2023 Volvo XC90

The major change for 2023 is the replacement of pure internal combustion engines with a mild-hybrid setup called the B5 and B6. The base trim would be called the B5 Core and Volvo has decided to scrap away the front-wheel drive system that was offered in the base T5 trim last year. The starting price for the XC90 will go up and would start at $56,000 which will bring in features like 8-way driver and passenger seat adjustment, manual telescoping steering adjustment, a Google-based infotainment system, along with a long list of safety tech. The trims higher can be opted with additional packages ranging from the protection package, climate package, protection premier package, and the lounge package which brings in exclusive features and touches all for a slight premium over the sticker price.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 basically comes in 3 trim levels, namely the Core, Plus, and Ultimate. Volvo is giving the buyers an option to either pick the B5 engine or the B6 engine in Core and Plus trims, while the Ultimate stays exclusive for the B6 powertrain.

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It is totally worth going all in and putting your money on the B6 Ultimate variant but the most value can be churned out from the B6 Plus trim that sells for $63,400. Volvo gives the users an option to pick either a 7-seat configuration or a 6-seat configuration with second-row captain seats that is available for B6 Plus and B6 Ultimate trims.

Release Date

Volvo officially hasn’t given a word about the launch date but the 2023 XC90 is expected to hit the dealerships by the end of 2022 or it could be pushed to early 2023 due to the ongoing chip shortage and supply chain crisis.

Even though Volvo has introduced a new mild-hybrid setup, the fuel economy is said to have increased only a couple of miles more than what it previously achieved. With a combined gas mileage claim of 26 MPG, it is one of the best offerings in the segment. Volvo has equipped the SUV with a gas tank that can carry 18.8-gallons of fuel, which allows the XC90 to cover a total of 488 miles under mixed driving conditions.

The highest fuel efficiency is offered by Volvo but when it comes to the total range, the Mercedes-Benz takes over due to its larger 22.5-gallon tank that allows it to cover 517 miles without needing to refuel. The BMW takes the second spot for offering the highest range but if saving money on fuel is what you’re looking for, the Volvo is the SUV that you need to be leaning towards.

Luxury SUV shoppers will rejoice with the cabin quality that the 2023 Volvo XC90 offers and even though the differences might not be many, we would get to witness a much more refined finish and the use of upgraded materials for the cabin construction. The XC90 offers a leatherette upholstered interior in the base Core trim that is styled with metal inlays to elevate the cabin feel. The mid-variant of the XC90 called the Plus introduces some genuine leather for its upholstery but for those looking to go high-end, pick the Ultimate trim and feast your eyes on the perforated Nappa leather interior with leather-wrapped steering wheel and genuine textures wood inlays running through the cabin panels. Look up and you will get to see a Nubuck-covered headliner that comes as an exclusive option for the top trim. The front seats come with 12-way adjustability, allowing the occupants to configure the ideal posture according to their comfort. Volvo has paid a lot of attention to detail in order to keep the experience as premium as possible and has configured the interior lights to fade away rather than shutting off at once with the click of a button.

For those who fancy comfort over passenger hauling capacity, the B6 Plus and B6 Ultimate trims can be configured with middle-row captain seats that will lower the seating capacity to 6 but provide a wonderful experience to the occupants in the second row.

The interior layout can really be a deciding factor as to which car you need to pick as the BMW and Mercedes-Benz come only with a 5-seat layout. The only other offering that is capable of seating 7 people is the 2023 Audi Q7 and in terms of the passenger space on all three rows, the Volvo and the Audi offer similar figures. However, the Volvo dominates the cargo area with a maximum of 85.7 cu-ft of available space for all the luggage.

Some standout interior features on the 2023 Volvo XC90 include:

• Heated leather steering wheel.
• 12-way driver and passenger seat adjustability.
• Heated front and second-row seats.
• 4 zone electronic climate control with air quality system and pollen filter.
• Power front seats with memory function.
• Ventilated front seats.

How intuitive is the 2023 Volvo XC90 infotainment system?

The major focal point in the interior of the XC90 would be the dual screen setup that comprises a 9-inch infotainment unit along with a 12.3-inch instrument gauge cluster that displays all the necessary data and figures that would help the driver. The infotainment system for 2023 comes built-in with Google apps and services. This makes the system much more intuitive and convenient, providing the users with an unprecedented customization option and connectivity. The system would receive over-the-air updates to keep it up to date and to provide a lag-free experience. The voice commands are baked up by Google assistant and the audio system comprises a 10-speaker layout as standard on the base trim. Move up the ladder and you will find a 14-speaker setup by Harmon Kardon on the Ultimate trim that produces one of the best audio experiences in the segment. Features like the automatic equalizer and heads-up display can be added on as a part of optional packages.

