Volvo V90 review
From £45,5158
Plush, PHEV-only Swedish estate sticks by its tried-and-trusted morals against a tidal wave of SUVs
Published:
28 April 2025
- Introduction
- Design & styling
- Interior
- Engines & performance
- Ride & handling
- MPG & running costs
- Verdict
- Prices & specs
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- Introduction
- Design & styling
- Interior
- Engines & performance
- Ride & handling
- MPG & running costs
- Verdict
- Prices & specs
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It might be hard to tell in the age of the SUV, but the estate car is still an important part of many a manufacturer’s line-up – and the Volvo V90 is no exception.
It was given a stay of execution in the middle of 2024 following an unexpected spike in customer demand for the bodystyle, giving Volvo customers the choice beyond SUVs and the market a cause for celebration.
Since then, it has been taking the fight to a number of traditional rivals, including the BMW 5 Series Touring, Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate and Audi A6 Avant, with company car-friendly plug-in hybrid powertrains, compelling looks and the traditional Swedish attention to practicality and common sense – all of which we’re about to dissect.
The Volvo V90 range at a glance
After Volvo brought its flagship estate back to the UK market, the engine range was slimmed down to just two choices, T6 and T8, both of which are PHEVs.
T6 cars pair a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a rear-mounted electric motor to produce a total of 345bhp, while T8 cars mate a more powerful version of the same engine to the same electric motor, resulting in 449bhp combined. Both cars send their power to both axles through an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
An 18.8kWh (14.7kWh usable) drive battery is housed beneath the centre console, which is 7.2kWh larger than it was before and provides an electric range of 54 miles under WLTP conditions in T6 cars or 52 miles for T8 models. Hook it up to a home-charging wallbox and it will be topped up in around two hours.
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The two trim levels available are called Plus and Ultra. T6 cars come in Plus trim only, while the T8 is Ultra only. Plus comes with pretty much all the kit you need, including wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a heated steering wheel, heated seats, dual-zone climate control, a 9.0in infotainment touchscreen, 12.3in digital driver’s display, a 600W, 14-speaker sound system and 19in alloy wheels.
Ultra adds a panoramic roof, an 1100W, 19-speaker sound system, a head-up display, a 360deg camera and 20in alloys. The T8 Ultra is about £8000 more to buy than the £60,000 T6 Plus.
https://www.drivenbuy.co.uk/autocar?car_make=volvo&car_model=v90&review=new&source=https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/volvo/v90
Verdict
Model tested:
Rating: 8
Volvo V90
Volvo at its very best. A practical, comfortable, safe and refined car with few usability quirks.
Good
Excellent ride and general refinement
Fast in any specification
Practical, especially in the rear
Timeless design
Bad
Rivals have a better-resolved and more up-to-date infotainment system
Not the most rewarding to drive
T8 cars offer more power and less economy for not much gain in visceral performance
DESIGN & STYLING
Pros
Still looks fresh after all these years
Boxy design aids head room and general practicality
Cons
Plug-in hybrid powertrain means it needs to sit unnaturally high on its springs
Police car vibe in certain specs and colours
Thomas Ingenlath’s original vision for a boxy estate that doesn’t look like a boxy estate has stood the test of time pretty well: the V90 is now nine years old yet needed only a subtle styling refresh to keep it ticking over.
This subtle refresh includes tweaked rear lights and foglights, a reshaped front bumper, a revised front grille and new alloy designs. When you compare this to the fact that the 5 Series and A6 have both entered entirely new model generations since the V90 came on sale, its evergreen aesthetic only becomes more laudable.
Those ‘Thor’s hammer’ headlights are one of Volvo’s most easily identifiable styling cues – and they still look fantastic.
Traditional styling cues remain elsewhere, such as the ‘Thor’s hammer’ headlights, broad-shouldered stance and taillights that reach from the roof to the lower edge of the boot.
Much is familiar beneath it all, too. The V90 continues to sit on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) that underpins all large, combustion-powered Volvos and is itself the product of billions of pounds of investment from the Swedish firm’s Chinese owner, Geely.
