2016 Volvo XC90 review

2016 Volvo XC90 Review: 

Volvo fully redesigned the XC90 for 2016, adding a new engine and bringing its luxury SUV up to snuff amid stiff competition. You can get the XC90 with either two or three rows, though most you'll find on the used market are of the three-row variety. The interior is roomy, and we like the minimalist design. If we have a complaint, it's the lack of small-item storage and the overreliance on the nine-inch touchscreen that sits between the front two seats. 

More advanced driver aids are made standard features later in the XC90's life (2018 and beyond), so you'll need to look for a higher trim or an XC90 with additional packages added for those features. The good news? Those features work very, very well. The impressive technology and sleek styling make the XC90 worth a look. 

• Technology

• Comfort

• Cargo and storage

• Ease of use

• Driving
  

What tech does the 2016 Volvo XC90 have?

Connectivity

Wired Apple CarPlay® is an available feature on the XC90, but Bluetooth® connectivity is standard. There's also an auxiliary audio input jack that allows you to manually plug in your tunes and a USB-A port that can be used to charge your devices, though it's likely to do so rather slowly compared to charging in a more modern vehicle.

Infotainment

A nine-inch touchscreen comes standard on the XC90. The touchscreen was quick to respond to touch in Edmunds' testing and the graphics are crisp and clean. The system is intuitive and should not take too long to learn and get used to. The voice command system is less impressive and does not work consistently.

Driver Assist Tech

Advanced driver aids are a highlight of the Volvo XC90. Adaptive cruise control works very well, with smooth transitions between accelerating and braking. It is one of the more satisfying systems available. Automated and emergency braking work as expected, and the alerts are helpful rather than panic-inducing. The lane-correcting tech may be overactive for some, but it does a good job of keeping you between the white lines. 

How comfortable is the 2016 Volvo XC90? 

Front Seating

The front seats of the Volvo XC90 are very comfortable and come with synthetic leather on the starting trim (Core). These seats are heated and power-adjustable. The seat heater works very well, though the cooling feature failed to make an impression. The available massaging seats are nifty, too. 

Rear Seating

The second-row seats are a bit stiffer than up front, but still comfortable enough for long drives. Some XC90s are equipped with a heated second row and an integrated booster seat. That feature is novel but not all that useful in our experience. The third row is cramped and not comfortable for adults, but it will do in a pinch. 

Ride Quality and Interior Noise

The XC90 is very good on the road, especially with the available air suspension. Even without the fancy suspension, the XC90 does a good job of soaking up bumps and imperfections on the road. The XC90's cabin is well insulated, too, which helps keep noise outside the vehicle, allowing for quiet conversations when you have a sleeping kiddo in the second row. 

Does the 2016 Volvo XC90 have good storage?

Cargo 

Cargo space is just OK if you're using all three rows. You get 10.6 cubic feet of storage behind the third row, which is not very much. If you aren't using all three rows, things improve substantially because the second and third row seats fold down flat. There's also a useful bit of cargo space underneath the cargo floor. 

Storage

The XC90's interior is very stylish. It is not terribly practical. There are two small cupholders inside a small tray in the center console. In other words, this is not a Big Gulp-friendly vehicle. There is more storage space in the second and third rows, and the door pockets are just fine for water bottles and other sealed containers. 

How easy is the 2016 Volvo XC90 to use?

Entry, Exit, and Car Seats

The XC90's seat cushions are right at thigh-level for a 6-foot-tall driver, but shorter drivers and passengers should not have much trouble getting in and out easily. Car seat installation is a mixed bag. There are LATCH points on the available second-row captain's chairs, but not in the third row. And only the passenger-side third row seat has overhead anchors, which limits the overall utility of the XC90. 

Interior Layout and Visibility

The good: Visibility is excellent out of the XC90, whether you're looking forward, to the side, or backward. And the infotainment and center console area of the SUV is very aesthetically pleasing. The bad: Far too much has to be done through the touchscreen. Feeling a little warm? That will take more than a couple taps on the touchscreen. A few knobs or buttons would go a long way toward making the XC90 easier to use. 

What’s the 2016 Volvo XC90 like to drive?

Driving

There are three available powertrains on the XC90: The T5, T6, and T8. The first two are the same, but the T6 gets you more power. The T8 is a plug-in hybrid and is substantially more powerful than the other two options while also getting you an EPA-estimated 14 miles in all-electric mode. The base engine is not very powerful and is a bit sluggish in acceleration. Otherwise, the XC90 is very nice to drive. The brakes build confidence thanks to their responsiveness and

Fuel Economy/Electric Efficiency

The XC90 is a (relatively) fuel-efficient SUV that gets between an EPA-estimated 23 and 27 miles per gallon depending on the engine you choose

EPA Fuel Economy Estimates