Volvo was late to join the SUV bandwagon when it launched the XC90 in 2002. But even though it was late, its product was a next-generation SUV with pioneering technologies that addressed some of the issues related to the safety of such tall vehicles.
Over the past 22 years, the XC90 has continued to evolve and remain a respected and admired product with the trademark safety standards of the Swedish automaker. It has also kept with the electrification trend, in line with Volvo’s commitment to do its part to prevent climate change, although it has thus far not gone fully electric.
Nevertheless, Volvo’s data shows that even with the plug-in hybrid powertrain, XC90 owners still do a lot of their driving running on just electricity. This means that many drivers do their daily travel with zero tailpipe emissions. “In fact, our data shows that around half of the distance covered by the latest plug-in hybrid Volvo cars is driven on pure electric power,” the automaker said.
The current model is still in only its second generation which was launched in 2015. Far from being dated, its appearance remains contemporary and all the designers have had to do is refresh it a bit for the new model year.
This makeover is evident in the usual areas such as the grille, bonnet and bumpers. The headlights with the distinctive ‘Thor’s hammer’ are slimmer and more integrated, while the grille with the ‘iron mark’ has a completely revised appearance.
The looks are said to reflect the brand’s ongoing transition towards full electrification and echoes elements of recent fully electric models.
The interior has more change than usual, with enhanced practicality that draws on the latest user experience offered in the new EX90 and EX30. There’s a larger central touchscreen with higher resolution (pixel density increased by 21%), for a sharper display so more detail can be seen in views around the vehicle.
The content on the screen represents the biggest change. The most common apps and controls, such as maps, media and phone on the home screen are similar to what’s found in the fully electric models. Operations are also simpler, with fewer taps on the screen to get to the features most often used.
This new-generation user experience can be adapted and scaled to fit different screen shapes and sizes. This means it will not only be available in the latest model but also older ones. Around 2.5 million owners around the world will receive this upgrade via the over-the-air (OTA) process which does not require them to go to a service centre.
The upgrade, which is available for vehicles back to the 2020 model year is said to be one of the most comprehensive infotainment updates by any automaker to date. It costs owners nothing and will bring many of today’s features and technologies to owners of older models, something which was never possible before.
As with every Volvo, the XC90 is one of the safest cars available. It is equipped with an advanced safety cage, as well as a comprehensive suite of active safety features to help the driver avoid an accident. Using radar and a front camera, the XC90 can detect dangerous conditions and autonomous systems will respond to prevent an accident, if the driver doesn’t do so.
Finally, the ride has also been improved with a more advanced suspension. Each individual damper is now able to adapt mechanically to current road conditions to optimise both comfort and stability. In some markets, there is also the option of air suspension which works together with an active chassis that monitors the car, road and driver 500 times per second to give the most comfortable ride possible.