2026 Volvo XC90 T8 review: Something's not right

Mitchell Weitzman
6 days ago
5 min read

The top T8 XC90 fails at reviving the XC90 line with torque steer.

2026 Volvo XC90 T8 Ultra review | The Road Beat

2026 Volvo XC90 T8 review by The Road Beat

Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman

As a fan of previous iterations of the Volvo XC90, I was eagerly awaiting the long-overdue refresh for the 2026 model year. A halfway update, dubbed the 2025.5, brought some welcome technology improvements, but didn't do enough to distinguish itself. Now the full facelift has arrived, and unfortunately, my experience with this XC90 T8 proved more disappointing than expected.

Before diving in, a disclaimer is warranted. I discussed some of the issues outlined below with a representative from a San Diego Volvo dealer, who suggested this particular vehicle may have had underlying faults. I'm not calling it a lemon, but given some of the behavior observed during testing, it's possible this example was not representative of the broader XC90 lineup.

2026 Volvo XC90 T8 exterior rear three quarter at sunset

Picks

The exterior refresh wasn't strictly necessary, but the subtle updates have helped keep the XC90 looking contemporary. Volvo's restrained design language continues to age gracefully, and the XC90 remains one of the more handsome three-row luxury SUVs on the road. The headlights have been noticeably slimmed down, yet they remain among the most effective in the business. Think of this less as a redesign and more as tailoring an already well-fitted suit.

Power is also plentiful. The plug-in hybrid T8 combines a turbocharged four-cylinder with electric assistance for a healthy 455 horsepower, allowing this large SUV to sprint from 0-60 MPH in roughly five seconds flat. Response is impressive, and owners willing to keep the battery charged can travel approximately 30 miles on electricity alone.

If you're a fan of elegant details, Volvo still delivers. Upper trims such as this Ultra feature beautiful metal speaker grilles and tasteful finishing touches that elevate the cabin experience.

Nicks

Above is one of the shortest lists of positives I've ever assembled for a new vehicle tested by The Road Beat — and unfortunately there's a reason for that.

The single biggest concern with this XC90 was its behavior under heavy acceleration. The first time I floored the throttle during a passing maneuver from approximately 45 MPH, I genuinely thought one of the active steering or safety systems was intervening. The vehicle tugged aggressively at the wheel and required immediate correction to maintain a straight path.

2026 Volvo XC90 T8 Ultra rear seats and panoramic sunroof

To rule out electronic interference, I disabled the lane-keeping and steering assistance systems and repeated the test from multiple speeds. The result was the same. Despite the presence of AWD, the steering wheel continued to wrestle in my hands under full throttle and demanded constant attention to keep the vehicle tracking (mostly) straight. It was among the most severe examples of torque steer I've experienced in a modern vehicle.

If this behavior is representative of the XC90 T8, it is unacceptable in a new SUV, let alone a luxury vehicle cresting $90,000. However, because the severity was so unusual, I suspect this particular example may have had an underlying issue. I would welcome feedback from other XC90 T8 owners regarding their experiences.

Fuel economy was also disappointing for a four-cylinder plug-in hybrid. Over the course of a week, the XC90 T8 averaged just 23 MPG despite efforts to drive conservatively and avoid unnecessary acceleration. To be fair, the battery was never charged during testing, preventing use of its approximately 30 miles of electric-only range. Even so, the result was underwhelming.

2026 Volvo XC90 T8 Ultra interior detail wood trim and canvas dash

Our tester carried a sticker price of nearly $89,000, making some of the interior decisions difficult to understand. The standard cloth upholstery isn't poorly executed, and the herringbone pattern provides some visual interest, but it feels out of place at this price point. Buyers should strongly consider upgrading to the available Nappa leather, which feels far more appropriate for a luxury vehicle in this segment.

The cabin also lacks a cohesive material story. Between the cloth seating surfaces, various soft-touch trims, and canvas-like dashboard accents, the interior never quite settles on a singular luxury identity. Without many physical controls, Volvo has been unwise to then require two separate screens within the central display for either fan speed and temperature adjustments.

2026 Volvo XC90 T8 Ultra rear seats and third row

Practicality suffers from the rear seating arrangement as well. Both the second and third rows require a surprising amount of effort to operate, and folding the third row from the cargo area simply isn't possible. Owners must first fold the second-row seats, climb into the vehicle, and manually access the third row before lowering it. Returning the seats to their upright position requires reversing the process.

The mechanisms themselves are similarly disappointing. Levers and sliders feel stiff and clunky, lacking the smooth, confidence-inspiring operation expected in a premium vehicle. In six years of testing vehicles for The Road Beat, few rear-seat systems have been as cumbersome or frustrating to use. Hyundai manages a far more user-friendly solution in the Santa Fe for roughly half the price.

2026 Volvo XC90 T8 Ultra folded third row seats

Ride quality was another unexpected weak point. Equipped with Volvo's air suspension, this XC90 should excel as a long-distance luxury cruiser despite its 21-inch wheels. Instead, it frequently felt unsettled over imperfect pavement and transmitted sharp impacts directly into the cabin. Rougher road surfaces produced a level of harshness that seemed entirely at odds with the vehicle's mission. Given this unusually bad ride behavior, I cannot rule out the possibility that this particular tester had air-suspension-related issues. This could even go as far as to exacerbating the torque steer issue, as if it's causing the front axle to become too light from rear axle squat.

The presence of interior rattles on a relatively low-mileage example only compounded those concerns from above. Previous XC90s never left me questioning their refinement, but this tester often felt as though it had already accumulated years of hard use. A luxury SUV at this price point should not be exhibiting multiple interior rattles during ordinary driving conditions.

A total miss

The good news is that the XC90 lineup starts much lower than the nearly $89,695 sticker price of this T8 Ultra test vehicle. Buyers considering the standard powertrain may ultimately have a very different experience, and one that better aligns with Volvo's reputation.

2026 Volvo XC90 Ultra T8 exterior front three quarter during sunset

As tested, however, this XC90 T8 failed to deliver the refinement, comfort, and confidence expected from a flagship Volvo SUV. The torque steer was alarming, the ride quality disappointing, and several everyday usability issues undermined an otherwise attractive package.

I genuinely hope this was an unusually problematic example rather than a representative one. If it was an outlier, Volvo still has a compelling luxury SUV on its hands. If it wasn't, the XC90 T8 has some significant issues that deserve immediate attention.