Suspension comes by way of double wishbones at the front and multiple links at the rear, with passive dampers all round. As before, however, customers have a choice of sticking with the standard-fit composite rear leaf springs or swapping these out for optional air springs and adaptive dampers.
INTERIOR
Pros
Practical and spacious cabin with lots of rear leg room and head room
Comfortable seats
Impressive perceived material quality befits a car of this price tag
Cons
Infotainment graphics could be sharper and the system could be easier to use on the move
Blank buttons could take the place of secondary functions that controlled through the screen
Not the most reliable Bluetooth connection
Since space is the primary objective for anyone looking to buy this type of car, let’s deal with that first. Boot space with all five seats in place is still above average for the class at 551 litres; this is 91 litres more than the equivalent E300e Estate but 21 litres down on the 530e or 550e Touring. With the seats folded down, space increases to a less competitive 904 litres.
There are plenty of practical touches back there, though. You get a divider that rises up out of the boot floor to stop shopping or luggage rolling around, there’s a portable dog net that can fit under the false floor when you don’t need it and you’re unlikely to want more 12V sockets. It’s a shame there isn’t more under-floor storage, but the rear-mounted electric motor eats into space.
The cupholders and door bins aren’t very big; you will only be able to fit smaller cans or bottles in there.
Where the V90’s technology doesn’t eat into space is in the rear seats. There’s almost a limousine-like amount of leg room back there and head room is plentiful, even with a panoramic roof that in other cars can rob space; taller passengers will be fine on long journeys. The rear seats themselves have good under-thigh support, although lateral support is lacking somewhat.
The same goes for the front seats, which are electric as standard and offer a vast number of configurations to the base, backrest and thigh extensions. They’re comfortable enough to cover any distance and the leather they’re upholstered in smells and feels like it’s of a high quality.
Elsewhere, perceived quality is just as impressive. Volvo’s cool minimalist design and simplified approach to layout are instantly recognisable, while a choice selection of aluminium, rubberised and gloss-black plastic surface treatments allow the V90 to mix comfortably with Mercedes, Audis and BMWs. Volvo wants you to think of this car as a premium offering and, as far as the fit, finish and material palette of the V90’s cabin are concerned, that’s precisely what it is.
Things slightly begin to fall down as soon as you focus on its 9.0in, portrait-oriented touchscreen infotainment system. Many secondary functions such as the climate control and heated seat controls are operated via the screen. This would be acceptable if the icons representing them were big enough, but since this screen was developed before buttons were deemed replaceable, their integration feels like an afterthought. They’re so small and difficult to hit that you spend too much time with your eyes off the road trying to get them to work.
This is especially irritating, because there are blank buttons at the foot of the screen (even on our top-spec test car) that could have taken some functions away from the screen. What’s more, the knurled drive mode switch has been ditched and in its place is a rather shallow and useless empty space. Thankfully, there are at least some physical knobs and buttons for the entertainment system.
While we’re grumbling, our car’s Bluetooth connection didn’t prove to be especially reliable, often needing a prompt to reconnect rather than doing it automatically. And each time you electrically adjust the seat, an unnecessary pop-up appears on the infotainment screen telling you what you just did – irritating if you need to use the sat-nav.
ENGINES & PERFORMANCE
Pros
Powerful and fast enough for any situation, no matter the specification
Generally good refinement
Smooth switch from electric to combustion power
Cons
Transmission can sometimes be caught lagging
The range-wide adoption of PHEV propulsion means the V90 is a fast and powerful car no matter which model you choose. Even the 345bhp T6 reaches 62mph in 5.5sec and the 449bhp T8 drops that time to 4.8sec – a measurement that would worry several sports cars from the not-so-distant past. Top speed is limited to 112mph, like in all modern Volvos.
