[TusharK]

The Volvo XC90 facelift has been launched in India. The premium SUV is priced at Rs 1.03 crore (ex-showroom).



The updated version of Volvo’s flagship SUV made its global debut in September last year. While its overall silhouette remains the same, the redesigned front fascia is now inspired by the EX90 electric SUV. It features a sleeker-looking front grille with slim ‘Thor’ hammer headlights on either side and a reworked front bumper.



The rear features vertical LED taillights that wrap around the contours of the rear fascia. The updated clusters now have a smoked effect. The SUV also gets new 2-tone alloy wheels.



Inside, the 2025 XC90 comes with a larger, Google-based 11.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports OTA updates. Other features include a panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charger, a 360-degree camera, a digital instrument cluster with a head-up display, memory seats and an air purifier.



The XC90 facelift is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine paired with a mild-hybrid system. It delivers 247 BHP and 360 Nm. Volvo claims a 0-100 km/h time of 7.7 seconds and a top speed of 180 km/h.

The XC90 is equipped with all-wheel drive and comes with air-suspension, featuring electronically-controlled dampers. This gives the car self-leveling and speed-sensitive ride height adjustment functionality that can raise or lower the ride height by up to 40 mm and 20 mm respectively.

Link to Team-BHP News

[carjack3090]

The absolute lack of enthusiasm for this launch shows what Volvo brand has come to be.

In my fair opinion Geely should seriously look to launch their Chinese Cars under Volvo brand and look to take it to masses (like SAIC does with MG). It is futile targeting Volvo as a Luxury brand, the general buyer of India has internet at their disposal and they know that Volvo isn't the luxury it is trying to prove to be. At best it is at par with Brand Toyota

[SidwaysInLinen]

New Car, but same old Volvo

The Car
Now don't get me wrong, the car in itself is miles better than what the Germans offer at this price point, I mean just the headlining features are unheard of in this price range
- Heated, Ventilated and Massaging Front Seats
- Air suspension
- 19 speaker B&O music system
- The Google Based Infotainment
all these are features found in the likes of the X7, GLS etc, which cost atleast half a crore more.

The Brand
Volvo as always is making no effort to get the word out there, most buyers don't even consider Volvo's these days just because of their lackluster marketing. What once was know as the pioneer of luxury and safety is now just a shadow of it's past, it has great products, even the pricing is on point, It is being let down big time by it's marketing team, and having limited touchpoints in a vast market such as India doesn't help either.

Sad to see such a great brand with such great products being driven into the setting sun.

[sarathlal]

Volvo India was never interested in their cars department. Forget about aggressiveness, they have not made any effort to do any inward sales pitch.

But having said that, if a potential customer goes to them for a purchase, the experience is superlative. Super good customer experience.

They are open shop who goes to them rather than chasing the customers.
I think this is their business decision to do it that way. Since Volvo Trucks and Buses are doing great, they might be able to afford this mode.

The only exception I saw was for the case with electrical vehicles, that too in the initial days

[Mitadru]

Originally Posted by sarathlal

I think this is their business decision to do it that way. Since Volvo Trucks and Buses are doing great, they might be able to afford this mode.

Volvo car is different from Volvo trucks and buses. The former is owned by Geely, a Chinese auto manufacturer, while the latter is still independent. Volvo sold its cars division back in the 1980s if I'm not wrong, initially to GM , and after they went bankrupt, it was sold to Geely.

[rohanshivi1]

Originally Posted by sarathlal

Volvo India was never interested in their cars department.

I completely agree with what you are saying. But that's not just Volvo but Swedes in general. They have a very lackluster approach to the business but this could be argued with the level of perfection they put into their product. In short they know how to create a good product but don't know how to market. The markets here are definitely identifying this issue and trying to learn more from the International market but it would take sometime before Volvo identifies the potential Indian sales has for the automobiles beyond heavy motors & machinery (including bus/trucks/earthmovers). I would blame this approach & attitude to the financial cover Swedish businesses have always been getting from the Govt. resulting in the businesses just concentrating on the product design and perfection without considering if its really selling.

Originally Posted by Mitadru

Volvo car is different from Volvo trucks and buses. .

Volvo Cars is "just" owned by Zhejiang Geely Holdings but they don't influence or have decision-making power in Volvo. The new XC90 design (2015) was the first product that was launched post-acquisition after consulting Geely and manufactured in Arlanda. But Volvo still takes its independent decision and that was the part of the agreement post-acquisition. Same as Danish Bank Saxo was acquired by Geely but its still is managed independently by Danish Banking Institutions.

