2023 Volvo XC90 Review

Name: 2023 Volvo XC90
Brand: Volvo

Price Range: $36,590 - $53,590

2023 Volvo XC90 Recharge T8 Plus Bright 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

The 2023 Volvo XC90 isn't your typical Audi Q7, BMW X5 or Mercedes-Benz GLE, and that's a good thing. Highlights include helpful technology features and a stylish cabin. The available plug-in hybrid powertrain provides a useful amount of all-electric range too. The XC90 might just be the easiest choice outside of something from Germany.

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SUV
Plug-in Hybrid

2023 Volvo XC90 Review

by the Edmunds Experts

7/10/2023

What's new

Trim levels have been renamed and revamped
Engine choices are renamed and receive some revisions
New Google-based infotainment system
Part of the second XC90 generation introduced for 2016

What is the XC90?

The 2023 XC90 is Volvo's three-row midsize luxury SUV and the largest and most expensive model in the Swedish automaker's lineup. We became big fans of the XC90 following its 2020 refresh, which added a plug-in hybrid version. That complemented a vehicle that already came with great materials and a spacious cabin, something Volvo does well.

On the horizon is the production version of the Concept Recharge, Volvo's first vehicle built from the ground up to be an EV. It represents Volvo's move toward an all-electric future, which the automaker aims to make a reality by 2030. This vehicle will also include Ride Pilot, a new autonomous driving function that Volvo says will operate without driver supervision.

Volvo is replacing the XC90 SUV with a new electric vehicle that it will unveil in 2022. The new EV will include all components necessary to operate Ride Pilot, including five radar sensors, eight cameras, 16 ultrasonic sensors, a lidar unit, and the software to control it. But the technology will still have to be approved by regulators before it can be deployed.

The XC90 was last refreshed in 2020 but has not received a full redesign since 2016, so it's getting a little long in the tooth. It's unclear what exactly Volvo plans to do with its biggest nameplate for the 2023 model year, but change is on its way.

Edmunds says

The Volvo XC90 remains a solid and spacious SUV, able to hold its own against the Acura MDX and Infiniti QX60. Just keep in mind that a next-generation vehicle, whether it carries the XC90 nameplate or not, is on the horizon.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Texas

$181/mo

$203/mo

Avg. Large SUV

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Reliability

The 2023 Volvo XC90 has a 4 years / 50,000 miles basic warranty and 5 recalls. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5, ranks it #17 out of 29 among Luxury Midsize SUVs. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

3.5 out of 5 stars3.5/5Above Average

#17 out of 29 among Luxury Midsize SUVs

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

$621/yr

vs. $602/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize SUV

Frequency

1.68x/yr

vs. 1.09x/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize SUV

Severity

10.9%

vs. 9.4%
for Average Luxury Midsize SUV

Recalls

5 recalls found

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Recall Number:: 25V282000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: R10320
Manufactured from:: 2021-06-08 to 2025-01-25
Number of vehicles affected:: 413151
Defect Description:: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, C40, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40 and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Defect Consequence:: A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:: The software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 24, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10320.

Recall Number:: 23V827000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: R10259
Number of vehicles affected:: 2911
Defect Description:: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2015-2024 XC90 vehicles. The second-row seat belt buckle and lower belt anchor bolts may not be tightened properly.
Defect Consequence:: An improperly tightened seat belt buckle may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing their risk of injury during a crash.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will inspect and tighten the second-row seat belt buckle anchorage bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 19, 2024. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10259.

Recall Number:: 23V188000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: R10225
Number of vehicles affected:: 329
Defect Description:: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 S60, V60CC, XC60, XC90, XC40, and C40 vehicles. A diagnostic trouble code (DTC) may be falsely detected for the emergency call system (e-call) and display "e-Call Service Required" in the driver information module (DIM).
Defect Consequence:: The false warning message could prevent the detection of an actual e-call system failure, which could delay an emergency response during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will update the telematics and connectivity antenna module (TCAM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 16, 2023. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10225.

