Three years ago, Volvo took big steps towards the complete electrification of its fleet, but problems with production and a drop in demand, confronted the Swedish company with reality. Customers still remained loyal to ICE cars, so Volvo decided to keep its largest SUV powered by an internal combustion engine in the range.

In September, Volvo revealed a refreshed edition of the XC90 SUV, which retained the design of its predecessor with the addition of some details such as redesigned “Thor’s Hammer” lights and diagonal slats of the radiator grille. The interior is also slightly improved, with a new 11.2-inch touchscreen instead of the old 9.0-inch one, optimized operating system, the center console provides additional storage space, while the wireless smartphone charger has been relocated.

Under the hood is a 2.0-L four-cylinder turbo engine combined with a 48-volt electric motor with a total power from 247 hp to 295 hp, and customers will also be able to choose a hybrid version with 455 hp. All versions come with an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all wheels. It should be noted that the refreshed edition has better handling thanks to the optional air suspension, which provides a comfortable and isolated ride, but also coped well with most road situations.

Volvo has announced that it will continue to produce cars with internal combustion engines after 2030, but they will have mild hybrid systems and will be produced in limited series. This does not mean that they have given up on full electrification, as Volvo is one of the few European manufacturers that are still strongly advocating EVs.

Source: Volvo

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