Volvo XC90 B5 R-Design AWD 2019 UK review

From £45,5008
New mild-hybrid tech keeps diesel as the most sensible choice for Volvo’s most family-friendly SUV

Our Verdict

Volvo XC90

Volvo XC90
The new Volvo XC90 costs from £45,750

It has big boots to fill and talented rivals to face. Is it up to the task?

Tom Morgan, deputy digital editor
1 August 2019

What is it?

The first stage of Volvo’s journey towards a new normal. This mildly refreshed XC90 is the first mild hybrid to leave the factory since it was announced two years ago that every new model would receive some kind of electrification. 

Set to replace the old D5 diesel engine, this new B5 is still fuelled from the black pump but gains a 48V starter motor/generator and battery that can regenerate power through braking to then aid the engine under acceleration. Volvo claims this assistance delivers fuel-efficiency savings and emissions reductions of as much as 15% compared with the outgoing motor, which goes some way to counteract the recent negative view of diesel.

The 235bhp turbocharged four-cylinder engine has marginally less power than the current entry-level T5 petrol engine, but it has almost 100lb ft more torque, at 354lb ft, while also producing less CO2 and delivering greater fuel economy. 

That balance may shift once mild-hybrid petrols, which will confusingly also carry the B badging, arrive later but today these figures are better than anything in the range bar the T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid.

A new engine isn’t the only change for 2019, with this updated car also receiving a new-look front grille that's more in keeping with the rest of Volvo’s line-up, as well as a fresh selection of alloy wheel designs and paint colours.

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What's it like?

Very similar to the outgoing version. The mild-hybrid system is so deftly integrated that you could be forgiven for thinking progress was being made entirely by the 2.0-litre diesel engine. 

Assistance from the battery is subtle and only under acceleration, allowing the car to reach 62mph from rest in 7.6sec, which is spritely given the XC90’s heft. There’s no on-screen indication that the motor is doing anything, other than the higher than expected touring economy. Although we couldn’t match Volvo’s claimed 44mpg, an average in the upper-30s is still very respectable for a seven-seat SUV weighing more than two tonnes.

It's noticeable how much smoother the electric starter/generator is on ignition, with no sense of shudder or rough edges from the stop/start system while in traffic. Everywhere else, there’s little deviation from Volvo’s established formula.

That means a largely comfortable and relaxed ride, although because our test car did without the optional air suspension, it could still feel firm over particularly poor stretches of B-road. However, it holds itself well over most surfaces, with consistent if rather numb steering and the kind of predictable body control that we’ve come to expect from Volvo’s cars. It’s far less engaging than a BMW X5 or Land Rover Discovery but suits those who want their large family transport to be mature and reliable above all else.

Inside, Volvo’s Scandinavian minimalism remains largely the same as before, with the biggest additions for 2019 being to the 9.0in portrait-oriented Sensus infotainment system. 

Android Auto has been added for the first time, alongside the Apple CarPlay functionality that was already available in the old car. It helps the system to feel up to date, even if the all-digital instrument cluster isn’t quite as customisable as some rivals' and the interface isn’t quite as simple to control as it initially appears. Swipe away from the main menu and the entire screen full of icons that appears can be overwhelming while on the move.

That doesn’t detract from what is still a high-quality cabin that’s delightfully minimal. Even migrating the climate controls to the touchscreen has been done in a way that doesn’t infuriate, unlike in many competitor cars.

Should I buy one?

It seems fairly certain that a lot of Volvo’s customers will. The B5 might lacks the T8 Twin Engine PHEV’s ability to make short-range, zero-emissions trips (assuming you remember to plug it in every night) but it is some £10,000 cheaper and largely succeeds as a starting point towards electrification.

Although fuel economy isn’t dramatically better than with the outgoing D5 diesel, any improvement is welcome, and with the D5 now scrubbed from order books, there are no awkward questions over whether a non-hybrid would make for lower benefit in kind or VED tax bands.

That it also makes for a more refined driving experience is perhaps just as significant and helps cement the XC90’s place among the upper echelon of premium SUVs. 

Volvo XC90 B5 Diesel R-Design AWD specification

Where Kent, UK Price £56,585 On sale Now Engine 4 cyls, 1959cc, turbo, diesel Power 235bhp at 4000rpm Torque 354lb ft at 1750-2250rpm Gearbox 8-spd automatic Kerb weight 2103kg Top speed 137mph 0-62mph 7.6sec Fuel economy 37.7-44.1mpg CO2 154g/km, 34% Rivals Audi Q7 45 TDI, Lexus RX L 450h, Land Rover Discovery SD4

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Comments
16

Merlot

1 August 2019

It's still a bid decision buying an engine that the manufacturer says will not be in the new model which is out in 2-3 years time, powered by a fuel that a lot of councils will ban from town centres.

On a £50-70k car fuel is not the most relevant cost and, anyway, the B5 is £1000 more than the T5 new and on Volvo' own PCP is worth £1000 less after four years so £1000 dropped straight away.

xxxx

1 August 2019

Crazy, and if you can afford a £57k car are you that worried about a 10% fuel saving. Also, I'd rather have proper heating controls too, the touch screen effort is made all the more non-sensical as it has physical play, fast forward and rewind controls for the stereo which most people rarely use compared to heater controls 

typos1 - Just can’t respect opinion

289

1 August 2019

I agree xxxx, big money to drive a poxy 4 cylinder engine.

The car is enormous....too big for the UK, and driven by a 4 cylinder engine encumbered by all sorts of tech to make it move its lardy arse, which will doubtless limit its lifespan.....!

Rollocks

1 August 2019
289 wrote:

The car is enormous....too big for the UK

What a nonsensical claim. Hundreds of thousands of folk drive medium-sized SUVs without any difficulty on British roads. They're pretty standard family transport these days, spacious, comfortable and economical.

Some years ago, when I lived in the Westcountry, my daily driver was a '77 Oldsmobile Cutlass - a 17ft-long Yank tank with a bonnet the size of an aircraft carrier flight deck - and I had absolutely no problem navigating the highways and byways of Somerset and Devon, counties that are hardly renowned for the excessive width of their roads.

Your comment says more about your own abilities as a driver, perhaps. It's an attitude problem ... learn to relax!

289

1 August 2019

....tell that to the XC90 owner who was unable to get his car out of the underground car park in Winchester City centre car park!..... the vehicle whilst able to negotiate the semi circular entrance, despite many tries was clearly unable to get through the double 90 degree exit barriers. This resulted in the car park having to be blocked off while they extracted him back out of the entrance. 

So yes, too big. My ML manages this easily so nothing to do with my own ability thank you. The old XC90 manages the exit, but not the new XC90, too wide and too long!

Blackmagic92

1 August 2019

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Blackmagic92

1 August 2019

I don't think you can use the size of an engine to define a car's worth these days. An a45s with a 2.0 4 pot makes over 400bhp..that was supercar standards not too long ago. Even now, the Ford GT has a 6 figure price tag with a 3.5 v6...that was a 350z a little while ago, albeit without the turbo.

The reality is altough it may not be suitable for real car enthusiasts, it will be more than enough for most.

simmondp

1 August 2019
Having put over 2k miles on my new MY2020 I am regularly getting 40+ mpg, the best being 46 on a 90 min trip up the M1.

The latest being 42mpg between lakes como and Guarda.

I would echo the seamless nature of the kers.

And boy does it shift when you need to overtake!

XC90 B5 MY2020

isabelladom

2 August 2019

It is a perfect vehicle that can choose for a family Hostsailor. It is added with all the most important features that are needed for a safe family travels. The family-friendly option makes it acceptable for many people.

ducklife

3 August 2019

The car is very beautiful. Very luxurious interior. This is my dream.

fnaf     

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