2023 (73) Volvo XC90 2.0 B5D [235] Plus Dark 5dr AWD Geartronic

By Jonathan Crouch

Introduction

Volvo's second generation XC90 is a seven-seat luxury SUV that gave key rivals like Audi's Q7 and the Land Rover Discovery a lot to think about. Safe, efficient, clever, practical and stylish, this car positioned the Swedish maker as a credibly prestigious automotive brand. And a facelift in 2019 made it better still, thanks to the introduction of mild hybrid engine tech. Is this 2019-2024-era MK2 XC90 model we look at here. It makes a great used buy.

History

The second generation XC90 was the car that began Volvo's modern era. This large luxury SUV established new standards for the brand when this model was originally announced back in 2014 and the company's subsequent move towards full electrification re-set those standards once again. The improved version of the MK2 XC90 model announced in the Spring of 2019 reflected that trend with fresh mild hybrid technology. Plus the line-up got a light update. Let's start with a quick XC90 recap, should you need one. The first generation design arrived just after the turn of the century in 2002, but its Ford-derived engineering had passed its sell-by date by the time the Chinese conglomerate Geely paid $1.3 billion to buy Volvo from Ford in 2010. Ten times that amount was then invested by the new owner in the fresh 'SPA' 'Scalable Product Architecture' platform and new 2.0-litre 'Drive-E' engines needed for a range of future Volvo models. This second generation XC90 represented the first fruits of that investment and contributed usefully to the brand's spiralling sales. But it had to evolve, hence in 2019 this revised range's inclusion of mild hybrid 'B5' diesel and petrol engines that together replaced the conventional D5 diesel that the majority of buyers of this SUV had previously chosen. Plus the T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid petrol/electric variant got a much-needed boost in its all-electric driving range capability - up from 22 to 29 miles. There was also a light re-style that saw smarter bumpers and a revised grille. And Volvo introduced a whole host of extra camera-driven safety features. Otherwise, things with this MK2 model remained very much as they had been. From 2019, all XC90s continued to provide the sort of proper full-sized seven-seat versatility that few rivals from this period could credibly offer and a cool, authentic brand of Scandinavian charm that was really quite appealing. The post-2019 version of this MK2 XC90 was further updated in late 2024, but it's the first facelift 2019-2024-era versions we look at here as a used buy.

What You Get

No significant changes were made to the look of this second generation XC90 in 2019. None were really necessary, thanks to styling that designer Anders Gunnarson describes as 'timeless'. Which was important, given the long production life planned for this MK2 model. The shape, though substantial, is cleverly proportioned to look as compact as possible. So many large luxury SUVs appear bulky and intimidating: this isn't one of them. The interior is simple, elegant - and very uncluttered, with only eight buttons on the fascia. The remaining functions you'd normally access through confusing rows of little switches on the dash are relocated into menu options that lie behind the big, easy-to-use icons you'll find on a smart 9-inch infotainment colour touchscreen that's presented portrait-style on the centre console. You'll glimpse more hi-tech screen technology through the three-spoke wheel courtesy of Volvo's 12.3-inch Active TFT Crystal Driver's Information Display. Otherwise though, this cabin's an aesthetic triumph, immaculately made and full of premium touches like the diamond-cut start/stop control switch and the slatted cover for the centre dash compartment. Your middle row passengers are well catered for, with individual seats that slide and recline for greater comfort on longer journeys. In the third row, as an adult, you'll only be able to install yourself with any kind of comfort if you prevail upon those ahead to move their seats forward a little. But if that's possible, we could believe that a couple of fully-sized adults could cope OK back here over short-to-medium-length journeys. As for the boot space on offer, well that fell slightly with the introduction of the mild hybrid powertrain but it's still very class-competitive for a larger 7-seat SUV from this period. Inevitably, capacity is going to be a little restricted with all seven seats in place, though even in this configuration, you still get 302-litres of luggage space. Most of the time though of course, you'll probably be running the car with the third row chairs folded down, the retracting process much easier than the back-breakingly fumbly machinations you have to go through in a rival Land Rover Discovery to achieve the same end result. Once that's completed, there's a lot of room to play with. On the B5 and T6 variants, there's 680-litres if you load to the window line and as much as 1,007-litres if you load to the roof. Getting more room of course means folding the middle row. On the B5 and T6 variants, that frees up 1,045-litres up to the window line or 1,856-litres if you load up to the roof.

