RE: Cars to be thankful for | Volvo V90 T8

RE: Cars to be thankful for | Volvo V90 T8

Tuesday 15th April

Cars to be thankful for | Volvo V90 T8

The big Volvo wagon hasn't changed much at all with its reintroduction to the UK - tremendous 


They say you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone, but it's unlikely that anyone expected the old adage to apply to Volvo estates. Yet here we are, with the V60 and V90 back on the Volvo UK website, having been removed from sale for almost a year between August 2023 and July 2024. A couple of years back the brand made them unavailable to customers so it might focus its attention on SUVs; which, in the current climate, didn’t seem like a terrible idea. No manufacturer can afford to have filler in the range these days, and with the best will in the world neither ‘60 nor ‘90 were cars that folk queued around the block to get in one. 

Or so it seemed. Yet such was the response from the buying public (and the media) to the demise of the V cars that they were reinstated last year. Volvo’s press statement last year spoke of a ‘resurgence’ in demand for both despite estates generally trending downwards. It continued: "We were thrilled by the many comments from customers and media last year, with many stories and memories of how our estate cars have been a huge part of their lives. We look forward to helping create more." Now mild and plug-in hybrid only, and without saloon counterparts anymore, the V60 and V90 soldier on as fabulously old-school Volvo wagons in a line-up dominated by electric SUVs. 

Their mere existence is reason enough to be cheerful; we’ve arguably reached a point now where what used to be the plainest of family car configurations now looks a little rare groove. Having an estate choice, even one you’re not likely to take, is welcome. Us Brits as well, without wishing to lean too heavily into nostalgia for the sake of it, have such an affiliation with Volvo estates that it feels weird not having them around brand new. Whether it’s touring cars or traffic cops, it’s a soft spot shared by the nation. 

This T8 press car continues another long Volvo tradition - that of concealing a serious amount of power in a very unassuming car. Thanks to the combination of a twincharged 2.0-litre (so supercharged and turbocharged) plus electric assistance, the range-topper boasts 455hp - while looking like it’s mustering in the region of half that. Even with the inevitable weight penalty of PHEVification - though 2,075kg ‘in running order’ doesn’t seem egregious in the M5’s world - performance is more than brisk: it’ll reach 62mph in 4.8 seconds. YouTube videos show 100mph coming up in 11 seconds, then the 112mph speed limiter chiming in with all the subtlety of a seawall. It might not growl like a proper T5, but this T8 is Golf R fast. And that’s fast enough. 

Inconspicuous speed is just part of the appeal in 2025. Like its XC90 sibling, the V90 undoubtedly has design in its favour as well, both ageing very nicely indeed despite a decade (or more) on sale. It’s both stylish and capacious, not sacrificing one for the other. Alright, so perhaps it’s not quite an E-Class or Skoda Superb (and electrification has robbed it of some space) but most won’t struggle unduly. There are always roofboxes, if needed. And you just know the Thomas Ingenlath-penned V90 would suit a roofbox absolutely perfectly. Practical and unassuming, yet handsome and desirable to those that know, it’s easy to imagine being very glad with a V90 outside. As well you might be for £70k, but let’s return to that point. 

The V90’s interior, little changed over the years, is a useful reminder of how tech and tactility can coexist. There’s a screen, of course, but it’s modestly sized and properly integrated; there’s a very satisfying volume dial, and while HVAC is on the screen it’s easy to negotiate. There’s a gearlever (remember those?), useful steering wheel buttons and door cards that could be exhibited in an architecture museum. The V90 makes you feel good without resorting to gimmicks. And the screen only failed to load once.

That the T8 fires up without a rev counter gives a pretty strong hint to the V90 driving experience. There’s a tacho if you must, accessed via Dynamic mode a few touchscreen prods away, but it makes the ride jittery and isn’t really worth it. Much better instead to mooch along always a little bit faster than necessary, both ‘chargers and electric ensuring you’ll never want for performance even at little more than idle. Naturally, the big bus is imperious at high speed, if not quite as happy as hoped for pottering to Waitrose. Where a V90 is very easy to find amongst the SUVs.

