⚡ Fast Facts
🏎 Power: 295 hp and 310 lb-ft from a 2.0L mild hybrid system
🛣️ Fuel Economy: 20 mpg city / 26 highway / 23 mpg EPA combined
📦 Cargo Space: 10.6 cu ft behind the third row, 34.6 behind the second, 85.7 cu ft max
🎯 Price: Starts at $62,345 (including destination)
🏆 Safety: IIHS Top Safety Pick+
It takes a very good car to get better with age. Unlike fine wines and certain distinguished actors, your average SUV needs a major styling and functional redesign every few years to keep competitive. But somehow, Volvo's XC90 is bucking that trend.
The 2026 Volvo XC90 is still, at its core, the same SUV that debuted a decade ago, but now with some thoughtful upgrades and subtle style and performance tweaks that keep this three-row SUV fresh. I've spent many miles in different XC90s over the years, and after my drive in the new B6 Ultra edition, I can say this one's the best yet.
Still Gas, With Mild Hybrid Tech
The Volvo XC90 is Volvo's biggest SUV, but it now has a new sibling in the all-electric EX90. That car plays in the same segment with much of the same style and swagger but it does so without a gas tank.
The XC90, on the other hand, carries on with internal combustion at the fore, starting with a pair of mild-hybrid options. I sampled the B6 version, which adds a supercharger to the base turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and makes 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque.
B6 pricing starts at $67,445 for the Core trim, $70,095 for the Plus, and $74,645 for the Ultra, all including a $1,295 destination charge. The B6 I tested was an Ultra with upgraded 22-inch wheels, the optional air suspension, and the Bowers & Wilkins Premium Sound system for a final price of $80,445 delivered.
Pretty in Pink
Among the tweaks Volvo made in a mid-year update last year and carried into 2026 is a complete rethinking of the XC90's nose. It's hardly a full reboot of the design, but the '26 presents a smoother, more sophisticated look that I found extremely fetching.
My test car wore Aurora Silver paint, which looked tame in most situations. But looking closer, I noticed a hint of pink. It was more of a blush, really — a taste of Rosé that caught the sun to add a little extra personality.
Upholstery Meets Tailoring
The interior of the XC90 saw a bit of an upgrade as well. Again, it's not a complete reimagining but more of a modernization. The dashboard had a bit more flow to it, with the surfaces on the doors and elsewhere transitioning more organically. The result was a pleasant environment for driver and passengers.
My test car sported the Navy Herringbone Textile interior. I've always been a huge fan of Volvo's often daring experiments with woven materials instead of simply relying on various shades of animal hide like most luxury auto manufacturers. The weave of the fabric created a subtle angular pattern that, much like the paint, didn't shout but looked fantastic.
Flexible Seating and Storage
That upholstery carried through all three rows. The second row is split into three individual sections, each of which can recline individually and fold flat separately, meaning I could drop the middle portion to make room for longer cargo (skis would fit perfectly) while still keeping the outboard seats available for passengers.
With the middle portion up, three-across was possible in the second row, but it was cramped. Stick with two passengers, and both will find plenty of head, leg, and shoulder room. Dedicated heating controls and vents ensured second-row passengers stayed at the right temperature, while the panoramic sunroof above delivered plenty of light.
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It took a bit of effort to get back to the third row, which is tight but serviceable for kids or small adults. I stand about six feet tall and could just squeeze back there, but it wouldn't be my choice for an extended journey. I'd rather sit up front, where the front seats were firm but comfortable and offered just enough lateral support. With adjustable lumbar and lower leg support, I was able to get perfectly dialed in. Heating was very strong in the front seats, but they lacked ventilation and massage.
Cargo space was practical: 10.6 cubic feet behind the third row, or 34.6 cubic feet with those seats folded down. Drop the second row, and that extends to 85.7 cubic feet.
Google on Board
The XC90's primary interface is an 11.2-inch touchscreen situated vertically in the dashboard. Over the years, Volvo has pared back on many physical controls, meaning I had to reach for the touchscreen to control everything from the navigation to the heated seats. Thankfully, the big volume knob with its integrated play/pause button remained, which is still one of my favorite tactile features in modern Volvos.
The system runs Volvo Car UX, an Android Automotive-based user interface, so Google users will have an easy time getting to their contacts and destinations by signing into the dashboard. You can also install and run many media apps like YouTube Music and Spotify right in the dashboard. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are also here, but only wired, so don't forget that USB-C cable. The upgraded Bowers & Wilkins Premium Sound system made everything I played sound fantastic.
In terms of safety tech, the XC90 Ultra offers automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, plus Volvo's Pilot Assist system for hands-on advanced driver assistance. The lane-centering system did a great job of keeping the SUV smack in the middle of the lane on highways and secondary roads, while the adaptive cruise kept the car moving well with traffic.
Drive Time
Putting my foot to the floor in the XC90 with the mild-hybrid B6 didn't exactly set the world on fire, but it accelerated cleanly and smoothly with plenty of power for passing on two-lane roads or for keeping up with the eager commuters on the Friday afternoon sprint home. The eight-speed automatic transmission did a nice job of keeping that small-displacement engine in its sweet spot.
The XC90 doesn't offer a set of drive modes, just the choice of Standard or Off-Road, which optimizes the transmission and all-wheel drive setup for driving in slippery conditions. You can also choose between a Soft and Firm steering wheel setup and the same two options for the Ultra's air suspension. After sampling both, I left the suspension in the Soft mode, which resulted in a serene and gentle ride quality. The suspension setup was one of the things Volvo revised in this current generation XC90, and after having spent plenty of time driving previous generations of this SUV over the years, the ride quality was as good as it's ever been. And that's despite the low-profile, 22-inch wheels and tires.
When it comes to fuel economy, the XC90 is officially EPA-rated for 26 on the highway, 20 in the city, and 23 mpg combined. In my mixed testing, I saw 22.8 mpg, which is right on the money with the EPA results.
The Best Yet
Volvo hasn't radically reinvented the XC90. It's been a slow evolution over the years, and the fact that the current generation SUV still feels competitive is a testament to the strength of the original model. Some rivals offer more tech-laden interiors or more efficient powertrains, but after my time with the XC90 Ultra, this SUV nails it, with stately looks on the outside, sophisticated details on the inside, and a driving dynamic that's comfortable without being numb.
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