Volvo XC90

Facelifted combustion-powered seven-seat SUV gains refinement tweaks and updated infotainment On sale Now Price from £63,790

- OLIVER YOUN

AS PART OF its drive to become an electric-only car brand by 2030, Volvo launched the EX90 in 2024; it's a fully electric seven-seat SUV that deposed the combustion-engined XC90 as the brand's flagship. It hasn't, though, replaced it; there's still demand for posh family holdalls with petrol or plug-in hybrid power.

That means the XC90 gets to continue, and with the third-generation model now nine years old, measures have been taken to try to ensure it isn't left behind by the competition. Yes, it's facelift time, and - distinguished by a new, diagonally slatted grille and slinkier new LED headlights - the updated XC90 now looks more like its younger EX90 sister.

The engine line-up has been slimmed down to the B5 petrol and T8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV). Both are unchanged; the B5 still allows for 0-62mph in 7.7sec and feels more than swift enough for everyday driving, although the T8 is noticeably gruntier (0-62mph takes just 5.4sec). Also unchanged is the T8's electric range of 44 miles; that might be enough to cover your daily commute, but some rivals - such as the Audi Q7 TFSIE (52 miles) and Mercedes-Benz GLE 400e (66 miles) - take you farther on a charge.