2025 Volvo XC90 Refresh Is All That We Wanted

The Volvo XC90 is a family car icon, and thanks to a broad suite of technology and design updates inside and out, the award-winning and best-selling flagship hybrid SUV is now better than ever before

The Volvo XC90 is one vehicle that many of us were eagerly awaiting a refresh. After all, the vehicle that has been out in the market for almost 10 years and one that’s one of the top choices for safety-minded family owners, really needed a slight refresh. And here we are, Volvo has released the 2025 Volvo XC90 with exactly that: subtle refreshes that make this 7-seater family SUV a worthy purchase for anyone in the market for such a vehicle.

The premium seven-seater has “comfort” as its middle name, and it’s also one of the safest cars on the road. It’s also an outstanding hybrid, offering the best of both worlds with an impressive (for a hefty 2-ton vehicle) all-electric range, alongside a rather impressive fuel economy in petrol mode. Translated into non-marketing terms, this means 112 kilometers (70 miles) of pure electric range under a single charge under the WLTP testing cycle. And for most commuters, this is more than enough for their day-to-day chores, all the while allowing for worry-free long-distance travel.

Furthermore, the XC90 has more power when you need it – for longer trips, the hybrid powertrain is paired with an efficient petrol engine to extend your range by more than 800km. You can also opt for the full combined power of petrol and electric for constant all-wheel drive or off-road driving. However, that’s not where the goodies lie. Not by a long shot.

For the Volvo XC90, the most appealing aspect of it (besides comfort, safety, and usability) was its design. Pinned by the “Thor Hammer” headlights, the unmistakable front view of almost every modern Volvo was getting kind of long in the tooth, and most Volvo owners were putting off their replacement purchases or simply switching to the competition due to the old design of the Volvo flagship. However, with the new understated, albeit gorgeous updates, the XC90 once again comes with a modern and confident look. Overall, it reflects the Swedish car makes ongoing transition towards full electrification and echoes elements of their newest, fully electric cars.

Yet arguably the biggest news comes inside. A renewed interior enhances practicality and brings Volvo’s latest user experience – seen in the new EX90 and EX30 electric cars – into the XC90. A larger central touchscreen with higher resolution improves the user experience and opens up a world of new features, apps, and of course regular over-the-air software updates.

“The new XC90 exudes confidence, and why wouldn’t it? Our hybrid flagship has been one of our best-selling models for years and it’s still a favourite among many customers,” says Jim Rowan, CEO of Volvo Cars. “Whether it’s comfort, space, luxury, versatility or hybrid efficiency you look for, the XC90 delivers on all accounts. Put together, the XC90 and its fully electric EX90 sibling provide customers with the options that suit them best and equip us with a balanced portfolio as we continue our transition towards full electrification.”

With releases like these, where all the particularities didn’t drastically change, there is no need for lengthy copies or over explanations of items that are well-known to every Volvo owner out there. Simply put, we feel that Volvo nailed this refresh (or redesign?) completely. It’s subtle, it looks great, the changes were needed, and executed flawlessly. It keeps the well-known design language and simply improves on it, not drastically changing anything. Which we like. And we’re sure most Volvo owners will appreciate this. After all, that’s why they buy Volvos: simple, elegant, classy, and premium design elements, packed with the impressive and comfy interior, pinned by the safest vehicles on the roads today, making Volvos one of the best choices for style-oriented drivers who do not wish to be driving around in a flashy two-ton SUV that screams lack of attention.

For a more detailed look at the all-new 2025 Volvo XC90 SUV, please grab a look at the video and media gallery below.