Used 2022 Volvo XC90

Price: The 2022 Volvo XC90 starts at $49,900 for the base T5 FWD model. The most expensive models cross the $70,000 mark.

So you need a safe and practical family hauler, and you have the budget for something more luxurious than the average minivan. Enter the Volvo XC90. This is a midsize 3-row luxury SUV with a spacious, family-friendly interior, impressive fuel economy, and the top-notch safety scores you would expect from the Volvo brand. It also benefits from one of the nicest interiors in its competitive class and an excellent list of standard safety and tech features.

If you prioritize safety and a roomy interior over sporty performance, then the Volvo XC90 could be the right luxury SUV for you and your family.

The Volvo XC90 doesn’t have many direct competitors from its fellow European luxury brands other than the Audi Q7, which is more expensive and has a pretty cramped third row of seats. Its chief rivals are the more family-friendly choices in this class, like the Cadillac XT6, Lincoln Aviator, and Acura MDX.

Driving the 2022 Volvo XC90 is a serene experience. While you enjoy some of the most comfortable seats you’ll find in any SUV, you’re rewarded with a smooth and quiet ride, no matter which variant you choose. It gets even more comfortable with the air suspension available for the Inscription trim. The handling is pretty agile, but it’s not as sporty as its German contemporaries.

The turbocharged T5 powertrain is adequate but not awe-inspiring. It has enough muscle for everyday driving around town and on the highway, but it tends to run out of breath at high speeds when fully loaded with passengers and cargo.

If you intend to actually use all three rows of seats of the XC90, plus its generous cargo hold, then you should consider the “twin-charged” T6 powertrain with a turbocharger, a supercharger, and standard all-wheel drive. The performance improvement is significant, and it’s only 1 mpg less efficient than the T5 AWD powertrain in the city and on the highway.

Finally, the Recharge models come with the T8 plug-in hybrid powertrain. It’s similar to the T6, but it adds two electric motors. This is the most high-performance version of the XC90, with a net output of 400 horsepower. It manages an all-electric range of up to 18 miles, and it’s still pretty fuel-efficient, even with a drained hybrid battery.

The Volvo XC90 has one of the nicest interiors in its competitive class. It uses high-quality materials, and its classy interior design really makes you feel like you’re sitting in a high-end luxury SUV. The base Momentum model uses leatherette seats, while the Inscription and R-Design trims use perforated Nappa leather upholstery. These seats are incredibly comfortable in all trims, and you can add a massaging function to the front seats with the Lounge Package in the T6 and Recharge models.

A 7-seat configuration with a bench second-row seat comes standard. The T6 and Recharge models are available with a 6-seat setup with second-row captain’s chairs. The third row of seats is one of the roomiest and most accessible in this class. Plus, it has a big cargo hold to boot.

Among the many standard interior features are 4-zone automatic climate control, a memory driver’s seat, navigation, wireless charging, and much more. Available features include multiple premium audio systems, a Nubuck headliner, a head-up display, and much more.

The Volvo XC90 has smart Scandinavian styling with lovely body lines and a handsome light signature. The front grille uses the characteristic grille with the diagonal bar making it recognizable as a Volvo.

The look of this SUV changes a bit depending on the trim. The R-Design trim has a sporty aesthetic, while the Inscription trim has a more luxurious look. No matter which model you choose, you’re getting a nice-looking luxury SUV.

The size of the Volvo XC90 is about average for a midsize luxury SUV. It’s a little bigger than the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, and it’s a little smaller than the Lincoln Aviator and Audi Q7.

PERFORATED NAPPA LEATHER SEATS
The Nappa leather seats in the Inscription trim are some of the nicest, most comfortable seats in the competitive midsize luxury SUV segment.

RECHARGE POWERTRAIN
The Recharge models of the XC90 come with a plug-in hybrid powertrain that is the most powerful and most efficient engine option in this SUV.

The base model of the XC90 is the T5 Momentum trim. The T5 powertrain is a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine powering the front wheels. All-wheel drive is a $2,500 option on the T5 model and standard on every other XC90.

Standard features you get in the base model include 3-row seating for up to seven people, 19-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic moonroof, LED headlights, leatherette seats, 4-zone automatic climate control, power front seats with lumbar, wireless charging, navigation, auto-dimming mirrors, two front USB-A ports, and two rear USB-C ports.

Standard safety features in the XC90 include a blind-spot monitoring system with steering assist and cross-traffic alert with Autobrake, run-off road mitigation and protection, lane-keeping aid, a backup camera, and front/rear parking sensors.

The T6 powertrain of the XC60 adds a supercharger that brings a significant boost in performance, plus standard AWD. T6 also introduces the Inscription trim, making this SUV more luxurious with perforated Nappa leather seating, ventilated front seats, 20-inch wheels, and Harman Kardon premium audio. Leather seating and heated front seats are standard on all T6 models. This is also where second-row captain’s chairs become optional for an extra $500.

Upgrade to the Recharge plug-in hybrid model, and you’ll have your choice of three different trims. The Inscription Expression model is equipped similarly to the T6 Momentum trim. An R-Design trim adds a sporty appearance package plus special sport seats with Nappa leather or Nappa/Leatherette/Nubuk upholstery. An Inscription trim adds its own Nappa leather seats, which are ventilated in front. R-Design and Inscription both come with Harman Kardon premium audio and a tailored dashboard.

All trims are available with a Climate Package adding features like heated second-row seats and a heated steering wheel. They’re also available with an Advanced Package adding more tech features like a head-up display and a 360-degree camera. A Lounge Package available for the T6 and Recharge model adds massaging front seats and a Nubuk headliner.

A few individual options available for the XC90 include Park Assist Pilot, a Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system, air suspension (available only for the Inscription trim), and multiple wheel options.

Every Volvo XC90 has a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine under the hood, but three distinct powertrains are available. In the T5 powertrain, this engine is turbocharged and comes standard with front-wheel drive. It’s good on gas but a bit underpowered if you regularly haul a lot of passengers and cargo.

The more powerful T6 powertrain is “twin-charged,” meaning it employs both a turbocharger and a supercharger. It also comes standard with all-wheel drive. The result is a significant boost in performance with only a slight fuel economy penalty compared to the T5 AWD setup.

Finally, the Recharge models use a twin-charged, plug-in hybrid powertrain. This is the most powerful and most efficient version of the XC90. It can travel up to 18 miles on electricity alone, and even with a depleted battery, it returns 27 combined mpg, which is not bad for an SUV this size.

The more performance-oriented Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring is another plug-in hybrid in this class with a similar electric range and a similar MPGe rating as the Volvo but worse fuel economy with a drained battery.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (T5)
250 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
258 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500-4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/30 mpg (FWD), 20/28 mpg (AWD)

2.0-liter turbocharged/supercharged inline-4 (T6)
316 horsepower @ 5,700 rpm
295 lb-ft of torque @ 2,200-5,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/27 mpg

2.0-liter turbocharged/supercharged plug-in hybrid inline-4 (Recharge)
400 net horsepower @ 7,000 rpm
472 net lb-ft of torque @ 2,200-5,400 rpm
All-electric range: 18 miles
EPA combined fuel economy: 55 MPGe, 27 mpg with gasoline only