- The second-generation Volvo XC90 was introduced a decade ago.
- Despite its age, it’s still one of Volvo’s best-selling models.
- Several facelifts improved the SUV’s appeal, but now an all-new generation is needed, according to Volvo boss Hakan Samuelsson.
The Volvo XC90 is probably the most recognizable model in the Swedish automaker’s lineup, but it’s getting a bit long in the tooth. First introduced way back in 2015, the second-generation model has consistently been one of the best-selling cars in the company’s lineup, but the end is near for the beloved family SUV in its current form.
A new generation of the Volvo XC90 is likely in the works, according to the brand’s new boss, Hakan Samuelsson, who told investors this week that the marque “will need a new XC90.” Most likely, the third-generation XC90 will have a long-range plug-in hybrid powertrain similar to the recently revealed XC70 crossover heading to China in the next three months.
The second-generation Volvo XC90 got a second facelift in 2024.
Photo by: Volvo
“This is something I think European consumers will want to have,” Samuelsson said. “Plug-in hybrids with a longer range are a solution that we will probably need for some more years than we thought.”
The latest version of the XC90 plug-in hybrid, known as the T8 AWD Plug-in Hybrid in the United States and as the T8 Recharge AWD in other parts of the world, has a high-voltage battery with a usable capacity of 14.7 kilowatt-hours (18.8 kWh gross). This enables an EPA-rated all-electric driving range of 33 miles on a full charge. There’s also a 2.0-liter gas engine under the hood that ups the total range figure to 530 miles.
That’s not bad, and as a Volvo owner myself, I can attest to the fact that the latest iteration of the company’s PHEV system is a perfect fit for daily driving. However, more is always better, and here’s where the new Volvo XC70 comes into play.
The Volvo XC70 will go into production in China as a long-range plug-in hybrid crossover.
Photo by: MIIT
Based on Geely’s new Scalable Modular Architecture (SMA), the new Chinese crossover can be had with a 21 kWh battery or a 39 kWh pack, enabling a CLTC-rated maximum electric range of 62 miles for the former and 112 miles for the latter. These are quite optimistic numbers, considering the CLTC’s history of producing far-fetched efficiency numbers, but even so, with a bigger battery, the electric-only range can only go higher.
A new XC90, as long as it’s problem-free, could give Volvo a new lease of life. With sales declining globally and a newly developed reputation for software problems, the Swedish automaker is in a bad spot. The problem is that the company’s new CEO didn’t say when the new XC90 would make its way to the market, but if I were to guess, it will be at least 2027 until we get to see it.