The usual drawbacks of boasting not quite the latest PHEV tech remain. Realistically there are not that many miles in the ‘tank’ (think less than 30, however serene and soothing they are), it’s hard to regenerate any on the move (even with very abrupt regen braking on offer), and it’ll only charge at 6.4kW - where a Golf will now accept 50kW DC. The whine of a four-cylinder isn’t really in keeping with the premium surroundings, either. A six would feel right at home, though that’s about as likely as the touring car return. 

To nitpick, however, is to miss the point. Even prior to the V90’s launch, let alone its reintroduction, you knew where to look for the best driving estate cars and those that could rival a van for luggage capacity. To this day, however, it’s hard to think of another big wagon that so successfully melds all the attributes a buyer might covet from such a vehicle. We associate ‘feel good’ cars with being care-free convertibles, or perky hot hatches, but the big Volvo proves it’s not an exclusively small car phenomenon. The safety, security, style, space and speed mean you can’t help but be content behind the wheel the entire time. When there’s precious cargo aboard and there’s a long way to go, still nothing quite gets the job done like a big Volvo estate. Just as it should be. 

Truth be told, you don’t necessarily need 455hp for that effect; a 350hp T6 will also ferry the family more than convincingly, and starts at just under £60k. Which feels more palatable than £73,065 as tested. Either way, all feels right with the world when there’s a large, handsome, versatile, fast Volvo estate on sale - or, even better, outside that house. Long may that continue in one form or another. EV90 sounds pretty good, come to think of it…


SPECIFICATION | 2025 VOLVO V90 T8 AWD ULTRA

Engine: 1,969cc, 4-cylinder, supercharged, turbocharged, petrol plug-in hybrid, 14.7kWh (usable) battery
Transmission: 8-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Power (hp): 455
Torque (lb ft): 523
0-62mph: 4.8 secs
Top speed: 112mph (limited)
Weight: 2,075kg (‘running order mass’)
MPG: 256.5-313.4
CO2: 20-25g/km (max electric range 52 miles WLTP
Price: £70,780 (price as standard; price as tested £73,065 comprising Denim Blue metallic paint for £785 and Nappa leather for £1,500)

Author
Discussion

Twinair

Original Poster:

837 posts

155 months

Monday 14th April
quotequote all
Wonder if plod get more than the 112mph?

Master Bean

4,322 posts

133 months

Monday 14th April
quotequote all
Those roads look pretty.

Tom1312

1,067 posts

159 months

Monday 14th April
quotequote all
Twinair said:
Wonder if plod get more than the 112mph?
Yeah they aren't limited.

I can say for sure though that over 130ish the XC90s don't feel happy!

cerb4.5lee

36,099 posts

193 months

Monday 14th April
quotequote all
I'd be bouncing off the top speed limiter in that pretty much every day I reckon, and that is too low for me personally.

Good to see an Estate resurrected though for sure.

CountyLines

2,492 posts

16 months

Monday 14th April
quotequote all
I'm not in the least bit thankful for this car.

Baldchap

8,993 posts

105 months

Monday 14th April
quotequote all
Looked at the big hybrid Volvos when I got my Alpina. Unfortunately the battery stuff is essentially a load of weight to drag around with very little benefit on a long run.

Had a T8 hybrid in Norway for a few days and the electric bit is so short-lived and economy nothing special.

So you're up on weight, down on power and paying for the privilege.

Not for me.

Mammasaid

4,652 posts

110 months

Monday 14th April
quotequote all
cerb4.5lee said:
I'd be bouncing off the top speed limiter in that pretty much every day I reckon, and that is too low for me personally.

Good to see an Estate resurrected though for sure.
So you're admitting to doing 40+ mph over the national speed limit every day? Pull the other one Lee.

dunnoreally

1,235 posts

121 months

Monday 14th April
quotequote all
Twinair said:
Wonder if plod get more than the 112mph?
I don't think I've seen a police Ovlov for ages. Round me it's all Astra estates for neighbourhood work, X5s for highways and the occasional pickup, Hilux or D-Max or they might even still have an old L200, for rural work.

Mammasaid

4,652 posts

110 months

Monday 14th April
quotequote all
I had one of the cheap V90CC leases a few years back, and I've never been so calm and relaxed on long journeys.

It's never going to be a car to drive on its door handles, but to sit back and enjoy the world going by serenely.

