The popular Volvo XC90 is receiving a second mid-cycle update mid-way through the 2025 model year. That’s why it’s been labeled as the “2025.5” XC90 T8 Recharge. The last major update was with the 2023 model year. So, what are the updates to this one and do they continue to make the XC90 one of the best luxury 3-row family SUVs?
Performance
Engine – The 2025.5 Volvo XC90 T8 does not see any updates for the powertrain. It has a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that produces 312 hp & 295 lb-ft of torque (233 kW & 400 Nm). With the addition of the electric motor, total output of 455 hp & 523 lb-ft of torque (339 kW & 710 Nm). The electric motor produces 143 hp & 228 lb-ft of torque (106 kW & 309 Nm). Volvo claims a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 5.3 seconds. From behind the steering wheel, this is a quick SUV. Thanks to the instant torque of the electric motor, you immediately feel the rush of acceleration. Quickly thereafter, the gasoline engine is in its sweet spot rpm range and it provides the bulk of the power. At no time did it feel as though this powertrain was lacking in power.
Range & Charging – The 2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge has an 18.8 kWh battery back positioned in the transmission tunnel between the front & rear axle. The car is rated for up to 53 km (33 Miles) of electric-only driving. With climate control turned off and an ambient temperature of around 20 degrees Celsius, I managed to get a maximum of 58 km (36 miles) out of a full battery charge. But last year, I only managed to squeeze 47 km (29 Miles) out of a single charge but this was in colder than normal temperatures, climate control running at all times, and the trip involved going up and down some hills which means more energy is used when going uphill than recuperated when going back down. So it all depends on how the car is driven, the ambient temperature, and climate control usage.
Volvo says that it’ll take around 3 hours to recharge the XC90 T8 from a level 2 charger that is putting out 6.4 kW. I didn’t have access to one so I just plugged it into a regular wall socket and let it recharge overnight.
Battery Modes – The Volvo XC90 Recharge can start up in Pure (electric-only) or auto hybrid mode. The Pure mode will use all of the battery’s energy until it’s drained after which the engine seamlessly starts up. But pushing the throttle and engaging the kickdown will turn on the engine even if there’s still a battery charge. Auto hybrid mode will primarily use the electrical energy unless faster acceleration is required. It will turn the engine on under more throttle application and without engaging the kickdown of the pedal. There’s also Hold and Recharge modes. These will hold the battery charge at whatever state it is at for future use or it will turn the engine on and slowly recharge the battery. The latter of which uses more fuel. The car also has a Constant AWD mode, Power and Off-Road drive modes. The annoying thing is that in order to change between the different modes in the Volvo, you have to click a few times on the touchscreen (while driving) which I find to be more distracting. Even more annoying is that Volvo had a dedicated drive mode scroll wheel on the center console in older models but they decided to get rid of it.
Fuel Economy – If you drive the XC90 T8 Recharge with a flat battery, then it’ll return around 9.1 L/100km (25.8 MPG) in a city and 8.6 L/100km (27.3 MPG) on a highway. I averaged 4.8 L/100km (49 MPG) during my time with the SUV but this number will greatly fluctuate depending on how often you are able to recharge the battery.
Transmission – The XC90 Recharge utilizes an 8-speed automatic which is a very smooth shifting transmission. But it’s not the fastest reacting 8-speed auto there and the XC90 does not have any paddle shifters to control the transmission. You have to use the crystal gear selector on the center console to do so.
Braking – The XC90 T8 uses regenerative braking to recoup some energy while slowing down. In addition, it also has a one-pedal mode. Simply switch the gear selector from “D” to “B” and ensure that the “creep” function in the infotainment system is switched off. Then the car will gently come to a complete stop without needing to touch the brake pedal.