What to Look For

Most of the MK2 XC90 owners we surveyed were very happy with their cars - but inevitably there were a few issues. One owner had problems with a leaking panoramic sunroof. Another had issues with the air suspension, the parking sensors and the stop/start system, so check that all these features work properly on your test drive. Quite a few electrical and software issues were reported too, so go thoroughly over all the powered and infotainment functions of the car you're looking at. It's unlikely the XC90 will have been used arduously off road, but check the underside just in case. The big alloy wheels are very susceptible to kerbing. The T5 and D5 models have quite an appetite for front tyres so check there's some life left in the rubber. As usual, check the alloys for kerb scuffing and the rear of the cabin and the boot for damage caused by unruly kids or awkwardly-shaped luggage.

Replacement Parts

(approx based on a 2020 XC90 B5 diesel) An oil filter costs in the £7-£21 bracket and an air filter will cost in the £11-£21 bracket. A front brake pad set sits in the £38-£47 bracket for a set. A rear brake pad set sits in the £22-£47 bracket for a set. A fuel filter is in the £29-£50 bracket. Wiper blades sit in the £7-£13 bracket. Alternators start from around £337. A front axle shock absorber is in the £42-£90 bracket.

On the Road

In 2019, in line with its increasing emphasis on powertrain electrification, Volvo introduced mild hybrid 'B5' petrol and diesel variants into the XC90 range. Most used buyers will prefer the 235hp diesel unit over the 250hp petrol version, but either way, the drivetrain set-up is the same, based around a 48-volt battery, a 'KERS' kinetic energy recovery system and an 'ISG' integrated starter-generator. Every time you brake or take your foot from the throttle, the 'KERS' set-up captures surplus energy and stores it as electricity in an extra battery provided in the boot. That additional electricity can be used to boost acceleration, help the stop/start system or power ancillary functions. The objective here wasn't to provide Prius-like periods of electric-only driving but instead make the engine more efficient via smoother transitions between driving, cruising and resting. That's all been aided by revisions to the automatic gearbox and the implementation of the brand's first brake-by-wire system. And it works - especially in terms of running cost efficiency, which is significantly better than you get with obvious rivals from this era. A B5 diesel is capable of WLTP-rated combined cycle fuel figure of up to 44.1mpg and an NEDC-rated CO2 return of up to 154g/km. All without any need to plug in. Of course you might want to plug your XC90 in. That's what you'll be regularly doing if you opt for the alternative T8 Twin Engine variant, with its petrol/electric powertrain and plug-in hybrid usability. Here, a 303hp turbocharged/supercharged petrol engine drives the front wheels, while an 87hp electric motor propels those at the back, powered by a battery pack neatly packaged away in the transmission tunnel. As part of the first changes made to this MK2 XC90 line-up in 2019, that lithium-ion battery became slightly larger than before, hence a useful boost in this T8 model's operating range from 22 to 29 miles, though charging times were slightly longer too. Otherwise, in 2019 things remained much as before. For a short period following this update, the brand continued to offer a minority-interest non-electrified 310hp T6 petrol model. And, as before, across the range, there was the option of an 'Active Four-C Chassis' package, which gave XC90 customers four-corner adaptive dampers and electronic air suspension. Handling strikes a good balance between comfort and agility; cruising refinement meets the required executive standard; and there's the potential for a mild amount of off road prowess. A 'Pilot Assist' system offers a degree of highway-orientated autonomous driving technology. And you might be interested to know that conventional variants can tow up to 2,400kgs.

Overall

Volvo certainly flourished in this period under foreign ownership. You might have expected Chinese control to stifle the company's Scandinavian character. Instead, what we were given here was a return to Swedish charisma and an emphasis on the cool restrained style and real world practicality epitomised by the Gothenburg brand. Of course, this Volvo's not perfect. There are still sharper-handling choices and more capable off roaders in this sector from this period. In balancing its own blend of virtues though, this XC90 set its own class standard and in doing so, established a family benchmark amongst luxury SUVs that rivals struggled to match. Especially in this post-2019-era updated form. Company founders Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson would have liked this car. More importantly though, if you're shopping in this segment, we think you will too.