08-07-2016:
Complaint of multiple software problems on Volvo XC90 "Like most other owners, I'm having lots of ongoing software problems with my car. Many of the functions for which I bought this car don't work at all, or work for a while after a software update and then fail again. Ongoing software issues are "resolved" by a latest software update which in most cases fixes the glitch temporarily but often has knock on effects to other software functions.
28-03-2017:
Report of numerous annoying problems with leased Volvo XC90 T8. Within 24 hours of pick up it needed its main ECU replacing (gone for a week and half) and since then the heated seat on the drivers side doesn't work (2 visits, still no fix) and the nav / radio unit liked to reboot itself (2 visits, now fixed, fingers crossed). Since the last visit the driver's window started running slowly and the collision warning sensor likes to go off a lot more frequently than before.
04-10-2017:
Significant electrical/electronic problems reported with November 2016 Volvo XC90. Recurrent issues with low charge 12V battery which resulted in complete electrical failure within the first 4 months from purchase. Volvo UK had the car uplifted back to the Volvo dealer in April 2017 with the subsequent battery change and software upgrade seeming to have sorted the original problem.
03-09-2018:
Complaint from owner that even when fully charged his Volvo XC90 T8 will not run for more than a few miles in EV mode without the petrol engine cutting in. A new 12v battery was tried in case there was a fault with the engine start/stop, but that made no difference.
12-11-2018:
Report of numerous problems with 2015 Volvo XC90 T8. In three years it has had two complete software failures leading to no power.
25-05-2019:
Report of brakes of Volvo XC90 failing on the motorway 200 miles after purchase. "No braking power between 60mph and 40mph no matter how hard I pressed the pedal." Volvo examined the car and found a part was not put in place during assembly.
15-08-2019:
Report of initial 20 miles fully charged EV range of Volvo T8 PHEV 'TwinPower' disappearing when first starting the car. Engine simply starts. Car has done 127k miles.
12-02-2020:
Report of Key Tag (Sport Key) of 22k mile 2018 Volvo XC90 T8 failing, owner thinks because of a flat battery. But it is a sealed unit so the battery cannot be changed and not covered by warranty so owner must pay £220 for a coded replacement.
August 2014
Volvo unveiled the all-new XC90
The second generation SUV will reach the UK in May 2015 and be offered in two or four-wheel drive, with the choice of petrol, diesel or hybrid powertrains. The new Volvo XC90 will be available to order in the UK from October and prices will start at £45,000.
The Twin Engine plug-in petrol hybrid T8 will top the XC90 range. The rest of the engine line up will consist of new petrol and diesel engines and the new powertrains will be 2.0-litre, four cylinder, units linked to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The XC90 gets the option of electronically controlled air suspension, with the choice of five modes, including one where the driver is free to tailor the settings to his or her personal taste.
The interior has been redesigned, but will be familiar to many XC90 owners, with wood finishes and a large central colour display. However, Volvo has attempted to make the interior ‘button free’ and the touch screen display will control the majority of the in-car operations. The new XC90 will be offered with a range of Internet-based products and services too, which will include music streaming, apps and online sat nav.
Volvo is describing the interior as one of the most luxurious to have been designed for one of its models, with soft leather, crystal glass gear stick and diamond-cut controls for the start/stop button and volume control. As with the first generation XC90, which was launched back in 2002, the Swedish SUV will be a seven-seater and the third row will have enough for passengers up to 170cm tall (five foot seven inches).
The new Volvo is packed with safety kit, which includes run-off road protection package and automatic braking. In the event of the XC90 leaving the road, the car will detect the impending impact and tighten the seat belts to prevent spine injuries. The seat frames and cushions will also be energy-absorbing, to help further reduce impact to the car’s occupants.
The XC90 is also available with automatic braking, which will apply the brakes if the driver pulls out onto oncoming traffic. The system will also be able to detect cyclists and pedestrians and apply the brakes if it detects a potential impact.
To celebrate the launch of the new XC90, Volvo is releasing a limited First Edition model which will be filled with options and kit. Just 1927 First Edition models will be available - individually numbered to celebrate the year Volvo was founded.
April 2015
Volvo XC90 T8 plug-in hybrid added
Emits 49g/km with a combined 407PS, 640Nm, 134.5mpg and up to 26 miles pure electric range. (320PS + 87PS power and 400 + 240Nm torque - combined 407hp and 640 Nm.)
Improvement over the earlier expected figures were achieved thanks to the continuous innovation cycle at the Swedish company. The result of further tuning is a drop of 10 g/km from the initial prognosis, for up to 134.5mpg fuel economy, while also adding horsepower. This makes the XC90 T8 Twin Engine the clear leader in its segment, with an exceptional combination of low fuel consumption, emissions and pure power.
