Volvo XC90 review

Volvo did something unusual with the XC90. It declared it would never have a bigger engine than a 2.0-litre four cylinder, and that it would be mounted crossways in the engine bay. Now, this may sound like a strange way to start talking about the interior, but what Volvo’s decision means is that the engine bay is small. And a small engine bay means more room in the cabin.

Go to the far end of the XC90 and you’ll see what we mean. In most seven-seaters the rear pair press up against the tailgate. Here, there’s a 301-litre boot in that gap. And those rearmost seats aren’t small. Volvo says adults up to 170cm tall will fit. We say you can squeeze a beefy six-footer in for short hops as shoulder room is good too.

Start folding seats and boot space grows to 680 litres, then 1,950 litres. It’s a cavern. The plug-in hybrid one only loses a smidge of room to make way for the battery.

The three individual middle row chairs, when not folded flat, all slide and tilt individually, providing plentiful legroom.

But is it easy to operate? My back hurts, you see.

Don't worry, it’s not just the space on offer, it’s the operation of the seats and the ease with which they can be folded with a single hand; the quality of the movement, the thoughtfulness evident throughout.

Especially around the driving environment. Visibility is impressive, and Volvo was one of the first to adopt a portrait touchscreen. It’s not as large and glamorous as Tesla’s, but 2025's update has bumped the resolution up and increased its size to 11.2 inches. It works well, and Volvo has taken steps to make sure the stuff you're most likely to use is available right away on the homescreen. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay phone connectivity are supported.

Not that you’ll need them, necessarily: the Google-based infotainment system integrates Maps and a voice assistant, so you can shout your destination into the sat nav and control the aircon verbally too. Which is a great way around the lack of physical heating controls. Yeah, there's not much actual switchgear in here.

How much luxury do I need?

The cabin of the XC90 is a lovely place to spend time – even more so now that the dash has been remodelled with new vertical vents and recycled materials. So be brave. Don’t make it overly black inside, tempting though that might be if you have children. Instead bask in the pale woods and light fabrics that Volvo does so well.

To which end we’d steer you down the mid-spec Plus Pro route with its luxury touches, rather than the all-out Ultra. It just suits the XC90 better.

As of 2025, there's now more storage space in the centre console, and - fanfare at the ready - an extra cupholder! Oh, and Volvo has repositioned the wireless phone charger for added convenience.