Detailed Photos of the Classy 2019 Volvo XC90
On the cusp of a mild update, Volvo's three-row XC90 SUV remains as attractive and upscale as ever.
Volvo's XC90 anchors the classy, stately end of the mid-size luxury crossover segment. Its rectilinear styling is handsome and understated, its interior is luxurious, and its available plug-in hybrid powertrain is high-tech and powerful. Precious little about this plush SUV is presumptuous or overdone, and even the numerous nods to its Swedish heritage are thoughtfully and cleverly executed.
Swipe on for a look at Volvo's XC90 before it is updated for 2020:
The Volvo lineup is divided into 40-, 60-, and 90-series cars and SUVs. The larger the number, the bigger the vehicle—thus the XC90 sits atop the family, alongside the S90 sedan and V90 station wagon. In Volvo-speak, XC refers to crossovers and SUVs, S refers to sedans, and V denotes a wagon.
Four trim levels are offered: Momentum, R Design, Inscription, and—introduced in 2017—the ultra-luxurious Excellence.
With seating for up to seven, spread across three rows, the XC90 is as useful as three-row luxury crossovers come.
Volvo offers three powertrains, starting with the entry-level T5, a 250-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The mid-level T6 (pictured here) is a turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder engine making 316 horsepower. Finally, the range-topping T8 is a 400-hp plug-in hybrid powertrain with two electric motors assisting the turbocharged and supercharge engine from the T6.
The T5 can be paired with front- or all-wheel drive, while the T6 and T8 plug-in hybrid powertrains are all-wheel-drive-only.
Safety is Volvo’s thing, so naturally the XC90 comes loaded with advanced safety technologies. Even the base T5 Momentum model comes with headlights that aim in the direction the driver is steering, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and road-sign recognition. Higher trims offer adaptive cruise control and a semi-autonomous driving mode dubbed Pilot Assist.
Look closely at the XC90’s interior, and you can find little hints of its Swedish heritage. This small Swedish flag, for example, is sewn into the seams of the front seats.
On the snazzy Excellence trim level, Volvo includes a crystal shift knob made by Orrefors, a Swedish glassmaker, as well as a four-seat setup with a full-length center console in the rear.
For 2019, Volvo has updated the software on its slick-looking, vertically oriented infotainment display (a visually identical 2018 display is pictured). The touchscreen segments major menus into horizontal tiles; touch one, and it expands to show a fuller menu, while keeping the other menu tiles visible above and below. Swiping left and right on the main menus brings up relevant sub-menus with more detailed selections.
Also new for 2019 is extra standard equipment; every XC90 now comes with four-zone automatic climate controls, third-row seats (previously optional), heated windshield-wiper nozzles, and a handy 12-volt power outlet in the cargo area.
Pricing for the 2019 Volvo XC90 starts at $48,695 for a T5 Momentum with front-wheel drive. Stepping up to the T6 engine, or the R Design or Inscription trim levels costs even more. Go all-in for a T8 Excellence, and you’re facing down a $105,895 bill before options.
View Photos of the 1987 Sterling 825SL
2025 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet Interior Photos
2025 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet Exterior Photos
View Photos of the 2027 Ferrari 849 Testarossa
