A glance at the mighty Volvo XC90 and it struck us how time flies. Launched in 2015, the flagship SUV completed 10 years on the Indian roads, and still carries an aura like no other vehicle in the market. Over the years, Volvo has been refreshing the XC90 on a regular basis, and the current facelift is the most comprehensive one, but it’s still not a new-generation product. With its traditional German rivals offering newer and more powerful options, is Volvo too slow to join in the party, or can it spring up a surprise? We find out.
2025 Volvo XC90 review: No diesel or hybrid
Volvo has a pretty straightforward policy for the Indian market; they will either offer a petrol or an all-electric vehicle, and the new XC90 falls in the former category. Now, when we say there are no hybrids available, we don’t count in the mild versions, which the XC90 is already. The big burly SUV is only available with a 2-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol with a 48v mild-hybrid system that produces 247 bhp and 360 Nm of torque. No, we didn’t get the numbers mixed up, it is fairly underpowered compared to its German competition, which packs more than a 300 bhp punch. Before we start to judge, let’s try to keep an open mind.Â
The 2-litre powertrain is a great intercity companion as it will never hurry or intimidate you. It has more than adequate response when you gently tap on the accelerator, though one would have liked some free-spirit spunk that would brighten the mood after a long, taxing day. The engine’s nature is predictable and will not spring any surprises. The 8-speed automatic smoothly changes gears, and if you put the pedal to the metal, it obliges by downshifting without creating a fuss. If peace and tranquillity are what you’re looking for, then you don’t need to look beyond the XC90. What goes against the Volvo SUV is its massive Rs 1.03 crore price, which doesn’t really justify it as its competition offers more power, refinement and features.Â
2025 Volvo XC90 review: Ride Quality
As the XC90 is a direct import, it gets the top-of-the-line features, including all-wheel drive and air suspension setup that increases the height by 40 mm for tackling challenging terrains. If you want to go down the highway, then it can be lowered by 20 mm. Even though Volvo has been associated with pampering its passengers with cushioned ride quality, the 2025 XC90 feels on the firm side. It doesn’t punish you, but you are fairly aware of the road conditions unless it’s a flat tarmac.Â
2025 Volvo XC90 review: New Features
The XC90’s feature list is a bit of a mixed bag, as it’s a hit and a miss. The cabin design is simplicity at its best, with all premium and classy materials. The new 1.2-inch infotainment system replaces the 9-inch one and gives a feel of an aftermarket device. It is based on Google’s Android and is easy to use. The cheat code here is that the show cut widgets can be saved on the lower panel of the screen, so that you don’t keep frantically searching for the feature. For a state-of-the-art luxury vehicle, it deprives you of wireless Apple CarPlay, which is quite disappointing. Even though the functions are all touch buttons, the four-zone climate control is effective and keeps the unforgiving heat out of the cabin. The party piece is the 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system that is pretty much the best in the business in its segment. The music cocoons the cabin and drowns out the road noise, and the culprit for this could be the massive 20-inch alloy wheels. The SUV boasts a panoramic sunroof, head-up display, air purifier, a 360-degree camera, a tyre pressure monitoring system and a digital display with basic options.
Being a three-row SUV, the third row of seats is ideal for children at best. Getting in and out of this row is also quite a challenge, as the second row seats don’t completely fold. To give credit where it is due, the seats for all three rows are beautifully crafted and offer plenty of comfort. The front seats are ventilated and can be cooled or heated, and have multiple massage options.Â
2025 Volvo XC90 review: Is it a gamechanger?
The XC90 is slightly late in the market, though it is very difficult to highlight any standout con in it. Volvo has given it a mild facelift with a new contrasting front grill with the signature Thor Hammer LED DRLs and more edgy air dam and front bumpers. It offers all the safety features like Level 2 ADAS, luxury interiors, decent performance for daily commute, but lacks the punch, and its kryptonite could be the hefty price tag of Rs 1.03 crore, ex-showroom.