No other 7-seat SUV can deliver 26 miles of pure electric range, 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds and provide combined power of 407PS – all in a 7 seat configuration.
The XC90 T8 Twin Engine is available to order in the UK from 30th April 2015. First deliveries December 2015.
The XC90 T8 Twin Engine can go from 0 to 62mph in 5.6 seconds, delivering all the driving pleasure customers have come to expect from a Volvo SUV. But driving pleasure is only a fraction of what the XC90 T8 offers: the car has five different driving modes that deliver a range of performance and efficiency-enhancing characteristics. Using either a scroll wheel on the centre console or a touchscreen on the dashboard, drivers can choose from:
November 2015
Polestar upgrades available for XC90
Known as Polestar Performance Optimisation, the upgrades improve the power and torque figures of both the D5 diesel and T6 petrol Drive-E engines, particularly at medium revs where it’s most effective. They also make the accelerator responses even quicker, and alter the settings of the automatic gearbox to provide faster gearchanges and prevent gearshifts during rapid cornering, which could unsettle the car. These quicker and more precise responses to driver commands not only make the driving experience more dynamic, they ensure the car responds predictably during high-speed driving.
The maximum output of the D5 Drive-E engine is increased to 233PS and 500Nm of torque (up from 225PS and 470Nm), while the T6 Drive-E is boosted to 334PS and 440Nm (from 320PS and 400Nm).
The price of the Polestar upgrade is £835, including VAT and fitting. The work can be carried out at any authorised Volvo dealer, and should take about 30 minutes to complete.
November 2015
XC90 R-Design launched
It gets 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, silver-effect door mirrors, gloss black mesh front grille and tinted rear windows. Inside, there are leather/nubuck sports seats, a 12.3-inch active TFT driver’s information display and a perforated leather-trimmed steering wheel complete with gearshift paddles. R-Design XC90s also get a powered front passenger seat with memory function (to match the driver’s seat), sports pedals, black headlining and upgraded interior lighting.
R-Design models come with Drive Mode Settings and Adjustable Steering Force as standard, too, which allow you to choose between different settings for the engine, transmission, steering and the optional air suspension.
R-Design versions are available with the D5 diesel and T6 petrol Drive-E engines, and in T8 Twin Engine petrol-electric hybrid form. Prices start at £49,785 OTR.
February 2016
D5 Powerpulse introduced
PowerPulse technology delivers significant improvements in take-off performance thanks to Volvo’s ingenious use of compressed air to deliver an instantaneous response by spooling up the turbo. Volvo also announced the introduction of its latest semi-autonomous drive technology, Pilot Assist II, as standard on the XC90 in the UK.
December 2016
Optional 'Red Key' now available
Priced at £110 and available both for new and for existing cars. When the car is driven with the Red Key, its top speed is reduced to 75mph, the Adaptive Cruise Control function is programmed to maintain the maximum distance to the car in front, and the maximum volume from the audio system is reduced. Meanwhile, use of the Red Key sees the permanent activation of a range of safety features, including BLIS (Blind Spot Information System), Lane Keeping Aid, Forward Collision Warning, Driver Alert Control, Distance Alert and Traffic Sign Recognition.
December 2016
Skype for Business added to spec for XC90
Described as "collaborative productivity app" enabling easy access conference calls from the car. Can view upcoming meetings and participant details, and join meetings with one click via the large centre display.
June 2017
Volvo XC90 T8 won 'Best Hybrid' award at Tow Car Awards 2017. The XC90 T8 has a maximum braked towing weight of 2,400 kg, which is more than any other hybrid car.
August 2018
T5 engine added to XC90 range
Tuned to deliver 250PS and 350Nm of torque, the T5 has well-established credentials as a strong yet refined performer that delivers impressive fuel economy and emissions. It is matched as standard to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Customers for the XC90 SUV can specify the T5 with all-wheel drive in all model grades, starting with the Momentum, which has an on-the-road price of £50,43, and topping out with the Inscription Pro at £59,235. The XC90 T5 AWD achieves official combined cycle figures from 35.8mpg and 184g/km, while acceleration from rest to 62mph is 7.9 seconds.
February 2019
Refreshed Volvo XC90 announced
A newly developed fuel-saving engine option is added. This offers customers Volvo’s advanced kinetic energy-recovery braking system, which is coupled with its existing internal combustion engines to create a new integrated electrified powertrain, under its new ‘B’ badge. The system offers drivers up to 15 per cent fuel savings and emission reductions in real-world driving. The new 'brake-by-wire' system interacts with the energy-recovery system and reduces fuel consumption and emissions by recovering kinetic energy under braking.
