The 2024 Volvo XC90 is mostly the same as the 2023 model. Still, Volvo makes small changes to the SUV’s features and list of options. The biggest change is that the Dark look and the black exterior trim have been removed. The Bright theme and its chrome details are still there, though. Upgraded side windows are now standard on the Ultimate grade, which is the top of the line. For the turbocharged and supercharged XC90 B6 Ultimate, a new 22-inch wheel and tire kit is also offered.

Pros

• Beautiful outside building.
• A nice house with nice decorations.
• Safety gets high marks.

Cons

• It’s hard to get to the third row because it’s crowded.
• Bigger wheels make riding less enjoyable.
• On the inside, only the top trim is made of soft wool.

For the B5 and B6 powertrains, there is also a 48-volt electric motor. In B5 models, the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine makes 247 horsepower. Adding the B6 drivetrain, which comes standard on Ultimate and can be added as an extra on Plus, gives you 295 horsepower more. The XC90 Recharge plug-in hybrid, with 455 horsepower, is the most powerful car. All XC90s have all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic gearbox, no matter what trim level or engine they have. A Recharge could go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds on our test track. Many cars in this class lean a little when going around corners, but the Volvo doesn’t. It has sharp handling and a beautiful wheel that is somewhere between light and heavy. Our test car had an optional air suspension that made the ride smooth and comfortable. In addition, it could handle most driving situations. The only bad thing about the otherwise nice-looking XC90 is that the chassis can show some small flaws in the road when it hits really sharp bumps.

Volvo is known for putting safety first, and its three-row car comes with a lot of technology to help the driver. More information about the XC90’s crash test scores is available on the websites of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Some important safety factors are:

• Self-adjusting emergency brakes and forward crash warnings.
• It comes with blind-spot detection and back cross-traffic alert as standard.
• Normal warning for leaving your lane.

Inside the XC90, the high-quality materials and beautiful design make it a work of art in its class. We want more cars to look like this. If the trip is long, people will not like seats in the third row. Even though the XC90’s big, boxy shape makes it better at moving heavy things, the inside could be more roomy than in some competing models.

Aside from its plug-in hybrid powertrain, the XC90 gets about the same gas mileage as many of its six-cylinder rivals. The XC90 with the 295-hp B6 engine got 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway last year. The EPA said that the XC90 with the 247-hp B5 engine would get 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. EPA tests show that the XC90 Recharge got 66 MPGe. The EPA says it can go up to 36 kilometers on batteries alone. The XC90 Recharge didn’t even come close to meeting the EPA’s claims for gas mileage in our real-world highway test at 75 mph, where it got only 58 MPGe and could only go 29 miles on gasoline.

All XC90s come with a smart 9.0-inch touchscreen entertainment system that looks like a computer. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are built into all versions, but a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot is not required. It will work a lot better if it has more hard buttons that aren’t needed and more user-friendly on-screen settings.

Customers who want to move boats, trailers, or other toys should know that not all XC90s can pull up to 5,000 pounds. The base 247-hp B5 engine can only pull up to 4000 pounds, but the 295-hp B6 engine and the XC90 Recharge can pull that much.

When it comes to making your XC90 your own, Volvo gives you a lot of choices. There is a good mix between luxury, affordability, and power, though. Start with the Plus trim, add the optional 295-hp B6 powertrain, and stick with the cheaper seven-passenger bench-seat layout instead of the more expensive second-row captain’s chairs.