Used 2019 Volvo XC90 T6 R-Design SUV Review

The 2019 Volvo XC90 is a three-row luxury with broad appeal. At base trim levels, it's full of high-tech safety features and luxurious cabin materials, and it even starts at a reasonable price. But spec one out to the top of the trim-level ladder, and you've got an SUV with a refrigerator in the back seat, crystal glasses and a six-figure price tag.

No matter the trim level, we generally like the XC90. Standard equipment includes items such as adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and a 9-inch central touchscreen with navigation. You also get classy styling and a well-built interior with lots of room for the family.

Unfortunately, there are some drawbacks. The XC90 has a pretty stiff ride, especially with the larger 20-inch wheels, and the available powertrains can feel overworked. Sticking with the smaller 19-inch wheels helps improve ride quality, but it's worth noting that most vehicles in this class are better at absorbing bumps along the road. As for the engines, no matter what trim level you go with, you get a four-cylinder engine that's turbocharged, or turbocharged and supercharged, or turbocharged and supercharged and paired with a battery and an electric motor. This means the large XC90, while adequate around town, can run out of steam on hilly freeway sections.

Despite these flaws, there remains much to enjoy about the 2019 Volvo XC90. It's attractive both inside and out, well-equipped, and certainly worth a test drive.

Notably, we picked the 2019 Volvo XC90 as one of Edmunds' Best Midsize SUVs for this year.

The 2019 Volvo XC90 is a luxury SUV with three seating configurations and four trim levels: Momentum, R-Design, Inscription and Excellence. Three engine choices of increasing power are offered for most trim levels, named T5, T6 and T8 eAWD Plug-in Hybrid. The T5 is available in either a front- or all-wheel drive configuration, while the other drivetrains come with all-wheel drive.

For standard equipment, the base Momentum comes with 18-inch wheels, LED lighting, a panoramic sunroof, a power tailgate, a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, keyless entry and ignition, premium vinyl upholstery, four-zone automatic climate control, heated washer nozzles, eight-way power front seats with power lumbar adjustment, driver-seat memory settings, 40/20/40-split second-row seats (with individual slide and recline functions), a 50/50-split third-row seat and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

Technology features include Pilot Assist partially autonomous (Level 2) driving with adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assist, an oncoming-traffic lane mitigation system, a 9-inch central touchscreen, a navigation system, voice controls, Bluetooth, support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a 10-speaker sound system with satellite radio and two USB ports.

The T5 uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine (250 horsepower, 258 lb-ft of torque) and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Either front- or all-wheel drive is available, and opting for the latter adds heated front seats.

The T6 upgrades to a supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (316 horsepower, 295 lb-ft of torque) and all-wheel drive. This powertrain adds to the Momentum trim level 19-inch wheels, dual tailpipes, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and leather upholstery.

The T8 eAWD Plug-in Hybrid uses the same engine as the T6 but adds an 87-horsepower electric motor and battery. Total output is 400 horsepower and 472 lb-ft of torque. A 240-volt Level 2 charger can fill the battery in about two-and-a-half hours, and the EPA rates the pure-electric range at 17 miles. The T8 comes with a tire repair kit in lieu of a temporary spare and tools.

The R-Design trim level is largely a sporty appearance package, adding 20-inch wheels and different exterior and interior design elements. It also offers a sport steering wheel with shift paddles, upgraded sport seats (with power thigh support), premium leather upholstery, a Harman Kardon premium sound system, rear window shades, and illuminated step plates.

The Inscription is available on the T6 and the T8. It's similar to the R-Design but features its own wheel, interior and exterior trim designs. Interior upgrades include power side support, cushion extension, and ventilation for the front seats.

Available only on the T8, the Excellence trim level practically turns the XC90 into a luxury limousine. In place of the rear bench seat, the Excellence adds two captain's chairs with footrests, a rear center console with folding trays, a touchscreen controller, heated and cooled cupholders, and two crystal glasses. All four seats in the Excellence come standard with ventilation, heat and massage functions. Additional upgrades include bright exterior trim, 21-inch wheels, an adaptive air suspension, extended leather upholstery, additional sound deadening, a 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system, added rear-seat USB ports, two iPad holders and a refrigerator.

Most options are grouped into packages. The Advanced package builds on the standard T5 Momentum equipment by adding adaptive headlights, headlight washers, a top-view parking system, front parking sensors, automated parking assist and a head-up display. The Multimedia package is for the T5 Momentum as well, and it adds Navigation, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and the Harman Kardon sound system. The Inscription-only Luxury package adds heated rear seats, a simulated suede headliner, leather grab handles and sun visors, and a massaging function for the front seats.

Individual option highlights depend on trim level and include an adaptive air suspension (with adaptive dampers), a heated steering wheel, a head-up display, a built-in second-row child booster seat, a 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, and 20-, 21- or 22-inch wheels.