[Mitadru]

Originally Posted by rohanshivi1

Volvo Cars is "just" owned by Zhejiang Geely Holdings but they don't influence or have decision-making power in Volvo. The new XC90 design (2015) was the first product that was launched post-acquisition after consulting Geely and manufactured in Arlanda. But Volvo still takes its independent decision and that was the part of the agreement post-acquisition. Same as Danish Bank Saxo was acquired by Geely but its still is managed independently by Danish Banking Institutions.

Same as Tata has done with JLR. But the whole point is that Volvo buses and trucks doesn't have any relationship with Volvo cars and does not share the revenue.

[rohanshivi1]

Originally Posted by Mitadru

Same as Tata has done with JLR. But the whole point is that Volvo buses and trucks doesn't have any relationship with Volvo cars and does not share the revenue.

Correct! Infact they don’t even act like the same company

Just like Daimler’s group Mercedes Benz Trucks and Cars.

[14000rpm]

Volvo has made a habit of flogging models for way past their sell date.
The XC90 has been around for a very long time. Just for that reason, this refresh fails to get any attention. This will go fully unnoticed.

Originally Posted by SidwaysInLinen

New Car, but same old Volvo

the car in itself is miles better than what the Germans offer at this price point,

Not really. It is a boring car to drive. Very Vanilla driving experience. There used to be a model called Inscription. It had the best choice of materials and finishes. It was discontinued a long time ago and the material choices are very mediocre actually.

[V.Narayan]

As a rather happy Volvo customer twice over I find the XC90 to be a beauty, in looks, in its interiors and in its very smooth driving. Writers above are correct in that Volvo do not do enough to promote the luxury and aspirational aspects of their brand. That in itself is an attribute that some other customers value. Every one does not want a car that yells, "look what I bought". Volvo has for 10 years rendered to me excellent after sales service, outstanding reliability on both cars, spareas have always been available on tap and the staff is helpful.

[SidwaysInLinen]

Originally Posted by 14000rpm

Not really. It is a boring car to drive. Very Vanilla driving experience.

Very True, but then again, Volvo was never a car for those who enjoy spirited driving, they had their occasional R models for that extra oomph, but they never focused on driving pleasure. In my opinion Volvo has always been an alternative more to a Mercedes than a BMW, if you get my drift.

Originally Posted by 14000rpm

There used to be a model called Inscription. It had the best choice of materials and finishes. It was discontinued a long time ago and the material choices are very mediocre actually.

Absolutely, there are no 2 ways about the fact that their push for sustainable materials hasn't gone down too well with the masses, I vividly remember the S90 inscription from a few years ago, the open pore wood, the crystal gear knob, every crevice draped in leather, It was phenomenal. But then again we've got to acknowledge the fact that sustainability is where the world is headed, and it's not just Volvo, even some of the newer models from their Bavarian counterparts have ditched leather for recycled materials, It's sad to see but that's where the world is headed.

[rohanshivi1]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

As a rather happy Volvo customer twice over I find the XC90 to be a beauty, in looks, in its interiors and in its very smooth driving. Writers above are correct in that Volvo do not do enough to promote the luxury and aspirational aspects of their brand. That in itself is an attribute that some other customers value. Every one does not want a car that yells, "look what I bought". Volvo has for 10 years rendered to me excellent after sales service, outstanding reliability on both cars, spareas have always been available on tap and the staff is helpful.

My first car after settling in Sweden was XC90 (T6 R Design). I had no. of different brands after that before ending up with Tesla and I must say, XC90 was the best car to own and drive. No car yet has impressed me more than a Volvo. Despite of the image of being one of an unreliable car, I never ever had any issues, I drove it close to 100k km up till Arctic Circle and across Europe and the value still held up to an impressive price when I sold it.

Can't comment on the after-sales service since it's Volvo and it's Sweden and so they cant go wrong with their home country But if you ask me to have the same car in India. I would not even think twice! Talk about safety or interior quality. It's amazing.

[Venkatesh]

Few pictures from the media drive.









Link

[14000rpm]

Originally Posted by Venkatesh

Few pictures from the media drive.

The grille, wheel design and the infotainment screen size + upgraded performance of infotainment are all I noted as differences between outgoing model. Keen to know all the changes that I may have been ignorant about.