VOLVO XC90 B5 AWD R-DESIGN
Price £56,585 Kerbweight 2172kg
What’s new?
Volvo has updated the XC90 4x4, and the plug-in hybrid model gains a bigger battery for a longer all-electric range, while the diesel models are now mild hybrids. This means they use a 48V starter-generator to assist the engine, and recapture energy during braking and deceleration that would otherwise be lost.
This clever tech allows the latest XC90 to emit less and stretch a gallon of diesel further than before. The model we’re testing is the B5 AWD R-Design.
What are we looking for?
Does the mild hybrid drivetrain make a difference to the driving experience, and how efficient is it while towing? Have the updates to the Volvo kept it at the forefront of the large SUV class?
Towing ability
The XC90 remains a very heavy car. Volvo quotes a MiRO of 2172kg. We’ve checked with Volvo, and this includes a 90% full fuel tank and 75kg for the driver, so it’s what we’d normally refer to as the kerbweight.
That heft gives an