Recall Number:: 23V012000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: R10217
Number of vehicles affected:: 27457
Defect Description:: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 S60, V60, V60CC, V90CC, XC60, XC90, XC40, and C40 vehicles. A diagnostic error in the Brake Control Module 2 (BCM2) may cause a loss of Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and traction control.
Defect Consequence:: A reduction in brake support functions can increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:: Volvo will release an over-the-air (OTA) BCM2 software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 15, 2023. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10217.

Recall Number:: 22V793000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: R10198
Number of vehicles affected:: 15674
Defect Description:: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2022-2023 S60, V60, S90L, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. An electronic control module (ECM) software error may prevent the combustion engine from starting, causing a loss of drive power.
Defect Consequence:: The vehicle may lose drive power as the high voltage battery is depleted, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will update the ECM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 8, 2022. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10198.

Warranty

4 years / 50,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 12 years / unlimited miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 4 years / unlimited miles
Free maintenance Warranty: 3 years / 30,000 miles

Volvo XC90 Owner Reviews

3.5

37 reviews

5(41%)

4(22%)

3(5%)

2(8%)

1(24%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Which trim you buy is key! Details are important.

An engineer, 08/08/2023

2022 Volvo XC90 T5 Momentum 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

I am a car guy (engineer) working in the auto industry (do not work for Volvo) but I do work for a key Volvo supplier. Never owned a Volvo before my 2021 (S60) and I was so impressed that I also purchased an XC90 T5 for my wife. (In 30 years we have owned Nissan, Infiniti, Honda, VW, BMW, Cadillac and do not have any complaints about any of those brands. They were all trouble-free.) … Knowing the history of the engines, I chose the T5 trim for both our S60 and XC90. Those that mention premature rebuild of engines due to excessive oil burning, yes, that has happened, especially with the early T5 engines from 2015-2018. Those issues were addressed with new piston rings so the new T5/T6 engines are usually flawless, except the supercharger on the T6 has had some premature failures. I prefer the T5 (2023 mild hybrid and called B5) because it is a much simpler engine design that has been in production for about 10 years now. Neither of our Volvos consume any appreciable amount of oil between oil changes. The T5 feels peppy enough as long as you're not driving a loaded car all the time. Due to the numerous issues with the Recharge (T8), I recommend to avoid it. The ride in the XC90 is great with no appreciable wind noise. It is solid and definitely the most solid car we have ever owned. The S60 is very much a tank just like the XC90. There are a ton of engineering safety features (real tangible things, not gimmicks) in the car that I would not spend time explaining here that are very unique and advantages that Volvo has over every other brand. For that reason alone, I bought my first Volvo. We usually keep cars for many years and so far it looks like this one will be like it. No issues at all from either of our Volvos. Just oil changes. Again, the trim level matters. The Recharge is a very complex car with new technology that works well but is not reliable. This applies to any other premium plug-in hybrid. Just be ready to deal with those issues and do not expect a vehicle so complex with tons of software and electronics to be as reliable as a pure gas car. Finally, I would like to say that the build quality is amazing. If you're into cars and work on them, you will notice that of Volvos immediately. Look under the car and it is a work of art. The organization of the components and quality of the build is second to none. The extensive use of aluminum is another indication that this car is definitely a premium vehicle.

XC-90 Recharge - The Good & The Bad

Lt Dan, 03/22/2022

2022 Volvo XC90 Recharge Plug-In Hybrid T8 Inscription 4dr SUV AWD w/6 Passenger Seating, Prod. End 11/21 (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A)

