XC90 Recharge

Though many cars manufacturer are converging on the all-electric marketplace, Volvo militias on with plug-in electric mixtures (PHEVs) like the 2024 XC90 Recharge (starting at $71,900). This high-end SUV surpasses contestants with an enormous all-wheel-drive powertrain, tons of erudite security features, and an elegant exterior and inner design. We also escalate its valuable all-electric range of 35 heaps and sensible gas fuel budget. Its documentary screen could be greater and more instinctive, but that doesn’t stop the XC90 Recharge from producing our Editors’ Choice prize for luxury PHEVs.

Small Powertrain, Impressive Horsepower

The 2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge is accessible in three trims: Core ($71,900), Plus ($74,795), and Eventual ($79,600). Note that I verified the 2023 Last model, which starts at $79,400. Additional than a worth rise and a few minor cosmetic variations, the 2023 and 2024 models are alike.

All 2024 models syndicate a 2.0-liter, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with an 18.8kWh battery and an 8-speed unconscious transmission that brings power to all four rolls. Given its minor size, the powertrain tikkers out an imposing 455 horsepower (hp) and 523lb-ft of torque.

The three copies each get an all-electric variety of 35 miles (58 MPGe) and a joint rating of 27 miles per gallon (MPG) on gas power, per the EPA. Utmost people drive a regular of 37 miles per day, so the all-electric range could be enough by itself if you drive prudently and charge regularly. For contrast, the 2023 Porsche Cayenne ($86,500) gets 17 miles of gas-free assortment per charge (46MPGe) and has a joint fuel rating of 21MPG. In the meantime, Lexus rights that the 2024 TX550h+ ($78,050) can revenue you 33 miles with its electric engine and offers a joint rating of 29MPG. The BMW X5 xDrive50e ($72,500) has an all-electric variety of 39 miles (58MPGe).

To go from 0% to 100%, the XC90 Recharge’s battery needs 5 hours at a Level 2, 240V charger. Otherwise, you can usage the comprised 120/240V charging restraint to come to be the vehicle from 0% to 100% in just under 14 hours at 110V. Like numerous other PHEVs in the US, the XC90 Recharge uses a J1772 charging port. As such, it does not sustenance fast charging.

2023 Volvo XC90 Recharge charging port

The improper Core trim originates with 18-inch alloy wheels, a gloss-black exterior trim, a hands-free power hatchback, an all-around sunroof, motorized and folding side glasses, rain-sensing wipers, and tinted rear windows. As for the inner, the vehicle contains facilities such as dark gray aluminum accents, fiery and powered obverse seats, push-button start, tweed-like cloth seats surfaces with a conflicting “blond” headliner, and two-zone weather control.

A 9-inch documentary display, a 10-speaker/220W audio system with an expelled subwoofer, a 12.3-inch digital gadget panel, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, and numerous built-in Google services (counting Google Associate and Google Maps) explanation for the normal tech. And to retain you harmless on the road, Volvo offers blind-spot and hindmost cross-traffic warnings, cruise control, hill-start promotion and hill-descent control, lane-keeping contribution, a hindmost camera, and rear space sensors at no additional cost.

Promotion to the Advantageous trim to get 19-inch alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control, an air cleanser, aluminum gearshifts, front and side car parks sensors, lane-centering, rawhide upholstery, limewood inner accents, headlamp gaskets, a heated navigation wheel and hindmost seats, motorized child-safety mops, power-folding rear cushions, and a surround-view camera.

The top-tier Eventual trim I tested presented a 14-speaker/600W Harman Kardon sound system, 21-inch wheels, a mineral gear selector, front chairs with 4-way power lumbar and side pads, a heads-up show (HUD), a motorized cushion delay for the driver seat, and publicized Nappa skin seats. Other promotions, counting a 19-speaker/1,410W Bowers & Wilkins sound system ($3,200) and an air interruption ($1,800), along with the $1,095 terminus charge, brought the value of my lender to $85,495. Although I like the bonuses of the Final trim, the well-appointed Core slim is the best worth in the roster.

