{"id":2826,"date":"2025-09-10T16:47:37","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T06:47:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.motorscout.com.au\/wp-blog\/?p=2826"},"modified":"2025-09-02T09:16:50","modified_gmt":"2025-09-01T23:16:50","slug":"review-2025-volvo-xc90","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.motorscout.com.au\/wp-blog\/review-2025-volvo-xc90\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: 2025 VOLVO XC90"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2025 VOLVO XC90<\/strong><\/a> lands in Australia as the sensible seven-seat luxury SUV for families who prefer calm competence over badge-flexing. Volvo has massaged the formula with cleaner styling, a larger 11.2-inch infotainment screen that runs Google built-in, quieter cabin trim, and chassis tweaks for a more settled ride. Crucially, buyers can still pick between a mild-hybrid B5 and the punchy Recharge T8 plug-in hybrid, keeping the 2025 Volvo XC90<\/strong><\/a> features list squarely aimed at daily usability. Volvo Australia flagged this update as a first-half-of-2025 arrival, which lines up with what is now on sale.<\/p>\n

Pros and Cons<\/h2>\n

Pros<\/h4>\n

\u2022 Spacious, adult-friendly seating across three rows and a huge boot
\u2022 Smooth ride and low cabin noise on Australian roads
\u2022 Google built-in with wireless Apple CarPlay and a crisp 11.2-inch display
\u2022 Recharge T8 offers real electric commuting plus long-trip flexibility<\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

Cons<\/h4>\n

\u2022 Pricing is now well into luxury-tax territory for many buyers
\u2022 ANCAP rating from the old model has expired, so the 2025 car is presently unrated
\u2022 Some rivals feel sharper to drive if you prioritise sportiness<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

How Much Does It Cost?<\/h2>\n

Australian pricing for the 2025 Volvo XC90<\/strong><\/a> starts at $104,990 before on-road costs<\/strong> for the Ultra B5 Bright mild hybrid and rises to $130,990 before on-roads<\/strong> for the Ultra T8 Recharge plug-in hybrid. Those figures reflect the 2025 update with extra kit and styling tweaks. Drive-away will vary by state and options.<\/p>\n

Features and Benefits<\/h2>\n

The 2025 Volvo XC90<\/strong><\/a> interior is all about calm ergonomics and nice details rather than shouty flourishes. The higher-resolution 11.2-inch central screen<\/strong> runs Android Automotive with Google built-in<\/strong>, plus wireless Apple CarPlay<\/strong>. A 12.3-inch driver display<\/strong>, head-up display<\/strong>, wireless charging, quad-zone climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, and a tidy, redesigned centre console make daily life easy. The Recharge adds air suspension and a 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins system that does justice to weekend playlists.<\/p>\n

The 2025 Volvo XC90<\/strong><\/a> exterior design gets cleaner lighting signatures, a fresh grille and air intakes. It reads as expensive without trying too hard, which is the whole Scandinavian point.<\/p>\n

Safety<\/h2>\n

Volvo still treats safety like a core brand value rather than a brochure checkbox. Standard kit in Australia includes seven airbags, a surround-view camera, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, tyre-pressure monitoring and hill-descent control. Note that the previous five-star ANCAP rating from 2015 has expired for the updated model, so the 2025 car is currently unrated pending fresh testing.<\/p>\n

Running Costs<\/h2>\n

Pick the B5 mild hybrid<\/strong> for simplicity and long-haul touring. Volvo claims 8.1 L\/100 km<\/strong> combined, with a 71-litre tank and 2,400 kg braked towing. Service intervals are typically 12 months or 15,000 km and Volvo backs the car with a 5-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Go for the 2025 Volvo XC90<\/a> hybrid<\/strong> if your life involves commuting and school runs. The Recharge T8<\/strong> offers a WLTP electric-only range of up to 77 km<\/strong> from an 18.8 kWh battery, claims 1.8 L\/100 km<\/strong> when used and charged as intended, and accepts AC charging at up to 6.4 kW<\/strong>. Battery coverage is 8 years or 160,000 km<\/strong>. Real-world results depend on charging habits and terrain, but plenty of owners will do weekdays on electricity and fuel up only for weekend trips.<\/p>\n

Comparison To Its Competitors<\/h2>\n

If you are cross-shopping the luxury seven-seat set, the XC90<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s vibe is different to the Audi Q7<\/strong><\/a>, BMW X5<\/strong><\/a> and Mercedes-Benz GLE<\/strong>. The Audi Q7<\/strong><\/a> opens higher on price in Australia and feels more overtly Germanic in its cabin and drive. The GLE<\/strong> skews toward prestige and options, while X5<\/strong><\/a> shoppers chasing a sporty feel may find it a touch more agile but not as third-row friendly. Where the Volvo bites back is value in spec, an easygoing ride, and the Recharge T8\u2019s genuine EV-for-the-week, road-trip-for-the-weekend flexibility. If you are stretching dollars, a top Mazda CX-90<\/strong><\/a> encroaches on space and comfort for less money, but it does not match the Volvo\u2019s safety ethos or plug-in hybrid ability.<\/p>\n

2025 Volvo XC90: Fresh Design, New UX, Hybrid Power, Safer Drive<\/h2>\n