Used Volvo XC90 for sale: everything you need to know

The Volvo XC90 is the Swedish premium brand’s flagship SUV. It comes with seven seats as standard, plus a luxurious, high-end appearance that reflects prices that started from well over £60,000 when it was new. 

The Volvo XC90 competes with upmarket rivals such as the equally spacious Audi Q7, the refined Mercedes-Benz GLE and the ever popular BMW X5. It has been around in its current guise for a few years now, but retains a loyal following, particularly as Volvo  continuously updated it over time. 

If you don't need as much space, the smaller Volvo XC60 is well worth checking out. With numerous engine and specification variations to choose from, take a look at a Volvo XC90 for sale on heycar to discover just what’s on offer.

Should you buy a Volvo XC90? 

There are more youthful luxury SUVs these days, but few are as well-rounded as the Volvo XC90. This five-metre-long vehicle is very spacious inside, with a light and airy cabin boasting commanding, high-set seats and a great view outwards. Most will use it with the third row of seats folded, giving up to 680-litres of boot space, but even with them in use, it has over 300-litres of luggage room – more than a Ford Fiesta. 

In keeping with Volvo’s reputation for safety, the Volvo XC90 is brilliant at protecting you and your family. Active safety tech helps avoid accidents in the first place; the City Safety auto-braking function detects pedestrians, cyclists and large animals, as well as other cars, while run-off-road protection and oncoming lane mitigation are also standard. The Volvo XC90’s Euro NCAP crash safety score is virtually faultless.

A very well-equipped car to start with, Volvo gradually moved the Volvo XC90 even more upmarket. But this luxurious machine remains popular amongst those looking to buy  a classy, cultured seven-seat SUV. It is a premium contender in every sense of the word and popular among owners, many of whom are now into their third or even fourth example of the current model. That’s how well-liked it is.

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What's the best Volvo XC90 model to buy?

That  depends on what you’re after. If you desire the very best Volvo XC90 money can buy, it has to be the T8 plug-in hybrid. It’s the fastest version, yet the most economical. It’s just as practical as any other XC90, and like other versions, it’s also spectacularly well equipped. It is, however, pricier to buy than other versions of the same age and mileage, which might rule it out for some, and it only makes sense if you have somewhere to charge its hybrid battery. With a flat battery, the T8's fuel economy drops quicker than a stone on Jupiter.

For many, the diesels continue to make sense, known as either the D5 or the B5 Diesel (we’ll explain the difference later). They’re much more efficient than their petrol-powered counterparts and more affordable to buy than the T8 PHEV.

In terms of equipment grade, there’s nothing you need - and very little you want - that the entry-level Momentum trim doesn’t give you. Many of the embellishments on the higher grade cars are purely cosmetic.

Used Volvo XC90 fuel economy and performance

The Volvo XC90 engine line-up was been rationalised to three choices in 2020: petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid. All come with four-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. All modern Volvos are also electronically limited to a 112mph top speed.

Before this, Volvo offered the XC90 with 2.0-litre D5 turbodiesel with 225 PS that still makes a sound choice for used buyers. There was also the sporty 310PS T6 with 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine and a T5 version with 250PS. As a rule of thumb: diesel dominates for older cars, with the PHEV gradually starting to outnumber them as you look at newer second-hand machines. 

• Volvo XC90 B5 P petrol: The B5 P is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol with 48V mild hybrid technology. It produces 250PS and accelerates from 0-62mph in 7.7 seconds. It averages up to 32.4mpg and emits from 198g/km of CO2. 
• Volvo XC90 B5 D diesel: The B5 D is also a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 48V mild hybrid technology, but this time it’s fuelled by diesel. It produces almost as much power as the petrol, with 235PS, and is fractionally faster, accelerating from 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds. With 480Nm, it has almost 40 percent more pulling power, too. Average economy improves a lot, to 39.7mpg, while CO2 emissions are from 185g/km. 
• Volvo XC90 T8 Recharge plug-in hybrid petrol: The most appealing Volvo XC90 for many used buyers these days is the PHEV, which combines a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine with a potent electric motor for a total output of 310PS. It accelerates from 0-62mph in just 5.4 seconds, has a pure EV range of up to nearly 43 miles, and emits from 29g/km CO2.

What used Volvo XC90 trim levels are available?

Volvo revised its model naming strategy for 2022, with trim levels now defined as Core, Plus and Ultimate. All boast very strong specifications, with even the Core offering everything you could realistically need. Prior to 2022, the trims were Momentum, Inscription, and R-Design, which closely relate to the three newer trims below.

• The Volvo XC90 Core has a comprehensive spec that includes Volvo’s latest, fully-connected Google-based infotainment system, three-row climate control air-con, leather upholstery and a very long list of passive and active safety tech. 
• The Volvo XC90 Plus brings upgraded audio, an opening panoramic glass roof, larger alloys and clever Active Bending Headlights. 
• The Volvo XC90 Ultimate has the largest alloy wheels of all, plus luxurious air suspension, a head-up display, upgraded upholstery and a top-spec Bowers and Wilkins surround-sound audio system.

Used Volvo XC90 dimensions and boot size

The Volvo XC90’s exterior dimensions are: 

• Length: 4953mm
• Width: 2008mm (with door mirrors folded)
• Height: 1776mm
• Ground clearance: 223mm

The Volvo XC90’s boot space is:

• 302 litres in 7-seat mode (T8 plug-in hybrid: 262 litres)
• 1856 litres with all rear seats folded (T8 plug-in hybrid: 1816 litres)

Used Volvo XC90 road tax

Most used Volvo XC90s will hail from after 1 April 2017, so they all pay a flat rate of £180 per year for road. With XC90s registered before this cut-off date of April 2017, road tax is worked out on a sliding scale. This means a 2.0 D5 model will result in an annual road tax bill of £200, while a T6 requires a payment of £320. The good news is the Volvo is easier on road tax costs than most of its rivals that often used much larger, thirstier and higher emitting engines.

How much is it to insure a Volvo XC90? 

The Volvo XC90 is likely to prove a fairly expensive car to insure, reflecting its status as a large premium SUV. The most affordable models are the earlier D5 Momentum in group 39 and the later B5 P Core, which has a group 40 (out of 50) insurance rating. Move to Volvo XC90 Plus grade and it rises to 41, or 42 for the Ultimate. A diesel Plus is insurance group 42 and the Ultimate is group 45. The Volvo XC90 T8 plug-in hybrid opens at a steep group 44 for the Plus, moving to group 45 for the Ultimate. 

Read our full Volvo XC90 review