Volvo is a bit of an underdog in the premium car market. And while the Swedish automaker is unfairly overlooked, it has some great offerings out there. With that, the company used the Bangkok International Motor Show to showcase its latest flagship SUV
Making their regional debut is the facelifted Volvo XC90, and we think this has a good chance of coming to the Philippines.
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The new XC90s gets an extensive update inside and out. Despite looking similar to the EX90, it’s miles apart from its battery-powered counterpart.
The XC90 still uses the same chassis as it did from 2015. However, it has been given several chassis tweaks and upgrades to keep up bang up to date. The grille, bumper, and wheel choices are new, and there are additional color choices to boot. Plus, the infotainment system has been given a major update over the previous iteration.
For Thailand, the new Volvo XC90 comes with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Badged as the T8 AWD, it pairs a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with e-boost to a single electric motor and 18.8kWh battery. The result is a combined horsepower rating of 455hp, enough to give it a 0-100kph time of 5.4 seconds. Of course, it’s stacked to the brim with safety features. This is a Volvo, after all.
Locally, the XC90 sticks with a mild-hybrid powertrain. Dubbed the B5, it also uses a 2.0-liter turbo engine, albeit without the electric and batteries. Power output is still respectable, though. It’s rated at 250hp and 360Nm.
It will be interesting to see which powertrain choice Volvo Philippines will go for. The 2.0-liter turbo B5 is still a good choice, but given the company’s electrification plans, the T8 plug-in hybrid might be an option.