I have now had (3) XC-90's. Two T-6's and now the 2022 T-8 Inscription Recharge. Interior wise they are all essentially the same except the T-8 has a crystal shift knob. Sound systems are all the same and excellent. I had a loaner with the upgraded sound system in it and its not worth the extra $$$ IMO. So let's talk about the recharge hybrid functions that you likely won't understand … just taking a test drive. I've got 20K on mine so I have a lot of drive time with it. The charging cable can be plugged in to a regular 110v outlet in your garage with the adapter that comes with the cable, it takes about 7 hours or so to fully charge. If you have a 220v connection installed you can use the other adapter it comes with and it charges in about 3 hours. A single charge is good for 20 miles. That's it! In my opinion 30-40 miles would be ideal. The hybrid mode varies the engine in between electric (under 70 mph) and gas when you have charge left, otherwise it's all gas all the time. There is substantial lag when you want/need to accelerate quickly in hybrid mode from a standing stop. I mean noticeably a lot, like 1/2 a second a lot. I should point out that the T-8 is NOT AWD all the time like the T-6 (and even that isn't really AWD all the time either) but I digress, you have to go into the menu and select AWD otherwise the car is front wheel drive. The vehicle apparently reserves some of the charge for AWD as the rear engine (rear wheel drive) is electric. To date I have never needed AWD even in the snow. Where is the 400 HP you may be wondering? Well if you change the drive mode from hybrid to sport now you get the full brunt of the 400 HP engine all the time, otherwise, meh, not really all that noticeable in hybrid mode. But, and here's the bad part of that, if you really stomp on it in sport mode, the car takes off like a shot, however, with borderline dangerous torque steer! So hang on to that steering wheel! The actual shifting into gear has 2 modes "D" for drive and "B" for battery. If you use "B" as you should, it charges the battery using your braking and the engine braking a little bit, but its something. The vehicle, for me, gets about 29 MPG average. I drive 24 miles each way to work and I don't have access to a charging station at work or I would be getting way more than that. The best way to drive/manage the vehicle's performance (not gas mileage) in my opinion, is run the vehicle in hybrid mode on local roads, it won't take much to run out the battery. I drive a big portion of my daily drive on the highway where the 400 HP is more of a necessity. So I switch to sport mode entering the highway and switch back to hybrid when I'm back to local. Sounds like a pain, and you don't have to do that, I'm saying how I do it. The XC-90 has a bunch of other features like reserve charge, etc, way too much to go into here. To summarize the XC-90 Recharge is a very nice vehicle. Period, full stop. But the hybrid functionality could use some work. The torque steer is a real issue if you drive aggressively, even occasionally, and the battery life needs improvement. Would I get another one? Given the current fuel prices probably yes.

Citrus flavored

Liz, 08/13/2022

2022 Volvo XC90 Recharge Plug-In Hybrid T8 Inscription 4dr SUV AWD w/Prod. End 11/21 (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A)

Sadly what should’ve been a peach of a car is turned out to be more of a lemon! My first couple of months of the car I was extremely happy with my purchase. Then all the previously mentioned in other reviews issues with the batteries and the module (whatever that is) started. I have had to leave the car for three separate occasions totaling nearly two months as they had difficulties …

Stealth Luxury!

dano77vette, 01/17/2022

2022 Volvo XC90 T6 Inscription 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger 8A)

XC 90 Inscription hit all the key features that we were looking for and more without the outward appearance of high end luxury. It is just a Volvo (not a Mercedes or BMW!) Comfort was the first consideration. The driving experience, visibility, heads up display and lane keeping make longer drives a breeze. The seats in the car are amazing. Both the driver and the passenger have the …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2023 Volvo XC90, so we've included reviews for other years of the XC90 since its last redesign.

See all 37 reviews of the Volvo XC90

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2023 XC90 Highlights

Type:

SUV

Trim:

B5 Core

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$56,000
Engine Type	Mild hybrid
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$181/month
Seating	7 seats
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the XC90 models:

Volvo On Call: Notifies emergency services in the case of an accident or stolen vehicle and allows for remote door locking and unlocking.
360-Degree Surround View Camera: Gives you a top-down view of the XC90 and its surroundings for tight parking situations.
Lane Keeping Aid: Warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover17.9%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Good
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2023 Volvo XC90 Review

Price & Payment

2023 Volvo XC90 Review

What's new

What is the XC90?

Edmunds says

Cost to Drive

Reliability

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Recalls

Warranty

Volvo XC90 Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Trending topics

Which trim you buy is key! Details are important.

XC-90 Recharge - The Good & The Bad

Citrus flavored

Stealth Luxury!

2023 XC90 Highlights

Safety

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