Volvo XC90 B5 Mild Hybrid Facelift Review

I'm not a fan of SUVs, especially big ones. Yet I find myself walking away feeling rather impressed with the updated Volvo XC90 that you see here on this very page. That's saying a lot.

I say that because there are other cars in its class that are equally good, or even better, but I don't quite remember feeling impressed. Mind you, these are highly capable cars like the Audi Q7, BMW X5 and the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class.

The updated Volvo XC90 possesses an appealing design that remains to be instantly recognisable

Superb styling

For starters, the XC90 doesn't look shabby at all. Despite being just a facelift, multiple changes were made to ensure the car stays on top of its game. The grille is now more three-dimensional, the headlamps and the Thor hammer daytime running lights are now sleeker, and the area surrounding the taillights are now darkened to allow for a brighter appearance when viewed from the back.

Step inside and you're politely greeted with a redesigned dashboard that's trimmed with good quality materials. Our test car came with wood and matching brown textile upholstery, ending with a result that's relatively warm and cosy.

There's also a delightful 11.2-inch Android-based infotainment display that's tidy, neat and easy to use. But strangely, our test car comes with wired Apple Carplay but not Android Auto yet.

With all seats in place, the XC90 has a decent boot space of 302 litres

Volvo intelligently incorporates a convertible booster seat in the second row

Smart and spacious

Elsewhere, you get ample head and legroom all around, as expected from a car like the XC90, including a decently-sized boot space of 302 litres, which can be expanded to a humongous 1,194 litres with second and third row seats folded.

What you don't expect, surprisingly, is how well thought out the cabin is. For instance, folding of seats to access the third row is easy. More precisely, it is the XC90's smart feature to convert the centre seat in the second row to a booster seat for your child. 

It may not seem like much but spend more time with the updated Volvo and you'll undoubtedly appreciate the convenience of these features, more so when you utilise them on a daily basis.

At the helm, you're not only faced with a lovely dashboard with a new 11.2-inch infotainment system, you also enjoy a striking gearknob

Pliant and pleasing

Of course, the Volvo XC90 isn't without any faults. Sure, the 2.0-litre powerplant does a superb job in sending 249bhp and 360Nm of torque to all four corners in an urgent manner, but you do feel a sense of disagreement with the eight-speed gearbox, which can be a tad hesitant.

Still, despite its imperfection, the biggest ace up the XC90’s sleeve is its pliant ride, which should be the case considering hauling your family in comfort with this car will naturally be your top priority - all thanks to a tweaked suspension tuning, which includes Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) for the first time.

This said FSD allows shock absorbers to vary their damping force according to different road conditions, which will in turn improve handling and enhance ride comfort.

Despite having a humble 2.0-litre four-pot powerplant that produces 249bhp and 360Nm of torque, the two-tonne Volvo manages to accelerate with urgency

Familiar and family-friendly

All in, the Volvo XC90 is a highly capable seven-seater SUV that's nice, neat and nifty without compromising on its space and pace. Sure, it's not a perfect car, and given its genre as a huge SUV, it's not meant to be - specifically when it comes to enthusiastic driving. 

So, yes, while I'm not a fan of SUVs, especially big ones, the updated Volvo XC90 is certainly an all-rounder. And I cannot help but to feel rather impressed. That's saying a lot.

Looking for seven-seater SUVs? These cars may be of interest to you:

The updated BMW X5 appeals with its sporty disposition and sharp looks

The Audi Q7 is a flagship luxury SUV that delivers on mile-crunching ability

The Mercedes-Benz GLE450 comes with imposing good looks, a well-appointed cabin and a high level of refinement