XC90 Showdown: How the 2025 Volvo Stacks Up

Overview

Design and Features

• The XC90 has a slimmer design to the headlights, known as “Thor’s Hammer,” and a more streamlined front grille.

• The interior can be customized with either a pleasant polyester blue herringbone fabric or an elegant-looking and feeling “bio-attributed leather-free upholstery” called Nordico, made from recycled Finnish pine resin.

• Both models feature an 11.5-inch center display, essentially an in-house iPad, that updates the interface features of previous models.

• An optional booming Bowers and Wilkins sound system is also available.

Performance

• The XC90 B5 has a maximum of 250 horsepower and accelerates from zero to 60 in 7.7 seconds.

• The XC90 T8 has up to 455 horsepower and accelerates from zero to 60 in 5.4 seconds.

• The T8 is much more fun to drive than the B5.

Similarities Between the B5 and T8

• The cars have identical chassis, unchanged from previous editions.

• They contain the same in-line turbocharged four-cylinder engine, identical transmissions, and identical steering systems.

• Both models feature an 11.5-inch center display, which is essentially an in-house iPad as a display screen.

• The cars also have optional features such as a booming Bowers and Wilkins sound system.

Key Differences Between the B5 and T8

• Powertrain: The B5 has a “mild hybrid” powertrain with a small electric boost motor, while the T8 is a full-on plug-in hybrid.

• Performance: The T8 accelerates from zero to 60 in 5.4 seconds, while the B5 takes 7.7 seconds.

• Fuel Efficiency: The T8 has an added benefit of being able to get 50-plus miles on a pure electric charge.

Pricing

• The base price of the XC90 B5 is $58,450.

• The top-end price with add-ons for the B5 is $67,450.

• The base price of the XC90 T8 is $73,000.

• The top-end price with add-ons for the T8 goes over $80,000.

Fuel Efficiency

• The XC90 T8 can get 50-plus miles on a pure electric charge.

• The B5 has no such option and requires gas for daily driving.