2021 Volvo XC90 review

2021 Volvo XC90 Review: 

The 2021 Volvo XC90 is a three-row luxury SUV with a roomy interior and a stylish exterior. It's the biggest vehicle made by Volvo and comes standard with seven-passenger seating and three engine combinations, including a plug-in hybrid that can go an EPA-estimated 18 miles on a single charge. 

Every XC90 comes with many desirable driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, and these aids work very well. Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ are also standard features, and the nine-inch touchscreen is easy to learn and use. It's not the quickest or the largest luxury SUV available, but if you dig Volvo's styling and driver aids are important to you, the XC90 is worth a look.

• Technology

• Comfort

• Cargo and storage

• Ease of use

• Driving

What tech does the 2021 Volvo XC90 have?

Connectivity

Wired Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ come standard on the 2021 Volvo XC90. There are two USB-C ports in the center console of the XC90, allowing you to charge your device. You can also connect to the XC90's infotainment system using Bluetooth®. Both the 14-speaker Harman Kardon® and 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins® sound systems, exclusive to the top-level Ultimate trim, are very good. 

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. If you have an Apple device, you're better off using Siri® rather than the built-in voice control system. 

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 2021 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. The second row is heated on the Plus and Ultimate trims, and those trims also get a built-in booster seat. That feature is novel, but not all that useful. 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 2021 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 2021 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 2021 Volvo XC90 like to drive?

Driving

There are three available powertrains on the XC90: The B5, B6, and Recharge T8. The first two are the same, but the B6 gets you more power. The Recharge T8 is a plug-in hybrid and is substantially more powerful than the other two options while also getting you an EPA-estimated 18 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 the XC90 handles well for a vehicle of its size. All-wheel drive is standard on the XC90. 

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

. The plug-in hybrid XC90 (T8 Recharge) can go an EPA-estimated 32 miles on electricity alone. Competitors like the Audi Q7 net 21 mpg, which is worse but not by a huge margin. 

EPA Fuel Economy Estimates