seat cooling is way worse than Kia Sportage (80k car vs 170k) there is only cooling on the back of the seat.
* At 5k km only there’s an annoying rattling sound from the second row seat (good it’s a slide seat and once you move it a bit front it’s okay)
* At 180km/h (110-15mph) the front bonet starts to swing and it’s about to latch out. Feels really terrible for a premium car. Good the car is limited to only 185km/h per dash.
I would never spend so much money on this nonsense.

Is Apple CarPlay Wireless?

Very nice review Thomas! We just traded in a 2018 T6, have had 2 2018 V90’s also T6’s (one R-Design, one cross country). It’s a very handsome vehicle and good value for the money, especially in the US. The seats are some of the most comfortable, only my old 2015 V60 R-Design were better in my vast experience. With the cargo size there is excellent utility for larger families.

I’ve said before, the engine is just not a premium experience and the ride is just OK. For a small engine, it’s not that economical, especially when you push, though the hybrid will help here. The switchgear is not that premium either and what is up with the manual steering wheel adjustment? Have to say our recent Q8 55 and new GLE580 are true premium/luxury Euro SUV’s, pleasures to drive with the premium engines and suspension, but they are expensive. If you can get a good deal, the Volvo is a good option for those needing the space. Also consider the V90 wagon, they are beautiful, drive well and are roomy; too bad the less refined 4 cylinder engine feel but many don’t care, many used to buzzy diesels.

I think the large, out-of-place screen looks horrendous but other than that, this design has really stood the test of time. I am not liking where the auto industry is heading for lots of reasons so I'm less and less interested in new cars. Right now, I have a '21 Volvo S60 R-Design and a '24 Audi Q4 etron. I think those might be the newest cars I ever own unless this horrible "screen everywhere" fad goes away.

How do you get the optional insulation package? I don’t see it on the website configuration in the USA

no

I had one recently as a courtesy car and I was really looking forward to it. However, I found it extremely disappointing in pretty much every measurable metric. The interior was cheap and nasty. The infotainment system felt last generation. The leather was poor quality and scratchy. It was very noisy & inspiring to drive, poor ride quality whilst managing to wallow. Our previous X5 had it beaten in every area. We now have a defender 130 which again I prefer by far.

@autogefuehl Do you still get electric boost even if the battery is empty? in some cars there is always something left. thank you!

Buttons. It’s got buttons and that’s why I’d choose it every time over the new EX90. I wish they hadn’t got rid of the 2015’s drive mode dial though. As I really missed that.

I wonder if the skylight still leaks? I have a 2018 XC90 - bloody horrible that it has flooded 5 or 6 times now. Volvo won’t assist. Seems to be a design fault with the drain hoses that “block up” causing water to drain into the roof and side pillars

Best Family/ Personal car ever in my biased opinion 😅. For the typical family of 3-4 or even the Couple or single person that's somewhat successful in life , this thing is amazing. It's spacious, it's comfortable, has probably the best sound system put in a car by a manufacturer and the 2L engines are just fine for regular driving whilst keeping tax low. If you're not a car enthusiast, this is the car for you.

Charging the battery while driving some calculated and is cheaper than paying the ev charge

Incredible how much more space Kia and hyundai are able to get from their similar sized cars.

Great review , I have the xc t8 and have no regrets. 😎

Such an elegant car. Thank you.

The model 240 of SUVs.

Too bad Volvo is not offering the dark or blacked out trim in the US market.

They really need to change that ugly rear design. It looks like a Honda Fit (Jazz)

Chinese company. No thank u. I will buy german ❤

Thanks for always highlighting animal-free interiors Thomas

Volvo made in china..No thank you..

Why have Volvo called the latest update 2025.5. Does it mean a new variant in 2026?

What would you chose? Q7 XC90 or X7?

Btw you missed reviews of headlights in the dark, infoteiment system. I was looking forward to it

great became even better.... looking better than ex90... without wagons this is the volvo to go...

This car would be perfect if Volvo were willing to upgrade their batteries to achieve a 180-200 km EV range.😊

alpine a290 test please.

Why always this focus on how sporty it feels from reviewers? If you want to have a sport cars buy a sports car with harsh dampers and so on?

SUPER! Super car! Better than German ones 👍👍👍

It's funny, I feel this disconnection from the road with German cars. Volvo gives me a sharper ride. Especially with the S90 models. 🤔

I hear it still has crappy and laggy Infotainment system