3-Row Premium Midsize Plug-In Hybrid
The 2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge is the largest of the three Volvo plug-in hybrids (the XC40 is the smallest and the XC60 is in the middle), aging gracefully and remaining a solid choice for a premium midsize SUV with a plug. Volvo also has four all-electric SUVs, giving loyal Volvo owners a wide choice of size, performance and price, but also enticing for those first-timers looking to have a Volvo in their garage.
Power and Range
Clean Fleet Report drove the 2024 XC90 Recharge AWD Ultimate PHEV that has a 2.0-liter gasoline engine and an electric motor producing a total of 455 horsepower and 523 pound-feet of torque. The 8-speed automatic transmission drives all four wheels, taking about 5.0 seconds for 0-60 miles per hour. This was plenty quick, making freeway merging a breeze. The horsepower and torque numbers are to be believed as it gets-up-and-goes.
The EPA rates the XC90 Recharge AWD Ultimate at 27 mpg for the gasoline hybrid engine, and 33 all-electric miles from the 18.8 kWh battery (14.7 kWh usable). It has a 58 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) rating, which is a measurement of how far a car can travel, electrically, on the same amount of energy as is contained in 1 gallon of gasoline. The 33-mile all-electric range shows Volvo engineers are getting close to the 50 miles plug-in hybrids will need to achieve beginning in 2035.
In 278 miles driving through Southern California we averaged a satisfying 46.4 mpg. This included fully charging the battery twice, resulting in 80+ miles of all-electric driving miles. Fuel economy numbers reported by Clean Fleet Report are non-scientific and represent the reviewer’s driving experience using the dash gauge computer. Your numbers may differ.
Battery and Charging
The liquid-cooled 18.8 kWh lithium-ion battery is charged through an 11.0 kW onboard charger. These are the estimated times for the three charging speeds.
- 120V (Level 1) – 8 hours (0-100%)
- 240V (Level 2) – 5 hours (0-100%)
The XC90 Recharge is not equipped to use DC fast charging.
Cold weather can affect the charging time and driving range. The XC90 Recharge is available with a heat pump that warms the interior without drawing on the battery, and a battery conditioner that warms the battery to a temperature that will take a faster and higher charge.
Out On the Road
The Orrefors crystal shift knob controls the 8-speed automatic transmission, which sends power and torque to the front and/or rear wheels. The driver, through the five configurable drive modes (Hybrid, Pure [all-electric], Power1 [sport], Constant AWD and Off-road), can then choose how the XC90 Recharge accelerates, steers, handles and which propulsion source to use.
The XC90 Recharge AWD is easy to drive. When the battery has sufficient charge, the XC90 starts in Pure mode, which for me is the best as the feeling of driving an electric car is second to none for smoothness, quietness and instant power and torque. There is the option of changing the start-up mode to Hybrid, which is not a letdown in performance. The gasoline hybrid engine is strong, smooth and quiet, and pulls well through the gears.
We surpassed the EPA rated 33 miles of all-electric range on both of our battery charges, with 40 miles being about what we saw on the dash readout. There is a small gasoline droplet on the right digital dash gauge that indicates when the hybrid gasoline engine will kick in if you’re pressing too hard on the accelerator pedal. Keeping the needle below that point, which is not hard to do in town, the XC90 becomes a massively efficient non-polluter.
The ride and handling of the 5,162-pound XC90 three-row midsize SUV was smooth, soft and cushy—but in a good way. The active chassis and air suspension ($1,800 option) is a big part of the ride quality along with the double wishbone front suspension with coil springs and a multi-link rear suspension with transverse leaf springs. One minor concern is the 275/40 Pirelli Scorpion Verde all-season tires, on sharp-looking gloss black 21-inch wheels, transmitted vibrations when hitting cracks or divots in the road surface.
Stopping was strong with the 4-wheel disc anti-lock brakes and the regenerative braking thatconverts kinetic energy into electric energy and stores it in the battery. The level of regeneration can be set on the touchscreen as can Creep or Auto Hold modes.
Exterior: Familiar Volvo Feel
The XC90 Recharge has a high build quality, coming from the factory in Torsland, Sweden, near Volvo HQ in Gothenburg. The doors, lift gate, and hood all have tight gaps. Our test model, painted in Vapor Gray, was sharp looking.
The clean design is void of cladding, with tasteful bright work to be found on the badging, along the windows, an attractive strip along the lower doors, the grille, and front and rear fascias. There are no design gimmicks and nothing radical going on, which is true Volvo DNA.
The active bending pixel LED headlights have high beam assist, with the LED lighting design continuing to the sidelights, and turn indicators. The brake lights have a unique shape that wraps from the power lift gate to the side panel and up onto the C pillar.
Interior: Scandinavian Clean
The contemporary Scandinavian design theme thrives in the cockpit, beginning with good access to the ventilated and heated Nappa leather front seats, where comfort was very good. The front passengers get power adjustments for lumbar, side bolsters, and driver-side leg cushion extender, all of which can be controlled in the center touchscreen (and memory when you find your favorite setting). The Lounge Package ($1,700 option) came with front massaging seats, and a Nubuck headliner that is a type of leather with a soft, velvety texture.
The front seats are comfortable for long trips, holding the driver tight when cornering. The electronic power steering is agile and the steering has a bit of heft which we like.
