The Volvo CX90 is a luxury vehicle and priced accordingly, but in most respects definitely lives up to expectations.

By Keith Griffin

One can hardly blame a manufacturer for going overboard. However, Volvo may be right when it proclaims the 2025 Volvo XC90 to be the best ever. It’s a standout product.

The XC90 has long been a popular vehicle in the Northeast. In the span of just a few minutes recently, I walked by one in a parking lot, passed one going in the opposite direction on a local road, and was passed by another on the highway. If memory serves correctly, the XC90 was among the earliest luxury SUVs when it was introduced in 2002.

Volvo XC90 grille. Photo credit: Keith Griffin

Plug-In Power

The best feature of this XC90 is that it’s a plug-in hybrid. It features a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, an electric motor, and an 18.8-kWh battery, producing a combined 455 horsepower and 523 pound-feet of torque. Despite its small engine, the XC90 jumps off the line with an estimated 0-60 time of 5.1 seconds, according to Volvo. That’s borderline ridiculous for such a big vehicle.

The 2025 Volvo XC90 Plug-In Hybrid gets an EPA-estimated 58 MPG-equivalent in combined city/highway driving in electric/hybrid mode and 27 mpg combined in gas/hybrid mode.During summer months (without heavy AC use), the luxury SUV was capable of 36 miles of all-electric range. When that source was depleted, the XC90 switched seamlessly to internal combustion power.

Plug-in hybrids are really the best solution for those who want the electric-vehicle lifestyle without the range anxiety. With a range of over 400 miles from the gas engine, you can cover a lot of territory between fill-ups.

Volvo XC90 wheels. Photo credit: Keith Griffin

Comfort

Comfort is a true calling card of the XC90. It delivered a quiet ride on a recent college visit covering a few hundred miles, whether on local roads or interstate highways. It’s nimble in parking lots. Exit and entrance are easy. Two captain’s chairs comprise the middle row (a must for anybody with kids), and legroom is decent in the third row.

The XC90 has a well-appointed interior. There’s a nice mixture of materials comprising the front dash, including leather, faux wood, and metal. The good looks continue on the exterior, with the cross-thatch grill among the most stunning on the market.

Inside is where a couple flaws reveal themselves. The temperature and fan are controlled by push buttons on the main screen. Also, there is a learning curve for operating the sound system.

Also, the starter is a knob that you turn to get the XC90 rolling. However, when it’s time to shut the SUV down, you need to use the same starter button and turn it in the same direction. It’s counter-intuitive and wasn’t mastered after a week behind the wheel.

Keep in mind the XC90 is a luxury SUV and is priced accordingly. The base MSRP is $59,745 and can go north of $80,000 when all the extras are thrown in.

Volvo starter. Photo credit: Keith Griffin

Longtime West Hartford resident Keith Griffin is a veteran auto journalist whose work has been published in U.S. News & World Report, The Boston Globe and online for various New York Times companies. He is a past president of the New England Motor Press Association.

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