What's New
The 2020 Volvo XC90 gets a refresh for the new model year. Beyond a slightly new exterior design, Volvo’s flagship crossover gets 19-inch wheels, roof rails, and integrated exhaust pipes as standard. Going with the R-Design trim brings black exterior trim.
On the inside, a 12.3-inch display in the instrument cluster is standard, while a six-passenger configuration is now available. Range for the plug-in hybrid version has gone up by one mpg.
Choosing Your Volvo XC90
The XC90 is available in three trims: Momentum, R-Design, and Inscription. Prices start at $49,345 including destination for the Momentum and go up to $74,795 for the Inscription with the plug-in hybrid powertrain.
Engine Choices
There are three different powertrains to choose from with the XC90. All engines come with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Engine Type | Horsepower | Torque | Fuel Economy (Combined) |
T5 2.0L Turbo 4-Cylinder | 250 hp | 258 lb-ft | 25 mpg |
T6 2.0L Turbo and Supercharged 4-Cylinder | 316 hp | 295 lb-ft | 21 mpg |
T8 2.0L Turbo and Supercharged 4-Cylinder Plug-In Hybrid | 400 hp | 472 lb-ft | 27 mpg |
The Momentum and R-Design are available with all three powertrains, while the Inscription is only available with the T6 or T8. The T5 can be had with all-wheel drive for $2,500 on the Momentum and R-Design, while the T6 and T8 are exclusively all-wheel drive.
It costs $7,950 to move up to the T6 from the T5 on the Momentum, while the jump costs $5,900 on the R-Design. To get the T8, it costs $10,700 over the T6 across the range.
While not exactly cheap, the T6 powertrain is a much better option than the base T5. Tipping the scales at roughly 4,500 pounds, the XC90 isn’t a featherweight and only having 250 horsepower on tap from the T5 results in mediocre acceleration.
Passenger and Cargo Capacity
The XC90 seats seven as standard, but is available in a six-passenger configuration on Momentum and Inscription trims. With the Momentum, the six-passenger layout is an extra $9,250, but also brings the T6 AWD powertrain; it’s a more reasonable $500 on the Inscription trim.
Cargo capacity in the XC90 measures in at 15.8 cubic feet behind the third row, 41.8 cubic feet behind the second row, and a total of 85.7 cubic feet. These figures make the XC90 one of the more spacious options in the mid-size segment.
Safety Features
Volvo’s iconic for putting safety first. As such, the XC90 comes with a lengthy list of standard safety features. Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, a following distance indicator, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, road departure mitigation, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane keeping assist, speed limit recognition, and a driver attention monitor are all standard. Pilot Assist, which is Volvo’s semi-autonomous driver-assist system, is also included.
A head-up display, a surround-view camera, and front and rear parking sensors are available through the Advanced Package ($2,450).
Connectivity
Every XC90 comes with a 9-inch touchscreen that’s oriented vertically on the dashboard and a 12.3-inch display in the instrument cluster. It’s an all-encompassing infotainment system that includes Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, a wi-fi hot spot, and two USB ports.
Momentum - From $49,345
Standard features on the base Momentum include 19-inch wheels, a panoramic roof, four-zone climate control, synthetic leather upholstery, and a hands-free liftgate. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel are bundled together for $750. Navigation requires the $1,850 Multimedia Package.
R-Design - From $57,095
The R-Design brings a unique R-Design steering wheel, leather shift knob, aluminum sill molding, and exterior styling. Sport seats, a Harman Kardon audio system, and leather upholstery are also standard. Other standard features include 20-inch wheels and a headlight washing system.
Inscription - From $63,595
The range-topping Inscription adds a special Inscription front grille, wood interior trim, heated and ventilated front seats, and illuminated sill molding. The heated front seats and steering wheel, as the as the Advanced Package, are still optional.
Compare XC90 Trims Side-By-Side
The 2020 Volvo XC90 isn’t cheap, but its plush interior, smooth ride, and spacious cabin make the cost of entry worth it. The Momentum trim with the T6 powertrain is the sweet spot. We’d spec both available packages, because having more safety features never hurts, and heated seats in a luxury vehicle is a must.