Water Fairy

6,050 posts

168 months

Monday 14th April
quotequote all
Traffic po-po need to carry a lot of stuff so I wonder what that would take the weight to?

Lester H

3,304 posts

118 months

Monday 14th April
quotequote all
Yes, it’s attractive, it’s tasteful but very expensive and has a whiff of ‘zzzzz..’ and yawn a mile about it.

Mercutio

261 posts

175 months

Monday 14th April
quotequote all
Lester H said:
Yes, it’s attractive, it’s tasteful but very expensive and has a whiff of ‘zzzzz..’ and yawn a mile about it.
Describe to me please a car which isn't "zzzz" in this type of class or price bracket.


Mercutio

261 posts

175 months

Monday 14th April
quotequote all
CountyLines said:
I'm not in the least bit thankful for this car.
Why?

AMV93

910 posts

105 months

Monday 14th April
quotequote all
It looks good, but the build quality of new Volvo's seems to be quite poor. I've just chopped my second XC40 EV (first one was ok, second one not so) and it had everything from a very leaky boot, to a multitude of electrical issues and a couple of big warranty claims. It was a fairly good EV but overall pretty compromised, it served a purpose and I was glad when the lease came to an end.

My dad had a 2023 XC90 from new, which on paper was a great spec and should have rivalled his previous Range Rover. Except it really didn't. It rattled horribly, had multiple electrical gremlins and just generally felt poor quality. The biggest shame is their insistence on wheezy 2 litre petrol engines, which just feel and sound really low rent for a car marketed as luxury. Dad's was a mild hybrid so had start/stop you couldn't switch off (annoying) and still barely managed more than around 25mpg from normal (careful) use. I genuinely don't think a proper engine would be much worse, whilst materially elevating the experience. Perhaps the PHEV is better, but the XC60 I had for an extended test drive drained its battery quickly enough to make me wonder why I would bother, especially when you can still get a 6 cylinder BMW or Audi wagon at this price point!

CountyLines

2,492 posts

16 months

Monday 14th April
quotequote all
Mercutio said:
CountyLines said:
I'm not in the least bit thankful for this car.
Why?
rofl Why should I be?

cerb4.5lee

36,099 posts

193 months

Monday 14th April
quotequote all
Mammasaid said:
cerb4.5lee said:
I'd be bouncing off the top speed limiter in that pretty much every day I reckon, and that is too low for me personally.

Good to see an Estate resurrected though for sure.
So you're admitting to doing 40+ mph over the national speed limit every day? Pull the other one Lee.
You try and keep an M4 below 112 on a nice clear open road! It eggs you on a fair bit(well it does me anyway). biggrindriving

fantheman80

1,864 posts

62 months

Monday 14th April
quotequote all
cerb4.5lee said:
I'd be bouncing off the top speed limiter in that pretty much every day I reckon, and that is too low for me personally.
To do over 110mph every day, you must either use the motorway at 3 am, on an area with no cameras or enjoy track days everyday

Yahonza

2,525 posts

43 months

Monday 14th April
quotequote all
dunnoreally said:
Twinair said:
Wonder if plod get more than the 112mph?
I don't think I've seen a police Ovlov for ages. Round me it's all Astra estates for neighbourhood work, X5s for highways and the occasional pickup, Hilux or D-Max or they might even still have an old L200, for rural work.
They still do up here, there was one with PS livery in the garage the other day when mine was in getting serviced.
Wasn't everyone up in arms about Volvo planning to stop building estates - now Pistonheaders think this is boring / too expensive.
Can't win.



The Pistonsdead

5,009 posts

220 months

Monday 14th April
quotequote all
fantheman80 said:
cerb4.5lee said:
I'd be bouncing off the top speed limiter in that pretty much every day I reckon, and that is too low for me personally.
To do over 110mph every day, you must either use the motorway at 3 am, on an area with no cameras or enjoy track days everyday
Bizarre comment but if you can get away with it then it's begging the question "Where's the police when this happens?"

fantheman80

1,864 posts

62 months

Monday 14th April
quotequote all
The Pistonsdead said:
Bizarre comment but if you can get away with it then it's begging the question "Where's the police when this happens?"
Er…behind him in the Volvo police car that can’t keep up cos it’s pegged at 112 ? wink