It doesn’t feel quite as fast as the numbers would suggest. With a kerb weight of just over two tonnes and an automatic gearbox that can seem reluctant to kick down in normal mode, even the T8 feels about half a second slower in the real world. That does, at least, mean its 449bhp reserves aren’t intimidating when fully deployed.
Volvo limiting its cars to 112mph seems a sensible decision. Unless you live in Germany, that is.
Things get more responsive depending on which mode you choose. There is a choice of four here: Hybrid, Pure, Power and Constant AWD. Each one serves to alter the steering weight, engine and gearbox response, brake feel and stiffness of the shock absorbers.
The car defaults to Hybrid mode at the start of every journey, which means its use of petrol or electric power is dependent on the ferocity of your inputs. Power mode is best for overtaking manoeuvres and gets rid of some of the lag from the transmission, but it also weakens fuel economy.
When you do put your foot down, the electric motor’s modest torque reserves provide strong initial urgency, before the engine steps in to really shove you along.
If you switch to the Pure mode for electric power, the V90 is particularly enjoyable to waft around town in. There’s enough poke to help make the most of gaps in the traffic, but any attempts at sustained acceleration runs will spark the petrol engine back into life.
RIDE & HANDLING
Pros
Supple across pretty much any road surface
Responsive, accurate, light steering makes it easy to place
Wind noise is very well isolated…
Cons
…but road and engine noise are less so sometimes
Not the most rewarding estate car to drive
Certain safety systems can be too nannying
Occasionally, large and heavier cars like the V90 can try too hard to be sporty or engaging. Manufacturers may give them faster steering or firmer suspension in an attempt to disguise either heft or a chassis that is by its very nature not engaging.
The V90 is not one of those cars. It strikes a good balance between ride comfort, well-mannered refinement and gently amusing handling.
PHEV power suits the V90’s relaxed character so well that you wonder why the entire range wasn’t electrically assisted from day one.
Of course, it’s a vehicle that suits a more relaxed style of driving and one that isn’t the world’s most rewarding on a back road. Having said that, it isn’t trying to be. It has placeable, accurate steering that makes it simple to both manoeuvre around town (impressively so for something 4.9m long) and navigate down a twisty road with authority, while the tightly controlled body lean makes it both supple and confidence-inspiring.
The comfort-oriented suspension effectively distances you from most imperfections at lower speeds, while on the motorway there’s a pillowiness to its ride that means those long-wave undulations in the road surface pretty much go unnoticed. This gives the car an E-Class-esque wafting capability at pretty much any speed that makes it as well-suited to a cross-country voyage as a trip to the supermarket.
The car remains composed and quiet practically all of the time, with only the largest bumps and divots briefly interrupting that calm. The cabin is quite well isolated, too, with wind and road noise present but distant and roar from the petrol engine generally always being part of the background. It can become noticeable if it switches on at slower speeds or if you’re accelerating hard, however.
To top it all off, the well-balanced chassis and tyres work together to provide a level of grip and stability that never threatens to sap your confidence. It’s no 5 Series, but it’s good enough for almost all of the situations it will likely find itself in.
That’s not to say it isn’t completely immune to lateral body roll. Push too hard around a corner – enough to challenge the limits of grip – and even in its sportiest drive mode it doesn’t offer much reward, instead feeling quite a way out of its comfort zone. Not that we imagine many Volvo owners would mind this lack of inherent sporting prowess, but nonetheless we would be remiss not to acknowledge it.
Volvo V90 news
Volvo considers future without estate cars in shift to SUVs
Volvo considers future without estate cars in shift to SUVs
Volvo V60 and V90 return to UK in shock estate comeback
Volvo V60 and V90 return to UK in shock estate comeback
Volvo goes SUV-only in UK as all saloon and estate cars axed
Volvo goes SUV-only in UK as all saloon and estate cars axed
Nearly new buying guide: Volvo V90
Nearly new buying guide: Volvo V90
Assisted driving notes
As standard, all V90s come with adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance and pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection. You can also order an optional Driver Assist pack, which adds Blind Spot Information System with Steer Assist, Cross Traffic Alert with Autobrake, and Rear Collision Mitigation functions.