Some of the standout infotainment features on the 2023 Volvo XC90 are:

• Dolby pro logic II surround sound.
• 9-inch touchscreen.
• Google services.
• 12.3-inch instrument cluster display.
• 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio setup.
• Surround-view camera.

Volvo has confirmed the 2023 model to be based on the same SPA1 platform and also intends to follow the same design that is now 7 years old. Even though the design doesn’t look dated, it is a missed opportunity for a redesign unless the brand is looking to completely revamp the line-up in the near future. Users get to either pick a Bright or a Dark there for their trims which will accordingly add black mesh or matte silver mesh with chrome grille on the vehicle along with mating color accents to complete the look.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 stands tall enough and offers ample ground clearance for a carefree drive experience even on broken roads. All the SUVs follow a similar wheelbase dimension but the Audi manages to provide the tallest ground clearance at 9.4 inches.

Some of the standout exterior features include:

• Rain detecting variable intermittent wipers.
• Automatic LED headlights with active high beams.
• Directionally adaptive lights.
• Heated windscreen.
• Headlight cleaning system.
• Auto folding heated door mirrors.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 is yet to be officially tested for crash ratings but the result could be identical to the previous year as the vehicle is based on the same platform. The 2022 Volvo XC90 has scored 5-stars on NHTSA and an overall rating of “Good” on IIHS. The SUV also bagged the title of Top Safety Pick + from IIHS and we expect the 2023 model to follow the same route. Safety isn’t something that Volvo compromises on and the 2023 XC90 will feature the latest Advanced Driver Assistance System sensor platform along with a scalable active safety system that consists of an array of radars, cameras, and ultrasonic sensors. This platform enables the deployment of active safety systems such as detection of other road users, automatic braking, and collision avoidance. Through the pilot assist function, it allows gentle driver support from standstill up to highway speeds.

Some of the standout safety features available with the 2023 Volvo XC90 are:

• Forward collision warning.
• Pedestrian and cyclist detection.
• Lane departure and driver attention warning.
• Automatic emergency braking.
• Active bending headlamps.
• Front and rear parking sensor.

2023 Volvo XC90 vs 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350

The 2023 Volvo XC90 does fall back slightly in terms of power but the Mercedes-Benz does not carry a drastic amount of extra power when compared to Volvo. The GLE 350 would be the ideal vehicle to pick for the outstation drives as it would need lesser fuel brakes when compared to the Volvo. However, that better fuel efficiency is provided by Volvo and the car offers a much better cargo space out of the two. The Volvo can also seat 7 people in total unlike the Mercedes-Benz, which can only carry a total of 5 occupants.

2023 Volvo XC90 vs 2023 Audi Q7

The 2023 Audi Q7 without a doubt is the more powerful vehicle out of the two but the drive feel would not differ a lot as the Audi weighs itself down with its massive proportions. The Volvo XC90 however has a much better interior and a long list of safety tech that is unmatched. Even though the Audi is longer than the Volvo, the latter manages to offer bigger storage space in comparison. It comes down to whether you need a powerful 7-seater or a comfortable and practical 7-seater as both these vehicles are focused in different directions.

2023 Volvo XC90 vs 2023 BMW X5

The 2023 BMW X5 takes a massive leap in terms of power as it comes equipped with a larger engine. The BMW is a straight-up performance-oriented SUV that happens to have enough space to accommodate a family. The Volvo offers better fuel efficiency and cargo space but most importantly, the Volvo can carry 2 additional passengers. BMW does offer an optional third-row but with barely any legroom and uncomfortable seats, most of the buyers don’t consider opting for it.

The major changes for the 2023 Volvo XC90 have been in terms of the new mild-hybrid powertrains and even though they don’t prove any drastic changes in the numbers, it is a leap forward towards achieving the future vision that Volvo has lined up. The car also received a major update in terms of infotainment and this eliminates the confusing user interface that was available until the previous years. The 2023 Volvo XC90 is totally worth the purchase even though it looks the same on the outside as there isn’t any other SUV that offers similar value as the Volvo does. The fact that the brand hasn’t chased performance figures resulted in the XC90 having a great balance between drive, comfort, and safety. Even the base variant of the Volvo XC90 packs in a long list of standard features, making premium features easily affordable. This is a luxury SUV that can be driven almost every day without breaking your bank and the XC90 has the potential to perform if needed on an empty strip of asphalt. Overall, the 2023 XC90 carries the perfect blend of comfort and performance which is why the car has been selling good numbers even though the changes have been minute over the years.