2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge adds polish to Swedish plug-in hybrid

Simply earlier than Volvo continues its all-electric shift with the XC90-sized EX90 EV, it’s smoothed out its standard plug-in hybrid powertrain within the XC90.

With extra electrical vary, extra energy, and extra refinement all baked into the already interesting Swedish package deal, the XC90 Recharge 2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge is now almost ultimate for households

That mentioned, Volvo’s transfer to Android Automotive OS and its tight third row imply the XC90 gained’t match each household or tech want.

Listed here are the professionals and cons of the 2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge after spending every week shuttling the children round city, after which taking it north to Lusten, Minnesota for an extended ski weekend with my son and buddy.

Professional: Volvo XC90 Recharge will get extra electrical vary, extra energy, and smoother transitions

Because of a brand new battery pack with 14.8 kwh usable, up from the beforehand usable 9.1 kwh, the Volvo XC90 will increase its EPA electric-only vary from a scant 18 miles to 33 miles. With temps within the teenagers and mid-20s cabin warmth sucked just a few miles of vary off the highest with me witnessing a stable 27 to 29 miles of electrical vary. A extra highly effective 142-hp electrical motor changed the previous 87-hp unit. When paired with the two.0-liter turbocharged and supercharged inline-4, the powertrain makes a mixed 455 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque. Whereas all the facility by no means delivers a wallop, it’s greater than fast sufficient for a three-row crossover carrying the Volvo badge. Remapped conduct and the extra highly effective electrical motor imply energy transitions are smoother and extra within the background than earlier than.

Con: Volvo XC90 Recharge can’t lock totally into electric-only mode—or one-pedal drive

Placing the powertrain into Pure mode is meant to lock the powertrain into electric-only mode so long as there’s sufficient cost. It doesn’t. There’s a detent behind the accelerator pedal, and it’s not only one for foot-to-the-floor energy. If the pedal is pushed to the three-quarter mark the detent will interact and the gasoline engine will kick on for full system energy. 

The newest plug-in hybrid powertrain within the XC90 incorporates a ‘B’ mode for braking, which Volvo calls “one-pedal drive,” because it does with its electrical automobiles. Solely right here it’s not the identical factor. The regenerative braking drive is noticeably stronger in B mode, however the automobile gained’t come to a full cease and the drive isn’t sturdy sufficient to gradual the automobile rapidly sufficient in visitors conditions. 

Hit: Volvo XC90 Recharge adopts tighter Apple CarPlay integration

Regardless of dropping Volvo’s in-house Sensus infotainment system and gauge cluster interface for Google’s Android Automotive OS, the automaker’s given the XC90 deeper Apple CarPlay integration. Apple CarPlay requires a wired USB-C connection (the XC90 doesn’t have wi-fi smartphone charging) and it tasks as one expects on the 9.0-inch portrait-style touchscreen on the middle of the dashboard. But it surely now additionally integrates Apple Maps’ turn-by-turn navigation instructions straight into the 12.0-inch digital gauge cluster. That’s slick, and makes Volvo one of many few automakers to function such tight integration.

Miss: Volvo XC90 Recharge infotainment backtracks

The shift in infotainment working techniques truly removes key performance from the 9.0-inch touchscreen. The power to multitask on the homescreen with CarPlay and different apps is gone. The power to swipe left or proper to entry fast shortcuts for key automobile performance is gone. A few of that performance merely disappeared whereas different controls had been wrapped into the multi-layer menu system. Altering driving modes for the powertrain requires three faucets, two to get into the menu system alone the place different automobile settings stay. The interface itself lacks any design effort. That is one step beneath GM’s effort at slapping a pores and skin on Google’s OS, although it’s by some means extra nice and simpler to make use of. At the least Volvo doesn’t appear involved in eradicating CarPlay like GM is.

Hit: Volvo XC90 Recharge delivers understated class

In a means that one would possibly argue solely the Swedes can do, the XC90 carries class and class in the same means a Vary Rover does. There’s simply the correct amount of tasteful chrome bits, it’s not flashy, the dashboard is straightforward and unadorned, and the whole lot is low key. Your entire package deal feels rock stable and doesn’t scream, “take a look at me,” regardless of my loaded tester’s $87,495 sticker worth. The seats would possibly simply be the perfect within the enterprise, and my tester featured a therapeutic massage operate that basically got here in useful after an extended day on the slopes. These are the definition of road-trip-worthy with a 4.5-hour street journey leaving my physique unfazed.

Miss: Volvo XC90 Recharge third-row stays the child zone

The Volvo XC90 Recharge is without doubt one of the few three-row plug-in hybrids, however the third row is on no account adult-friendly. That’s solely a con for those who want the third row for greater than youngsters, however for people who do it’s essential to notice the house constraints. At 5-foot-10 I can match again there, however the second-row passenger goes to horse-trade me for room. And whereas I’ve been caught again there for an hour-and-a-half street journey earlier than, it wasn’t ultimate. It’s a child zone or for brief journeys if an grownup is headed again there. The Lexus TX plug-in hybrid incorporates a extra adult-friendly third-row for these in want.

The electric Volvo EX90 will substitute the XC90 within the subsequent few years, however within the interim for these in search of a stopgap plug-in hybrid the latest updates to the XC90 Recharge lastly make it really compelling.

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2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge

Base worth: $57,195, together with $1,195 vacation spot

Value as examined: $87,495

Powertrain: 455-hp plug-in hybrid, 8-speed automated transmission, AWD

EPA gas economic system: 33 miles of electrical vary, 27 mpg mixed

The professionals: Smoother powertrain with extra electrical vary, expanded Apple CarPlay integration, beautiful and cozy

The cons: Lacks one-pedal driving, can’t stay in electric-only mode, Google Android Auto OS, tight third row