Swedish-made and very large, the new Volvo XC90, offering Malaysians with its latest upgrades for the 2023 model year.

Two variants for the locally-assembled (CKD) SUV, a mild-hybrid (XC90 B5 Ultimate) and a Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) (XC90 Recharge T8 Ultimate). 

Priced (OTR, w/o insurance) at MYR 418,888 and MYR 434,888, with a five-year/unlimited mileage warranty, and an eight-year/160,000 KM battery warranty.

Four exterior colours. Crystal White, Onyx Black, Denim Blue, and Vapour Grey.

Weighing in at 2,790 KG (XC90 B5 Ultimate) and 2,950 KG (XC90 Recharge), the 2023 Volvo XC90 stands at 4,953 MM long, 2,008 MM wide, 1,773 MM (XC90 B5 Ultimate), 1,771 MM (XC90 Recharge) tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 2,984 MM.

A commanding presence, it exudes a solidly sculpted exterior with clean contours and elegant styling elements.

The front-end sees a large grille with vertical slats, matched by a lower bumper with air-vent fitments on the sides and centre.

Accentuating the layout are chrome trimmings (grille surround, air-vents, side window surround, lower side doors).

Elegantly stocky, it radiates a horizontal outlook, complementing the front with angularly smooth and chiselled lines.

The rear-end sees a body-coloured roof-edge spoiler, paired to a straight-cut, slightly protruding bumper. 

Accentuating the layout are chrome trimmings (grille surround, air-vents, side window surround, lower side doors). 

Framed angularly-smooth, fitted are LED projectors, featuring T-shaped LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), Adaptive High Beam (AHB), and automatic On/Off, levelling and cornering light functions.

Unique and highly-warped, the fairly large tail lamps are vertically-positioned. Fitted are LED combination units.

Variant XC90 B5 Ultimate rides on a set of 20-Inch five-spoke black diamond-cut alloy rims, wrapped in 275/45 R20 tyres. 

Variant XC90 Recharge surges on a set of 20-Inch multi-spoke black diamond-cut alloy rims, wrapped in 275/45 R20 tyres.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 gets a clean, airy and streamline dashboard, featuring premium quality materials and details.

A dual screen dominated layout, both variants come in a Charcoal interior (full leather), with differentiating design schemes. 

Three options. Charcoal ventilated Nappa upholstery with Grey Ash decor, Maroon Brown Moritz upholstery with Linear Lime decor, and Maroon Brown ventilated Nappa upholstery with Black Ash decor.

Paired to the dash is a matching and widely flat centre console, featuring a gear shifter in Orrefors Crystal. 

Overall, it is well designed. All the buttons and other accessibilities are purposefully arranged, driver-centric and user-friendly.

Setup is a 12-Inch digital instrument cluster supporting two display modes (Calm, Navi). Also incorporated is a Head-Up Display (HUD).

The seven-seater (configuration - 2-3-2) gets a Charcoal interior (Nappa leather), featuring different design schemes.

Three options. Charcoal ventilated Nappa upholstery with Grey Ash decor, Maroon Brown Moritz upholstery with Linear Lime decor, and Maroon Brown ventilated Nappa upholstery with Black Ash decor.

Fitted up front are powered seats (adjustable, lumbar, memory, ventilation, heating). The middle (40:20:40 split-fold) and last (50:50 split-fold) rows get a bench seat.

Enhancing the ambience is an ambient lighting system, paired to a panoramic sunroof (powered - front tilt, slide), and window curtains (powered - rear - windscreen, sides).

Providing plenty of head, shoulder, and leg rooms, the cabin space is generous due to the stocky design of the body (tall, wide, long). 

Numerous storage compartments. E.g., large-sized door and seatback pockets, partitioned storage areas and a cavern storage space in the centre console, a decent-sized glove box, and a boot floor storage (hidden underneath with lock).

There are multiple cup holders located all around the cabin. Two at the front, middle and last rows, and four bottle holders, each at the side door pockets. 

The XC90 is equipped with 451 litres of boot space with all of the seats up. Even so, the second and third-row seats ensure that boot space is more than enough, allowing expansion up to 1,868 litres. 

The 2023 Volvo XC90 has a comprehensive set of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). 

Installed are the City Safety suite (collision avoidance and mitigation with intersection support for pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection with steering support and braking), front and rear collision warning and mitigation support, Lane Keeping Aid (LKA), Run-Off Road Mitigation with Road Edge Detection, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Steer Assist, Cross Traffic Alert (CTA) with Autobrake, Adaptive Cruise Control, Pilot Assist (Driver Assist System), Park Assist (360-degree camera), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and Hill-start Assist Control (HAC).

Passive safety includes seven airbags (driver-passenger, front side, driver-knee, front-rear curtain), Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS) for front seats, seatbelt (anchor, reminder, pretensioner), ISOFIX (anchor, top tether), auto-dimming rear-view mirror (exterior, interior), parking camera (reverse, 360-degree), parking sensors (six - front, rear), ready-to-drive notification, emergency stop assist, door ajar warning, side and front impact beams, Run-Off Road Protection, Indirect Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (ITPMS), tyre sealant kit, emergency stop assist, extra thick tempered side windows (UV laminated), and security alarm with immobiliser and anti-theft.

Mounted is a 9.0-Inch portrait integrated colour touchscreen infotainment, running on the Android Automotive Operating System.

It supports Google apps and services (Assistant, Maps, Play Store), and Apple CarPlay, USB, and Bluetooth connectivity.

Cocooned in the 2023 Volvo XC90 are two setups (Mild Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)). 

Variant XC90 B5 Ultimate embeds a 2.0-Litre four-cylinder direct injection turbo petrol engine, mated to a 48-Volt mild hybrid system with an Integrated Starter Generator (ISG). The combined output is 249 HP of max power and 350 NM of max torque.

Variant XC90 Recharge fuses a 2.0-Litre four-cylinder turbocharged with e-boost petrol engine, mated to a rear-axle mounted electric motor. The combined output reads at 462 HP of max power and 709 NM of max torque.

Coupled with the setups is an eight-speed automatic with Geartronic.

Power is sent to all four wheels via an All-Wheel Drive system (AWD – XC90 B5 Ultimate), and an Electronic All-Wheel Drive (e-AWD – XC90 Recharge) system.

Acceleration from 0 to 100 KM/H is done in 7.7 seconds (XC90 B5 Ultimate) and 5.3 seconds (XC90 Recharge), and top speed is 180 KM/H.

Fuel tank capacity is at 71-Litres, and the combined fuel consumption is at 8.2-Litres (XC90 B5 Ultimate) and 1.8-Litres (XC90 Recharge) for every 100 KM.

Juicing up the e-motor (XC90 Recharge) is an 18.8 KWH battery, providing a pure electric driving range of 81 KM. 

A 0% to 100% State of Charge (SoC) takes five hours (3.7 KW - AC - Type 2). 

Rear air-conditioning vents are included, incorporated for each row (middle, last).

Good sound insulation, covering all the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects. The cabin is serene, with the engine, tyre, road and wind noises mostly hindered.