2020 Volvo XC90 Review

The car you see is the 2020 Volvo XC90, a Swedish luxury SUV priced at 285,000 Dirhams. It is believed to be a far better SUV than its German competitors: the Audi Q7, BMW X5, and Mercedes-Benz GLE. Let’s find out if that’s true.

Drive

Now, I know what some of you may be thinking: why am I reviewing a car from 2020 that hasn’t really changed since 2015? Surely, there are newer cars out there, right? Yes, there are, but the XC90 is a very important SUV. Not only is it the biggest, most expensive, and most luxurious SUV in the brand’s lineup, but it is also the very first car to utilize the brand’s Scalable Product Architecture (SPA).

SPA is the same platform used by the S90 Sedan, V90 Estate, S60 Sedan, V60 Estate, XC60 Crossover, and even the brand’s full-electric sports car Polestar 1. So, if you have a soft spot for any of these cars, you’d have to start by thanking the XC90 we’re sitting in right now.

With three engine options available, this T6 model that we’re driving now is powered by a 2.0-liter twin-charged engine, which means there is a turbocharger and a supercharger working together to produce 320 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque. Power delivery is instant, and when you put your foot down, the XC90 can catapult you to 100 km/h in just 6.5 seconds, which is faster than cars half its size.

When you aren’t driving aggressively, the XC90 is one of the most luxurious and comfortable SUVs on the market. The 8-speed automatic transmission keeps the revs as low as possible and allows you to travel up to 13.4 kilometers on a single liter of petrol. With an All-Wheel Drive system and an Off-Road drive mode, the XC90 is more than capable of handling outdoor family activities, whether on the soft sand at the beach or the rocky wadi beds around the UAE.

Interior

When it comes to interior fit and finish, this Inscription model gets the very best that Volvo has to offer. The design is minimal, with just 8 buttons on the entire dashboard, and the quality is truly impeccable, featuring walnut wood trim and soft Napa leather covering nearly everything, including the key!

The same quality and materials continue into the second row, where soft armrests on the door panels are accompanied by wood trim and aluminum door handles. The seats slide forward and backward and recline, providing plenty of space. Additionally, there is a 4-zone climate control system managed from the touch-sensitive AC controls, privacy shades on both sides, and a 230V outlet that can be used for vacuuming. However, the most impressive feature is the in-built booster seat—there’s no other brand that does that!

In the last row, the refinement and attention to detail haven’t been forgotten. If you wish to seat passengers in the last row, you’ll be happy to know that there are speakers overhead, A/C vents, cup holders, and even storage boxes on either side. However, if you prefer to use the space in the back for cargo, there are 1,007 liters available behind the second row, complete with tie-down points, grocery hooks, and an overhead shade.

Features

As the brand’s flagship SUV, the XC90 is packed with plenty of tech. It features a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 9-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a panoramic roof, and a brilliant 19-speaker Bowers and Wilkins audio system. Impressed? Well, that’s just the beginning.

When it comes to driving assistance features, there’s a Heads-Up Display that ensures you never need to take your eyes off the road, along with blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and rear cross-traffic alert. However, it is the XC90’s semi-autonomous driving capabilities that truly make it stand out.

Using a number of cameras and sensors around the vehicle, the Pilot Assist system maintains a set distance from the car in front, stays centered in the lane, can take small turns, and even brings the car to a complete stop if needed. All of this occurs without the need to continuously keep your hands on the steering wheel—it's brilliant for those who spend several hours each day driving on highways.

Just in case your friends with their flashy German SUVs still aren’t impressed, there are 360-degree cameras that you can zoom into individually, automated park-in and park-out options, and an in-built radar detector in the navigation system to help you avoid speeding tickets. Now, which other cars offer you that?!

Exterior

From a design standpoint, the Volvo XC90 looks stylish and classy, and it always has. The Thor’s Hammer LED headlights are still present and form an unmistakable part of the model’s identity. Along with the subtle use of chrome along the bodywork, there are 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels and two functional exhausts that beautifully complete the rear bumper.

Verdict

At the start of this review, we set out to answer whether the Volvo XC90 is better than its German rivals. What we’ve discovered is that at 285,000 Dirhams, the Volvo XC90 is not only cheaper but also superior in nearly every way possible. Which would you choose and why? Let us know in the comments down below.

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