Volvo has maintained a steady presence in the Philippine market over the years. It’s not ever been one to make big headlines or top sales charts, but it’s managed to weather storms and stay afloat after all these years.
But recently, Volvo has become more active than ever in the local automotive industry. New launches, new electric models—it appears management has started to put more focus on the Swedish carmaker’s portfolio. It’s been pushing test drives more, too, and I was on the receiving end of a recent offer: the XC90.
This was my first go at a Volvo, and I’ve heard some good and some bad things about these Swedish cars in the past. So, as level-headed as I was coming into this review, there were some prejudices that were going to be put to the test.
Styling
Volvos have always struck me as sharp-looking vehicles. Its sedans, for example, have retained the sharp-looking aesthetic that I’ve grown accustomed to from Volvos of decades past. The new XC90, however, looks a bit more balanced.
The rear, of course, is as sculpted as ever, with the large, vertical taillights outlining the tailgate. It looks clean, and I think the chrome strip below matches the badges on the tailgate quite nicely and makes for a classier look overall. This entire rear end reminds me a lot of the Honda CR-V, only this one’s more elegant and bottom-heavy.
The front is what really surprised me. It’s been smoothened out, and it looks really, really good. I admit I wasn’t a fan at first, but after seeing it up close, it immediately grew on me. The large grille with the vertical chrome slats and Volvo badge look very elegant, and the signature diagonal slat breaks the symmetry and makes the front pop up more.
I’m a fan of how the headlights are shaped as well. It matches perfectly with the rest of the front fascia, giving the XC90 that premium and luxurious vibe. I also like how Volvo designed the wheels on this thing—if I were to buy one, I’d be more than happy to keep those wheels stock.
Interior
Before this test drive, I had no seat time with the XC90, and the only Volvo I’d ever ridden in was the EX30 that my teammate Anton Andres drove just a few weeks prior (you can read his review here). Admittedly, the bar was set a bit low. I knew the XC90 was way more upmarket than the EX30, but the latter had so many quirks that I thought Volvo would’ve probably done the same thing with the former. Boy, was I wrong.
The XC90’s cabin greets you with a plethora of brown leather contrasted with black plastics and soft-touch materials on the dash. The wooden trim sprinkled around the interior blends well with the rest of the car, and together with the crystal gearshift lever, they just scream luxury.
There’s plenty of storage space on the center console, which is a good bonus. Cup and bottle holders are available up front, though I would’ve liked a small cubby that doesn’t stow away with a lid just for easy access of everyday things like a wallet or a phone. That said, the layout was probably like this to keep the inside clean and organized.
Legroom, elbow room, and headroom across all three rows—this is a seven-seater, by the way—are abundant. Average-sized Filipinos will have no problems fitting themselves anywhere they sit. It’s also a huge bonus that all of the seats are plush and provide excellent cushioning. Of all the car interiors I’ve ever tried, the XC90 is right up there with the best of them.
There’s an abundance of trunk space as well, especially with the third row folded down. The cargo area is modular with a few modifications available, and the air suspension also allows for manually adjusting the ride height to make it easier to load or unload stuff in the back.
Engine performance
So far, I’ve said nothing but good things about the XC90. This point is where that changes a bit. See, this SUV is powered by a 2.0-liter supercharged and turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine (more on that later) mated to an eight-speed automatic tranny that sends power to all four wheels. My gripe with it is that it’s supposed to be a mild-hybrid system with a 48V battery that will help save fuel and reduce tailpipe emissions. The emissions part I won’t argue, but the fuel savings are questionable—8km/L? That’s the consistent figure I got. It’s pretty darn solid for an SUV of this size, but I was expecting more. At least a double-digit average would’ve been nice.
Then again, the XC90’s customer base won’t bother much about fuel economy. What would-be owners will be keen on is the engine’s sheer performance, and in that regard, the XC90 excels. It has a supercharger to provide extra power at low speeds and a turbocharger for boost at higher revs. The result is a very punchy boat-like SUV. 0-100kph is listed at 6.7sec, and while I didn’t test it exactly, I don’t doubt it at all, given the total system output of 313hp and 460Nm of torque. There’s lag when you floor the pedal, but when everything kicks in, you’ll be pulled back to your seat. It also ensures you have more than enough power when the car’s packed with passengers and cargo and you want to overtake or go uphill. It’s an excellent setup that I truly enjoyed. Fuel economy be damned.