Scandinavian Design Outside and In

The XC90 Recharge holds its Scandinavian individuality. Distinctive Thor’s Mallet LED headlights, muscular body appearances, and eye-catching steering wheel with conflicting polished aluminum and high-gloss black paint inflection the modest external shell. The modest style transmits over to the inner, which structures aluminum speaker grates, an Orrefors crystal gear change, tailored wool-blend chairs and upholstery, and discerning wood inflections.

An attainment in efficient project, the vehicle’s 12.3-inch tool cluster has two dissimilar modes: Steering (which displays Google Maps) and Quiet (which decreases the amount of gratified you see). Originally, I wasn’t indisputable how to arrange the tool panels and displays since the course-plotting wheel changes on the right shaft have few patterns, but I quickly educated and got cast-off to it.

A Smallish Infotainment Screen

Though many carmakers outfit their cars with large documentary screens or flawlessly combine entertaining and tool panels, Volvo sticks with a lesser, 9-inch upright display. I favor a greater screen, but the XC90’s Android Motorized system (also in the Volvo C40 Recharge) is a main development over the company’s preceding Sensus system. The home shade shows lately used apps in four units that you can position, while a sequence of smaller images in a drop-down blackboard is also easy to admission. A bodily home button, a power/volume knob, and onward and back buttons sit underneath the shade.

The XC90 Recharge is one of a rising number of cars that relies on Android-powered, Google-based connectivity for all from streaming gratified (native Google Play apps), steering (Google Maps), and voice control (Google Assistant). Note that Android Motorized is a full OS that’s separate from Android Auto, a feature that merely lets you glass your phone shade (the Volvo doesn’t have the end).

The good newscast is that the Google additions work flawlessly. The bad newscast is that they are portion of a Digital Services bundle that needs a payment after a four-year trial retro (Volvo has yet to specify the cost). As such, your strength prefers to thin on the built-in Apple CarPlay; it’s allowed and also works countless.

Top-Notch Safety and Performance

Volvo has mainly built its brand on security novelties and the XC90 Recharge lasts in that tradition. In calculation to the additional common driver contributions, its proposals high- and low-speed front-collision threatening with involuntary emergency braking—it notices not only cars, pedestrians, and cyclists, but also great animals such as fawns. Furthermore, it has off-road defense and extenuation that uses light course-plotting and decelerating to leader your vehicle back onto roadway if it turns off. It also drives beyond the normal telematic competences, with a Greasy Road Alert feature that usages acceleration, reduce speed, and surrounding data as well as info from other nearby, cloud-connected cars to warn you of slippery conditions.

Volvo hugs a tremendous quantity of presentation out of the 2.0-liter, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with an improvement from the 18.8kWh battery. The XC90 hurries quickly, smoothly, and silently, while the well-insulated inner keeps noise at inlet even at highest speeds. It’s merely one of the best-performing PHEVs I’ve verified—SUV or not. The ride flawlessly blends comfort and sureness, with the normal multi-link chassis and the elective air suspension as long as the best of both biospheres. Just note that assertive the vehicle rapidly depletes the battery dimensions. When I upheld a light right foot, the battery continued for just over 30 miles in hilly circumstances, for orientation.

The car has five drive modes: Hybrid (the avoidance mode), Power (allows maximum performance), Pure (prioritizes any obtainable battery power), Off-Road (rises ground clearance), and Constant AWD (improves traction).

You can also select between three dissimilar battery modes: Auto (assistances you navigate as professionally as possible), Hold (assets battery power), and Charge (orders replenishing the battery from the interior combustion engine). The XC90 Recharge also has mild reformative braking that incrementally charges the battery, but it can’t competition the one-pedal texture of an EV.

Hybrid Excellence

Although pure EVs strength be all the enthusiasm, additional green-minded buyers should reflect hybrids like the 2024 XC90 Recharge. Yes, it motionless has a gas boiler, but its all-electric variety of 35 miles strength be all you want for daily driving. The car also performs outside expectations, proposals next-level safety features, and radiates sophistication confidential and out. Just around the only hit we have against it is that you finally have to pay to keep by means of the built-in Android Motorized services. General, the XC90 Recharge shows that hybrids still have a home in the industry and effortlessly earns our Editors’ Choice prize.