2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge review: Tech makeover due

Mitchell Weitzman

Mar 26 min read

Despite a wonderful interior and massive power, the XC90 needs a tech refresh

2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge Ultimate review | The Road Beat

2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge Ultimate review by The Road Beat

Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman

There's a lot that Volvo never needs to touch for fear of screwing it up — like their tasteful exterior and luxurious interior furnishings. With the XC90 Recharge full-size SUV, power has reached an upper acceptable limit, as nobody in the real world needs anything remotely above the 455 unassuming horsepower achieved here. Yet, with no fundamental changes in the past half-decade, there are still plenty of small details Volvo has yet to address. As much as I love the wonderful leather-clad, massaging seats and quiet cabin, this Swede is weighed down by yesteryear's tech and operation.

Picks

I don't think I've ever written a bad thing about Volvo's styling, and even though it looks largely the same as it did 20 years ago, the XC90 is refreshingly elegant and understated while remaining as taut as ever. And unlike most Ikea products that only look good until you touch them, this Swede somehow gets even better once your hands interact with the car. Even the door handles are solid, and the ones on the inside are wonderfully satisfying to use — much like how Tudor dive watches have confidence-inspiring rotating bezels and clicks. And the leather? Among the finest Nappa hides you'll experience in any car at any price.

Once you're on the road, it's the pure embodiment of comfort. Aided by a serene lack of wind noise and those magical seats (best when both the seat warmer and massage functions are used together), this is a fantastic vehicle for long voyages. This particular XC90 Recharge Ultimate was further fitted with optional air suspension, which proved its merit when gliding over uneven and winter-battered pavement on its ascent toward South Lake Tahoe along Highway 50.

There’s no shortage of intricacy in the powertrain, a complex mix of turbocharged combustion and hybridized electrification. All suited and booted, this plug-in hybrid makes a peak 455 horsepower and hustles hard from any speed and prodding of your right foot thanks to its mighty 523 total lb-ft of torque. Even though it's just a four-cylinder, vibrations are well restrained, making for one of the smoothest four-bangers currently available in the world. And unlike the unsettling and blender-like racket of a Toyota four-banger, the noise is refined and almost cultured even. With its instant response, duly helped by the healthy dose of electric power on tap, there are no hiccups to be found — legitimately zero turbo lag. Also, transitions between gas and electric at slower speeds are seamless, an issue I've found in their less powerful powertrains. Volvo has done a masterful job making this hybrid powertrain both potent and viable in everyday operation in what is undeniably their flagship product of the time.

Gas mileage can range from 22 mpg overall to a respectable 27 mpg on a longer road trip—decent for a big and powerful car. The plug-in hybrid architecture also means you can travel on PG&E alone. Fully juiced, the modest battery pack will carry you about 35 miles in the real world, adding some versatility and convenience over a full EV. You can also just never charge it and drive it exclusively as a hybrid.

Nicks

While the familiar exterior design has continued to age admirably, it's the technology inside that urgently needs a refresh going into 2025. And it’s strange — because at first glance, things appear fine with its center display, which is tastefully integrated into the dash. Instead, it’s the actual usability of the onboard technology that lets you down, with the simplest and most practical needs being the most disappointing.

rear seats of Volvo XC90 recharge ultimate

Despite the tablet-like appearance, the screen is a relatively diminutive nine inches—lagging behind the standard set by basically every single contemporary. Rotated in a portrait orientation, it appears larger than it is, but it’s still smaller than what you’ll find in much cheaper cars. Yet, size alone isn't an excuse for not being able to see both the rearview camera and the top-view camera at the same time. Even a Toyota RAV4 can do this, but in the Volvo, you have to clumsily switch between the two views. And if you are backing out of a parking spot and using the rear camera, your passenger cannot activate their seat controls or climate settings until you’re done—because doing so will block the camera from the driver. It’s like nobody thought through how some of these basic functions would interact or could be used simultaneously.

Apple CarPlay is an increasingly popular feature in new vehicles, and while the XC90 does offer this convenient smartphone mirroring, it requires a wired connection — no wireless support found here. Then there's the odd switch to turn the XC90 on and off, which is positioned awkwardly, and the button labeled "P" to engage Park requires a very firm press to actually work. Several times, I pressed the Park button, removed my foot from the brake pedal, and the car unexpectedly lurched forward as it was still in Drive - several times is too many, and I had to be sure to check the gauge cluster to confirm Park was actually engaged before disembarking.

Even though comfort is impressive, there are some dynamic deficiencies, mainly in the steering department. With two modes to choose from (standard and "firm"), the steering always feels rubbery and lacks outright precision. It’s an easy car to drive, but placing it exactly where you want on the road is trickier because of the flexible, elastic feel through the wheel that feels somewhat like an approximation. And that’s a bummer because the handling and traction are great when you pick up the pace on winding roads, but they can’t overcome the disconnect between you and the front wheels.

front seats of 2024 volvo xc90 recharge ultimate

Then there’s the price — an inexcusable $92,820 for this fully-loaded Recharge Ultimate version. There’s just no way one should ever pay this much for a Volvo SUV, considering what else can be had for that price. Luckily, the sticker price was bloated by heinous options, like a ridiculous $2,445 for puny, pathetic running boards that only get in the way of your shins and feet. No thank you for that historic ripoff. Speculation is not always fair, but I can imagine a vehicle like this losing massive amounts of value from depreciation in an increasingly short time.

On my drive back home from South Lake Tahoe, I picked up an unfortunate nail in a tire, and while a tire pressure warning light came on to alert me, the sensors themselves were unable to provide exact PSI readings— something so many other cars have done for years. That seems like an odd omission for a brand so centered around occupant safety. When the light first came on, I was left wondering: "Is it down by just a pound? Five? Ten? Fifteen?" I had no idea — and that makes zero sense, especially at this price point and year we're in.

A new one is almost here

2024 Volvo XC90 recharge ultimate exterior in a forest field

I like the XC90 and always have, but I have too many reservations at this point in time to recommend one of these late-model 2024 and early 2025s. The good news? A widely refreshed version is arriving very soon—dubbed the 2025.5 model year. I would heavily encourage waiting for the new model, which promises major technology upgrades— hopefully addressing the frustrating tech concerns outlined above in this review. It looks as handsome as ever, so fingers crossed it’s a real through and through winner.

I think choosing an XC90 with the outgoing body (and in the top Ultimate trim) will lead to severe — and I mean severe —depreciation, so consider only leasing one verse purchasing. And please, don’t bother with those awful little running boards; That money could be better spent on a trip to London.

2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge

As-tested price: $92,820

Pros: Amazing massaging seats and comfort; Powerful powertrain

Cons: It costs how much? Old technology inside