Ride and handling
When I was about to get the XC90, my teammate Anton Andres pointed out the transverse composite leaf spring at the rear. It’s an interesting setup, and one that I’ve never tried out before. After my test drive, what can I say? It’s a very comfortable suspension system.
It caught me off guard, because as I was driving the XC90 around the village, it felt incredibly wallowy. But once I got up to speed and on the highway, it rode like a cloud. Driving through Cavite-Laguna Expressway and all its imperfections felt like I was on smooth asphalt, and any larger bumps on the road would get eaten up by the vehicle. It’s one of the best-riding SUVs I’ve tried out, surely.
Comfort on the highway, however, comes at the cost of handling. It’s not bad, but there is significant body roll even just when swerving from one lane to another. That surely won’t be a deal-breaker, though, because XC90 customers who will most likely just be chauffeured around probably won’t be driving through mountain roads on a regular basis.
But as for those who will be driving this Volvo, you’ll be glad to know that I had such a pleasant time inside the cockpit. Driving the XC90 never felt like a chore despite its size. The driver’s seat is comfortable with a lot of adjustments available, and it’s easy to find the right driving position. Ingress and egress is easy, too, which is something those with mobility issues will find reassuring.
Extra features
Unlike newer and more modern cars these days, the XC90 doesn’t bombard you with large screens. In front of the driver is a small digital instrument cluster with a simple layout showing basic information at a glance. While navigating it may take some time getting used to, it’s not intimidating at all to use. It can also display actual navigation, and the display is very crisp and easy to glance at while driving.
There is a bigger screen in the middle, and it’s the same as what you’ll see in other Volvo models today. It’s a 12-inch portrait touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The display is slightly angled towards the driver which makes it more ergonomic, making it easier to see and reach. It’s paired with a Harman Kardon premium sound system with HiFi speakers and an ‘air-ventilated’ subwoofer. I wasn’t able to play HiFi music, but the sound this setup produces is topnotch and will impress even discerning passengers.
My main complaint about this touchscreen is that it houses the majority of the controls like air-conditioning, which I found is a hassle whenever I wanted to adjust settings from behind the wheel.
All that being said, while the XC90 does show a bit of its age here, it still impresses in the safety department in typical Volvo fashion. It comes complete with a 360-degree-view monitor with adaptive cruise control, front- and rear-collision warning and mitigation, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring with steer-assist, and oncoming lane mitigation, among many other features. It’s also commendable how pleasant the ‘warning’ sounds inside the XC90 are. They’re not irritating at all. If someone forgets to put on a seatbelt, the beeps the system produces is almost relaxing, and it’ll make passengers want to follow instructions even more.
Verdict
The XC90’s platform and the nameplate may be getting old, but it’s still a solid contender as it is. There’s a refresh that could be on its way, and if and when that arrives, it’ll keep the XC90 competitive in more years to come.
But until then, this P5.95 million XC90 B6 remains an excellent choice in the luxury segment. It doesn’t bombard you with an unending list of modern tech like a vanilla crossover trying to cover up its shortcomings. Instead, it gives its real target market what it needs: A punchy engine, a comfortable ride, a spacious interior, and an exquisite cabin. It’s luxury done right, and I see why the true Volvo loyalists have stuck with the Swedish marque all these years.
While this was just my first true experience with the brand, I now understand what premium feels like when you’re driving or riding a Volvo. I’ve completely forgotten my preconceptions about this vehicle and this brand and am left with nothing but mostly praise for this SUV.
SPECS: Volvo XC90 2025 B6 AWD
Price: P5,950,000
Engine: 2.0-liter supercharged + turbocharged gasoline I4 + 48V mild-hybrid technology
Power: 313hp
Torque: 460Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Drive layout: All-wheel-drive
Seats: 7
Score: 9/10
More photos of the Volvo XC90 2025 B6 AWD:
