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Introduction:

To help members understand the latest automotive technology so they can purchase vehicles that best suit their needs, the Automobile Club of Southern California's Automotive Research Center (ARC) began testing and reviewing vehicles over a decade ago

For the 2024 edition, we include testing and ranking cars and light trucks with the latest technology, including having at least one advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) feature. In addition to vehicle evaluation, the guide covers a number of pertinent automotive topics in detail—for example, the latest advanced safety features, how to properly maintain your vehicle, and new vehicles coming to market in the next few years.

2023 Volvo XC90 Recharge Ultimate Bright Theme

Vehicle Type: Midsize suv Plug-In Hybrid
92
 overall score
Category Ranking: 7

Vehicle Price

Base Price: $79,400
Price as Tested: $85,495

Fuel Information

Fuel Type: Electricity/premium
Fuel Capacity (gal): 18.8
120V Charge Time: 2.6 miles per hour
240V Charge Time: 6.4 miles per hour
EPA City mpg26
EPA Highway mpg27
EPA Combined mpg: 27
EPA Combined MPGe: 58
EPA-Est. Electric Range (mi): 32

Advanced Safety Features

  • Adaptive Cruise Control [S]
  • Advanced Headlights [S]
  • Automatic Emergency Braking [S]
  • Blind-Spot Warning [S]
  • Driver Monitoring [S]
  • Forward-Collision Warning [S]
  • Lane-Departure Warning [S]
  • Lane-Keeping Assistance [S]
  • Rear Cross-Traffic Warning [S]
  • Reverse Automatic Emergency Braking [S]
  • [S] Standard, [O] Optional
NHTSA Rating:

Overall Observations

The XC90 Recharge is Volvo's flagship, 3-row SUV. And even though it's a bit long in the tooth (last redesigned in 2016), it's still an impressive vehicle with many outstanding features. The Recharge is its plug-in hybrid version. To begin, the XC90 Recharge's drivetrain—a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and electric motor (455 hp)—provides the midsize SUV with plenty of smooth power. Another strong point is its excellent drivability and comfortable ride. The Recharge's EV-only range (an estimated 32 miles) and overall range (500-plus miles) are noteworthy as well. All-wheel drive is standard. The XC90's cabin is spacious, with plenty of headroom and legroom for first- and second-row passengers and ample cargo space. The interior styling is elegant and minimalistic but still luxurious—except for the wool seating material, which some of our reviewers felt didn’t befit a luxury vehicle. As you’d expect with a Volvo, all trim levels come equipped with a strong suite of advanced safety features. A few of the XC90's features could stand some tweaking, though. First and foremost, the infotainment system is nonintuitive and lacks knobs and hard keys. The air suspension is tuned to the firm side, which sends jolts from rough pavement into the cabin. The rearview camera's image is distorted, and the onboard charger's 3.6-kW charging rates are slow. Finally—no surprise here—third row seating is tight for adults

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Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Powerful, smooth PHEV powertrain
  • First-rate drivability and ride quality
  • Spacious headroom and legroom for the first and second rows
  • Excellent EV-only and overall range

Cons

  • Infotainment system is nonintuitive, lacks knobs and hard keys
  • Rearview camera provides a distorted image
  • Onboard charger's charging rates are slow

Vehicle Specifications

Model year tested: 2023
Number of passengers (F/R): 2/5
Curb weight (lbs): 5103.0
Exterior L / W / H (in): 195.0 / 75.7 / 69.9
Wheelbase (in): 117.5
Number of air bags: 9
Warranty (months/miles): 48/50,000
Tire manufacturer and model: Pirelli Scorpion Verde
Front and rear tire size: 275/40 R21
Max towing capacity (lbs): 5,000
Headlight type: LED
Transmission type: Hybrid drive
Drivetrain type: All wheel
Engine/motor: 2.0L I4 turbo
Engine horsepower @ RPM: 312 @ 6,000
Electric motor horsepower: 143
Combined system horsepower: 455

Test Data

Test Vehicle Scores

Advanced Safety Features:

10.00

Fuel Efficiency:

7.62

EPA Emissions Score:

7.00

Acceleration:

7.27

Braking:

5.73
Handling: 6.85
Quality and Drivability: 8.25

Ride Quality:

7.50

Interior Size:

4.60

Easy of Entry and Exit:

7.50

Visibility:

7.87

Interior Noise:

6.81

Cargo Capacity:

5.15
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