The systems are pretty well integrated, especially with regard to the lane-keeping assistant which only very gently tugs at the wheel should you stray too far from the lane’s centre.
You are of course required by law to keep your hands on the thin rim at all times, although in the Volvo this means constantly keeping them at quarter to three, which can be tiresome on longer journeys when you have the adaptive cruise control set and want to let your arms rest at a lower point on the wheel.
It’s also worth mentioning that both the lane-keeping assistant and speed sign recognition are easy to switch off, with the latter neutered by a button on the steering wheel.
MPG & RUNNING COSTS
Pros
Less expensive to private buyers than many rivals
Competitive BIK tax rates will attract company car buyers
Cons
Rivals offer better real-world fuel economy without the battery charged
Prices start at just under £60,000 for the T6 Plus, rising to just over £67,000 for the T8 Ultra. While this is slightly cheaper than some of its rivals, it’s still a significant amount of money to private buyers who likely won’t benefit from the tax break granted to company car drivers.
Now that the V90 promises an electric-only range of up to 54 miles combined with CO2 emissions of 20g/km means it achieves a benefit-in-kind tax rating of 8%. This is competitive with its main rivals, such as the 550e and E300e. All those cars are capable of travelling similar distances on electric power alone, but the Mercedes beats them all with a claimed range of 66 miles.
Don’t be tempted to use all of the V90’s power reserves too often: you will tank fuel economy below 30mpg.
For what it’s worth, though, the V90 proved itself to have a highly achievable claimed range, staying mostly true to the 3.5mpkWh claimed energy efficiency and travelling 47 miles before running out and relying on the petrol engine.
Unfortunately, the engine’s economy proved to be slightly less impressive in the real world. This car is claimed to deliver up to 353mpg, but over 1200 miles in a T8, we averaged a touring economy of just under 40mpg. That being said, given the performance on offer this is acceptable. What’s more, if you keep its battery charged and journeys shorter, this figure will rise considerably.
In terms of safety, Euro NCAP has awarded the V90 its full five-star crash safety rating. Analysing the individual category results, you will see it’s better at protecting adults than the A6 and E-Class.
All cars come with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty as standard, which is similar to what major rivals get.
VERDICT
Verdict
Model tested:
Rating: 8
Volvo V90
Volvo at its very best. A practical, comfortable, safe and refined car with few usability quirks.
Good
Excellent ride and general refinement
Fast in any specification
Practical, especially in the rear
Timeless design
Bad
Rivals have a better-resolved and more up-to-date infotainment system
Not the most rewarding to drive
T8 cars offer more power and less economy for not much gain in visceral performance
Experience has taught Volvo how to make the V90 a car that knows exactly what it wants to do, who it wants to appeal to and how best to go about it. In many ways, it’s like the Suzuki Swift of the large estate market: its customer base is loyal because the product is consistently good.
In spite of ever-developing rivals that have gone through several model cycles, updates and engine changes, the V90 has mostly remained familiar. The slimming down of the range after it was taken off sale has given customers less choice, but the choice they do have is between two competitively priced variants with commendable powertrains and generous standard equipment lists.
Hardly revolutionary, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t exceptionally appealing.
It’s not all perfect. The infotainment system feels slightly outdated, the seats could do with some more lateral support, some extra buttons for key secondary functions wouldn’t go amiss and it’s far from the most engaging car in its class. Then again, it isn’t trying to be. If it were, it wouldn’t be as compelling. Instead, it counts on a timeless design, a heightened focus on safety, exceptional rolling refinement, impressive practicality and strong performance as its star attributes.
We believe the T6 Plus represents the best value in terms of standard equipment, fuel economy, electric range, performance and drivability. The T8 may well be fast, but what you gain in speed you lose in consumption, and surely good fuel economy is the whole point in buying a PHEV?
When all is said and done, the V90 once represented Volvo at its very best, and it still does today.