The 12.3-inch digital driver display can be configured through buttons on the steering wheel or in the settings in the 9-inch center touchscreen.
The XC90 Recharge AWD Ultimate comes with a great sounding Bowers & Wilkins premium surround sound system ($3,200 option) with a subwoofer, 19 speakers and 1,410 watts. Look for Spotify, YouTube Music, Google Play, and Apple Music along with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth and SiriusXM. AM radio is not available.
Some of the radio functions can be controlled on the heated steering wheel, but most will be done (once you get in the habit) by calling out commands to the Google Assistant, who also handles many of the XC90’s features and functions. It takes some acclimation and practice, but becomes second nature in time.
Google Lives Here
The wide center console, with fingerprint-attracting gloss black, intersects the dash at the 9-inch color touchscreen. This screen is where the heart of the XC90 Recharge lives: the Google Android Automotive operating system with navigation, apps and Google Assistant. Please note this is not Android Auto, which is confusing. The driver can manage operations by using the touchscreen or through voice commands, which is a good thing. Except for the controls on the steering wheel, there are few buttons or knobs on the dash.
Convenience features include a 360-degree camera, 4-zone automatic climate control with a cabin filtration system, rain sensing windshield wipers, alarm, keyless entry, digital key, Homelink, headlight high pressure washers, adjustable interior illumination and a power panoramic glass roof. The driver-configurable head-up display syncs with Google Maps and shows all sorts of information, such as speed, radio station and street signs. The laminated windshield and side glass helped keep the interior quiet.
Trivia: What common and expected convenience feature isn’t on the XC90 Recharge, but is found on cars costing tens-of-thousands less? A wireless phone charger. Maybe the fact the XC90 has been around since 2016 has something to do with it.
Out Back
The reclining second row accommodates two adults, maybe three on short trips. Second-row passengers get two USB-C charge-only ports, air vents, side window shades and heat controls for the outbound seats. A nice feature for the driver wanting a clear view out the rear window is the second row headrests can be power folded through the center touchscreen. However, the same can’t be done with the third-row headrests.
An award should go to Volvo designers for including a built-in child booster seat in the center of the second row.
The third row is for the smaller in stature, probably meant for chauffeuring the kids’ sport team as opposed to anyone sitting for long trips.
The third row gets air vents and cup holders, but no power ports. One thing missing were straps to pull the third row seat back into the upright position, resulting in either having to walk to the rear door to raise the seat, or climbing into the rear and pulling them up. If doing the latter, the XC90 has buttons to raise or lower the air suspension for easier loading access.
Cargo storage is where the XC90 takes-on a bit of minivan or station wagon feel and practicality. The third row has a 50:50 split while the second row folds in three equal sections. The minivan part comes in when all the seats are folded. There is one long, flat surface for stashing items up-to 6.7’ long and 5.7’ wide. There is an underside storage area for the charging cable, and the Temporary Mobility Kit that includes tire sealant and a compressor.
Safety
The 2024 XC90 Recharge received a 5 Star safety rating, its highest, from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA). The 2024 XC90 was not rated by the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety), but the 2023 XC90 model received a Top Safety Pick+, its highest rating.
Volvo has built its reputation on safety, so standard and available advanced driver assist systems (ADAS), some of which come in packages, include Pilot Assist, front, side, curtain and knee airbags, ABS braking, traction control, front and rear parking assist, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning with steering wheel assist, cross traffic alert, and low and high speed collision mitigation with automatic braking.
Pricing
The 2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge AWD comes in three trims, with these prices that include the $1,195 destination charge. Note: Incentives may be changing in 2025, so speak with your dealer about any available federal or state tax credits that could reduce the price you pay, and if the XC90 Recharge qualifies to use the HOV lane.
- Core $74,390
- Plus $76,290
- Ultimate $82,090
Warranty
- Basic – Four years/50,000 miles
- Battery – Eight years/100,000 miles
- Roadside Assistance – Five years/Unlimited miles
- Corrosion Protection – 12 years/Unlimited miles
- Scheduled Maintenance – Three years/36,000 miles
Observations: 2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge AWD Ultimate
The 2024 XC90 body design, introduced in 2016, is holding-up very well, aging gracefully. It remains attractive and contemporary versus other three-row SUVs. With this said, a refreshed XC90 will be in Volvo dealers in North America sometime mid-2025. Until then, the 2024 is a compelling looking premium SUV with strong curb appeal.
The Volvo XC90 Recharge plug-in hybrid has several competitors in the midsize premium/luxury SUV market, and more if you drop PHEV as a criteria. Some competitors only offer two rows of seating while others have three like the XC90. The midsize PHEVs include the BMW X5 xDrive 40e (2-row), Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe (2-row), Lexus RX 500h+ (2-row), Lexus TX 550h+ (3-row) and Porsche Cayenne e-Hybrid (2-row). Some might throw the Mazda CX-90 PHEV (3-row) although its premium status is still a work-in-progress.
Volvo has made the commitment by 2030 to only sell electric vehicles, and 10 years later to be a carbon neutral company. With four EVs currently on sale in America of the EX90, XC40 Recharge, C40 Recharge, and the EX30, Volvo is well on the way to achieving its environmental goals.
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Story by John Faulkner. Photos by John Faulkner and Volvo.
Disclosure
Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.
Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and other efficient powertrains. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.
