2025 Volvo XC90 First Look

Volvo's three-row crossover SUV has fresh looks, upgraded tech, and a new electric sibling.

Andrew Ganz | 

Sep 17, 2024 | 2 min read

Volvo

Volvo isn't content to let the all-electric EX90 be its only three-row SUV in the spotlight.

The Swedish automaker just unveiled an updated version of its XC90 SUV. The 2025.5 — it'll be marketed as a half-year model — XC90 isn't all new, but it boasts fresh styling and improved tech.

Volvo

The XC90 Flaunts a New Fascia

The XC90 has an updated look outside, and the vertical bars of the 2024 model's grille are gone. The automaker's signature Iron Mark logo is now flanked by steeply angled slats that give the front fascia some design-forward flare, but Volvo's signature Thor's Hammer LED lighting remains. The XC90 rides on standard 20-inch alloy wheels, with 22s as an option.

Inside, the biggest change is a larger infotainment touchscreen, which now pops out slightly from the dash. It remains vertically oriented, but the new 11.2-inch display has 21% more pixels and is said by Volvo to be crisper than last year's setup. The screen runs the Google built-in operating system, which has been used on Volvo models since 2021 and includes Apple CarPlay compatibility along with Android Auto.

The XC90 remains capable of seating up to seven occupants in three rows, though second-row captain's chairs that reduce the seating capacity to six are available.

Volvo

Google built-in Tech Gets an Upgrade

Volvo says the upsized screen allowed it to place a few key icons toward the bottom of the display, just above the virtual buttons for climate and other controls. This "contextual bar" adapts to what the user has activated recently and allows for easier access to commonly used items, including the Google Assistant voice commands.

The latest tech will also be made available retroactively to Volvo models built as far back as 2020, though you'll likely want to contact one of the automaker's dealers to determine compatibility.

Volvo

The XC90 Sticks With Hybrid-Only Powertrains

The XC90 is offered in three basic configurations: a four-cylinder hybrid called B5 with 247 horsepower, a 295-hp four-cylinder hybrid called B6, or a 455-hp plug-in hybrid called T8. All models have standard all-wheel drive. There is no all-electric XC90; for that, you'll need to pivot to the EX90.

The 2025.5 XC90 runs about $59,000 to start, around $1,000 more than the outgoing XC90.

Andrew Ganz

Andrew Ganz has had cars in his blood ever since he gnawed the paint off of a diecast model as a toddler. After growing up in Dallas, Texas, he earned a journalism degree, worked in public relations for two manufacturers, and served as an editor for a luxury-lifestyle print publication and several well-known automotive websites. In his free time, Andrew loves exploring the Rocky Mountains' best back roads—when he’s not browsing ads for his next car purchase.