Skip advert
Advertisement

Volvo XC90 review - is range topping T8 hybrid any good? - Design

Volvo targets German SUVs – and creates a Range Rover rival

Evo rating
RRP
from £46,850
  • Stunning interior, quality feel, huge reserves of refinement
  • Not the sharpest thing to drive

Design

The exterior is similar to the old XC90, albeit sharpened up, smoothed out and given the latest high-tech detailing. And it works really well, especially as it masks the Volvo’s bulk – the XC90 is almost five metres long, more than two metres wide and 1776mm tall. So it’s not a small machine, but standing next to it, the XC90 doesn’t dominate.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Some of the detailing is fabulous – the ‘Thor’s hammer’ daytime running lights stand out in particular, and are fitted range-wide as standard in the UK. The entire car looks sophisticated and modern, without resorting to complicated or gratuitous design trends. You might say it's very Swedish, in that respect – and like the model it replaces, it shouldn't age too quickly.

Best of all, it looks good no matter what size wheels it is sitting on nor which trim you specify. At the launch event, there was a beautiful-looking R Design finished in a matte blue paint, but as yet Volvo UK isn’t planning on bringing that finish here. It should do, because it made an already handsome SUV look absolutely fantastic.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Alpine A290 GTS 2025 review – is the Renault 5 relative a true hot hatch?
Alpine A290 – front
Reviews

Alpine A290 GTS 2025 review – is the Renault 5 relative a true hot hatch?

Alpine’s all-electric future starts with the Renault 5-based A290. Does it have enough edge to warrant the Alpine badge?
5 Feb 2025
Alpine A110 R Ultime is faster than a 991 Turbo S at the Nürburgring
Alpine A110 Ultime
News

Alpine A110 R Ultime is faster than a 991 Turbo S at the Nürburgring

The most focussed A110 yet lowers the Nordschleife time of the A110 R by 20 seconds, going some way to justifying its expected £180,000 price tag
7 Feb 2025
The V8-powered Audi RS6 isn’t dead after all
Audi RS6 jump
News

The V8-powered Audi RS6 isn’t dead after all

Audi has reverted its decision to turn the A6 range all-electric, ensuring the next RS6 receives a V8
4 Feb 2025