The new ‘B’-badged cars complement Volvo’s existing T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid electrified option on the new XC90.
Outside, the refreshed XC90 offers subtle upgrades to the original exterior, such as new wheels, exterior colours and a modern new grille, among other details.
Improving safety, the XC90 now offers drivers help with steering on both the City Safety and the Blind Spot Information System. City Safety with Autobrake is still the only system on the market to recognise pedestrians, cyclists and large animals. The Oncoming Lane Mitigation system first introduced on the XC60 is now also available on the XC90, while the Cross Traffic Alert technology now also offers autobrake.
As well as Apple Carplay the XC90 infotainment system is now also compatible with Android Auto. The Sensus infotainment system has gone through multiple updates in recent years, all of which have been adopted into the XC90. Where available, the Spotify music streaming service is integrated in the XC90.
September 2019
Volvo XC90 upgraded with 48v Mild Hybrid
The 2020 model year XC90 range is the first to offer Volvo's new mild-hybrid system, in this case a diesel designated 'B5'. It combines Volvo's established 2.0-litre 235hp diesel engine with a 48-volt battery, a KERS kinetic energy recovery system and an integrated starter generator. This improves fuel economy by up to 15 per cent in real-world driving and produces lower NOx emissions than the outgoing D5 XC90.
The B5 also gets an updated automatic transmission, which brings improved fuel efficiency and superior gearshift quality. Acceleration from a standstill is sharper, too, thanks to a greater torque capacity in the lower gears. The B5 also breaks new ground for Volvo by using a brake-by-wire system.
The XC90's T8 'Twin Engine' petrol-electric plug-in hybrid powertrain has also been revised, with an increase in the high-voltage battery's capacity from 10.4 to 11.8 kilowatt hours. This increases the car's electric-only driving range from up to 21.7 to a maximum of 28.6 miles – more than enough for an urban commuting journey.
Minor styling tweaks include a new grille and lower front bumper designs. The air intakes also have a fresh look and new alloy wheel designs have been introduced. All XC90 versions also now come with integrated roof rails and dual integrated exhaust tailpipes as standard.
August 2024
Volvo adds luxury features to XC90 with new Plus Edition and Ultra Edition versions
The seven-seat Volvo XC90 large SUV range is benefiting from specification upgrades that enhance the model’s style and luxury profile. The XC90 Plus Edition and Ultra Edition trim levels replace the current Plus and Ultra grades respectively.
The Plus Edition introduces perforated Nappa leather upholstery with ventilation for the front seats, tinted windows and 21-inch alloy wheels, replacing the outgoing model's 20-inch rims.
The Ultra Edition adopts 22-inch wheels, previously 21-inch, while the prices for both grades include all exterior paint choices.
Both new specifications are available with the B5 petrol and T8 petrol-electric plug-in hybrid powertrains, and prices start from £69,425.
Orders are open now, with first deliveries this autumn.
September 2024
Volvo gives XC90 an EX90-inspired new look and new tech, orders open today
Volvo has announced a major facelift for the XC90, which originally launched back in 2015. The firm's flagship seven-seater SUV is available as a T8 plug-in hybrid that can travel 45.4 miles on electric power alone, while B5 and B6 mild hybrid models may also be offered.
The XC90 gets an exterior refresh, with new lights and a front grille design that brings it closer in looks to the electric EX90.
On the inside, the refreshed cabin includes recycled materials and a larger central touchscreen that uses the same layout as the firm's latest electric models, further closing the gap between Volvo's EVs and combustion-powered cars.
Volvo has also worked to improve the XC90's ride comfort, including adaptive damping and optional air suspension the car, road and driver 500 times per second, adjusting the damping to give the most comfortable ride possible. There's more insulation, too.
The new Volvo XC90 is available to order in the UK from October. Production is scheduled to begin in late 2024, with first customer deliveries set to start around the end of the year.
![2020 Volvo XC90 2.0 B5D [235] Momentum Pro 5dr AWD Geartronic](http://images.honestjohn.co.uk/imagecache/url/crop/150x100/https/cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/1b983ea56bb303330fc47a0f07ff6ceb/d4e8672a3adb381f4e27415fc2b13d4b.jpg)
Incredibly refined and quiet on the move, high quality cabin with room for seven, well equipped as standard.
Gargantuan size can make parking a challenge, T8 hybrid isn't that efficient once the battery is depleted.
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