Big sport-utility vehicles with three-rows of seats are used for all sort of things. They serve as limousines, taxis, police vehicles, but most of all as a suburban carryalls transporting children to school and sports, clients to meeting and friends to dinner.
The versality, combined with ample interior space and extra seats have made them a ubiquitous feature of any urban suburban streetscape across the United States.
Since SUVs evolved from body-on-frame vehicles, popular with Americans, most of them are made in the United States with a few exceptions such as the XC90 Recharge, which, over the years, has become a mainstay of the Volvo product line and is made in Sweden.
Overview
The 2023 Volvo XC90 Recharge AWD Ultimate is outfitted with the comfort and convenience features expected in an expensive vehicle with a price tag of more than $85,000. It is large and comfortable capable of carrying up to seven passengers and the luggage needed for a holiday outing.
The Recharge also has a plug-in-hybrid powertrain, which dramatically increases the vehicle’s overall fuel efficiency. Additionally, it is built with Volvo’s attention to the protection of the driver and passengers as well as pedestrians and cyclists.
Exterior
It is hard to disguise a big SUV such as the XC90. But Volvo’s stylists have worked to endow the XC90 with visual appeal. The profile is enhanced by the broad shoulders and tailored roofline with its roof rails. But the real strength of exterior designs comes at the corners with the well-designed light fixtures at front and rear corners, which are enhanced by the 21-inch wheels.
The distinctive front fascia and grille, which is amplified by the bright chrome bar through the grille that comes with the Inscription and the Volvo marque. The “Thor’s Hammer” headlights complete the look of the XC90.
Interior
Scandinavians are known for creating home interiors or any indoor spaces — including vehicles — that are inviting and practical at the same time, and that skill is apparent in the Volvo XC90. It is filled with unique material, such as the environmentally friendly seat coverings and carefully placed accents, which serve to enhance the overall design.
The cabin is well-insulated from road noise, minimizing stress, while the technology is nicely integrated, though the tablet in the center stack is beginning to look dated. The interior also is filled with storage spaces, and the sound quality from the entertainment system is first rate. The driver’s seat also offers an expansive view of the road and the lighting scheme used in the cabin during nighttime driving is first rate.
Powertrain
In keeping with Volvo’s practice of using only small engines. The Volvo XC90 AWD Ultimate is equipped with a 2.0-liter engine with turbocharging and direct injection, coupled with an 8-speed automatic transmission with start-stop. The powertrain also features an electric motor and high-voltage battery with recharging cables.
The combination of gasoline and electric motors produces 455 horsepower and 523 pound-feet of torque as well as different driving modes The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gives the vehicle an electric only rating of 58 mpg and combined gas and electric rating of 55 miles per gallon. The combined city and highway rating for the gasoline engine in the Volvo XC90 is 27 mpg. The XC90 Recharge also can tow up to 5,000 pounds.
Safety and Technology
The Volvo XC90 is equipped with front-, and side-impact airbags as well as whiplash protection front seats. It also comes with blind-spot detection with cross-traffic alerts, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assistance and driver alert system as well as adaptive cruise control.
Collision avoidance with automatic braking and pedestrian and cyclist detection, plus run-off road protection and rear park assist camera are also part of the package. The XC90 also comes with LED headlights, smartphone charging, parking assistance, built-in Google maps and Google assistant, 9-inch integrated touchscreen, Bluetooth, XM Radio, Bowers and Wilkins premium sound system and two USB ports in the front seat and two USB ports in the rear seats.
Driving Impressions
The XC90 is surprisingly nimble for a vehicle of its size, which helps make it easy to drive in heavy traffic. The vehicle’s suspension levels out all sorts of road surfaces and the combination of suspension, electric steering and excellent brakes provide solid driving dynamics. The positions of the larger battery for hybrid power train also had to the vehicle’s overall stability.
The solid driving dynamics are complemented by the vehicles impressive power with its turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which is augmented by the electric motor, producing an additional horsepower to help enhance the pleasure of driving on short and longer trips where the vehicle’s quiet, comfortable cabin comes into play.
2023 Volvo XC90 Recharge AWD Ultimate Specifications
| Dimensions | L: 195 inches/W: 79.1 inches/H: 69.9 inches/Wheelbase: 117.5 inches |
| Weight | 4,581 pounds |
| Powertrain | 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with electric motor; 8-speed automatic transmission and AWD |
| Fuel Economy | 55 MPGe combined/27 mpg combined |
| Performance Specs | 455 horsepower and 523 pound-feet of torque |
| Price | Base price: $71,900; As tested: $85,495 plus $1,095 destination and handling |
| On-Sale Date | Available now |
Wrap Up
The Volvo XC90 Recharge AWD Ultimate is an impressive vehicle, and pricey vehicle. It is equipped with full range of comfort and convenience features and more than enough power for outfitted with some of the very latest in automotive technology, including a full array of driver assistance features and safety equipment. The vehicle is well suited to its roll as a suburban carryall, but all things considered, it is expensive.
2023 Volvo XC90 Recharge AWD Ultimate — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the EV range of the 2023 Volvo XC90?
While you’ll have up to 35 miles of pure electric driving range, a 2.0-liter Drive-E gasoline engine helps ensure you’ll never be stranded while waiting on a charge.
Does the Volvo XC90 recharge charge while driving?
Use the Hold and Charge function to control your Volvo XC90 SUV’s hybrid battery while the car is in motion. You can maintain or charge your battery while driving and save your battery for when you need it.
Can I leave my Volvo charging overnight?
It is completely safe to leave an electric vehicle charging (or plugged-in) overnight. In fact, charging at night allows you to take advantage of off-peak electrical hours so you can get your car charged for cheaper.