Handling – The XC90 was never meant to be a sports SUV like the Jaguar F-Pace SVR for example. That said, the 275 wide tires all-round offer enough grip to let you take the three-row SUV fairly quickly around corners. The steering feel is also not too bad for an SUV of this size and class. Again, it doesn’t have the same feel as in a sports SUV but it isn’t a completely numb feeling either.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – This particular demo vehicle came equipped with the optional air suspension. The suspension can be adjusted for a normal ride comfort or a firm ride mode. The firm mode allows it to resist more body roll through corners but makes the ride too jarry. The normal air suspension mode is great for city streets. It provides a plush but not floaty ride.
Interior Space – Front and rear occupants have a good amount of leg and head room but if you’re an adult, the third row is not a place you want to find yourself. Space for your legs and head is extremely tight. Fold the third row however, and cargo space is very generous for this class of vehicle.
Behind the 3rd row of the Volvo, it has 447 L (15.8 cu-ft) of space. Behind the 2nd row, it’s 1,183 L (41.8 cu-ft). Finally behind the 1st row, it’s 2,426 L (85.7 cu-ft).
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – The cabin of the XC90 T8 is quiet. Obviously when the electric motor is providing the power, there’s only a faint whisper of tire noise that is audible in the car. When the engine has to turn on, the transition is seamless. As well, the engine itself is pretty quiet when it’s not working too hard. Under more moderate or hard acceleration, it can get quite noisy.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The first thing that changed for the 2025.5 model year is the price, it’s now more expensive. The 2025.5 Volvo XC90 T8 Core starts at $87,550 CAD. This Ultra trim with a few add-ons had an as equipped price of $103,200 CAD.
Gadgets – Being a top spec trim, this demo vehicle had almost every feature in the Volvo catalog. These include Nappa leather upholstery, heated, ventilated, & massaging front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, panoramic sunroof, hands-free power liftgate, surround view cameras, head-up display, Pilot Assist semi-autonomous drive, blind spot sensors, Bowers & Wilkins sound system, and much more.
One change to this 2025.5 model year is the updated infotainment system and touchscreen. The screen is now larger at 11.2-inches. The infotainment system is similar to that in the Volvo EX30. It still has Google Built-in along with wireless CarPlay & Android Auto. The menu structure is similarly laid out like the previous iteration of Volvo’s infotainment system but Google Maps is basically the home screen now. Of course, the climate controls are still integrated into this touchscreen but thankfully, the volume control is still the large knob in the center. There are times when this infotainment system takes a while before it fully boots up but I’ve only noticed this on two occasions while starting up the XC90. Additionally, the touchscreen still gets very hot but I did notice a message pop up in the driver display which stated that the touchscreen ventilation has turned on. But I didn’t hear any fans buzzing behind the screen.
Interior Design – Apart from the new touchscreen, the interior remains largely unchanged. Real wood and aluminum trim cover parts of the dashboard and center console while soft leather covers the rest. I do like Volvo’s use of carpet up the side of the center console as it reduces the use of hard plastics and gives the cabin a premium feel.
Exterior Design – The front of the 2025.5 Volvo XC90 T8 has the most distinct change when compared to the 2025 model year. It has a new grille, slimmer headlights with slimmer Thor’s Hammer daytime running lights, and a slightly tweaked front bumper design. There’s also a new 21” wheel design but the rear remains largely unchanged.
Safety – The Core XC90 Recharge (base) has nearly every safety and driver aid feature. Moving up to the Ultimate level will add Pilot Assist with adaptive cruise control, surround view cameras, and front & rear parking sensors. Every other feature like blind spot sensors, automatic emergency braking, lane keep and so on are all standard.
Warranty – The 2023 Volvo XC90 T8 Recharge has a similar warranty period to its German rivals. It comes with a 4 year / 80,000 km new vehicle and powertrain warranty.
Conclusion – Though the 2025.5 model year updates are not that significant, the Volvo XC90 T8 remains as one of the best luxury 3-row family SUVs. It is a quick and efficient SUV with a spacious cabin and all of the latest technology that customers ask for. What else is there to ask for?
Thank you to Volvo Cars Canada for providing the vehicle. www.VolvoCars.com
2025.5 Volvo XC90 T8 Gallery
