2018 Volvo XC90

2018 is a carry-over year of the SPA-based second generation (2016–), before the 2020 facelift. The volume gas configuration is the T5 AWD, a 2.0L turbo four making 250 hp; the turbo- and supercharged T6 makes 316 hp.

The T5's 258 lb-ft, available from 1,500 rpm, is modest for a 4,400+ lb three-row luxury SUV; six-cylinder German rivals make more.

Around 7.5 seconds is leisurely for the luxury class; the T6 and T8 are the quick versions.

Delivery is smooth with little turbo lag, but the four-cylinder sounds strained when worked hard in a big three-row SUV and the stop/start restarts are noticeable versus six-cylinder rivals; no mild-hybrid assist in 2018.

The Aisin eight-speed Geartronic shifts smoothly and picks gears sensibly; the comfort-biased calibration makes kickdown a little slow.

Every AWD 2018 XC90 is rated 5,000 lbs, competitive for a unibody luxury three-row; only the T5 FWD drops to 4,000 lbs.

AWD is standard on the T6 and T8 and optional on the T5, with Off-Road drive mode and hill descent control. The base T5 is FWD, and there is no low range or locking differential.

Pavement-oriented: about 9 in of ground clearance (more with the optional air suspension), Off-Road mode and hill descent control, but no skid plates, low range, lockers or off-road trim.

Three distinct powertrains in 2018: the T5 turbo, the T6 turbo+supercharged and the 400 hp T8 plug-in hybrid. That was an unusually broad, electrified choice for the segment at the time.

The volume 2018 T5 AWD is EPA-rated 24 MPG combined, middling for a three-row luxury SUV.

22 MPG city is ordinary for the class with no hybrid assist on the T5.

28 MPG on the highway is respectable for the class.

An 18.8-gallon tank at 24 MPG combined gives about 451 miles, comfortably above the segment floor.

Premium fuel at 24 MPG puts the T5 AWD near the expensive end of the SUV band.

EPA lists premium gasoline for every 2018 XC90 gas powertrain, a real running-cost penalty.

NHTSA did not crash-test the 2016–2019 XC90. The first rating for this second generation came on the 2020 model, which earned 5 stars overall, so that figure is carried back to the structurally identical 2018.

Every crashworthiness test is rated Good: driver- and passenger-side small overlap, moderate overlap, side, roof strength and head restraints. Headlights are what kept this generation below Top Safety Pick+ in the 2018 award cycle, where it took Top Safety Pick.

The 2018 XC90 comes standard with City Safety AEB (vehicle, pedestrian, cyclist and large-animal detection), lane departure warning with Lane Keeping Aid, run-off-road mitigation, and adaptive cruise with Pilot Assist. IIHS lists blind spot detection as standard. The 360° camera and adaptive headlights are extra-cost packages.

The standard City Safety system earns IIHS's top Superior rating for vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention. IIHS ran no pedestrian or night test in 2018, so performance beyond that is unproven.

IIHS lists BLIS blind-spot detection as standard, and the system works with Cross Traffic Alert. The rear system alerts but does not brake automatically, and on lower trims parts of the coverage depend on packages.

Lane Keeping Aid and Pilot Assist lane centering are standard. Reviewers found centering reasonably smooth, but it needs clear lane markings and frequently asks for steering input.

Full-speed adaptive cruise with stop-and-go works together with Pilot Assist steering up to highway speeds. It is smooth in traffic, but following is conservative and it hands back control abruptly when lane markings fade.

No trim offers hands-free driving. Pilot Assist needs continuous steering-wheel input.

IIHS rates the LED headlights Marginal on 2018 XC90s built before April 2018 and Acceptable on later builds. Every variant has high-beam assist, but no Good-rated headlight was offered.

The upright glasshouse, low beltline and large mirrors give excellent natural sightlines. The 360° camera is an extra-cost package item on the volume Momentum trim.

IIHS rates LATCH ease of use Acceptable. Lower anchors are only in the second-row outboard seats, and the third row has no lower anchors. Wide rear doors and the optional integrated center booster help.

The volume 2018 XC90 T5 Momentum is a seven-passenger model. The six-seat captain's-chair layout only arrived with the 2020 facelift.

Front headroom is average for a mid-size luxury SUV, and the standard panoramic roof takes a little off.

The front legroom figure is short for the class on paper, though reviewers don't describe the front row as cramped.

The tall, upright roofline gives generous second-row headroom.

Second-row legroom is mid-pack for three-row luxury SUVs. The individually sliding seats can trade room with the third row.

The standard third row suits children and short adult trips, and the sliding second-row seats ease access. At 31.9 in of legroom it is not adult-usable for long trips.

Space behind the second row is modest for a three-row SUV, though the square, low load floor is easy to use.

The maximum cargo area is large and folds flat.

It has three individually sliding and reclining second-row seats, an available integrated child booster and a flat-folding load floor. Console and door storage are only average, and there is no wireless pad or household outlet in 2018.

Volvo's front seats are consistently praised for long-distance comfort and support. The second row is comfortable and the third row less so.

On the Momentum's 18-inch wheels the ride is compliant with good body control. The 20–22-inch wheels on upper trims make it busy over broken pavement. Air suspension is optional.

Wind and road noise are well suppressed at a cruise, but the T5 four-cylinder sounds coarse when worked hard.

The Momentum has standard four-zone automatic climate. Heated front seats, a heated wheel and heated rear seats come in option packages; ventilated and massage seats are on the Inscription. Volvo On Call adds remote climate.

MY2018 is the third year of the SPA-based second generation (2016–), a carry-over year before the MY2020 facelift; the entry point is the T5 FWD Momentum with the 250-hp 2.0L turbo four.

The T5 AWD Momentum is the representative gas volume configuration; T6, R-Design and Inscription versions plus option packages push typical stickers into the mid-to-high $50Ks.

Sources diverge widely — CarEdge's model-level projection is mild while Edmunds' True Cost to Own for this generation is very high; early SPA-generation years drew more repair complaints than later ones, so a blended figure slightly above the 2020's is used, with 3 years of free scheduled maintenance offsetting early costs.

The XC90's residuals run below the luxury-SUV average; the 2018's fifth year (2023) coincided with inflated used prices, lifting it slightly above typical XC90 retention, and today an 8-year-old T5 Momentum is worth about a third of its sticker.

Volvo's New Vehicle Limited Warranty runs 4 years/50,000 miles, the luxury-brand norm.

Volvo offers no extended powertrain term in the US; the engine and drivetrain are covered only under the concurrent 4 yr/50,000 mi warranty.

MY2018 XC90s include Volvo Complimentary Factory Scheduled Maintenance for 3 years/36,000 miles (10k/20k/30k services) plus 4 years of unlimited-mile roadside assistance and a Volvo On Call trial — on par with BMW and ahead of Lexus and Mercedes.

$50,095 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (45% retained, or about $22,543) leaves about $27,552 in depreciation. Add the projected $7,800 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $35,352 in total.

Both main sources rate the 2018 XC90 below average. Consumer Reports says it is less reliable than other cars from its model year, and has given the second-generation XC90 its lowest reliability rating every year since 2016. J.D. Power's predicted reliability is 2 of 5. Its Quality & Reliability score of 74/100 is middling, and does not offset the two below-average predictions.

In the years around 2018, Volvo ranked in the bottom third of Consumer Reports' brand reliability ranking. It also sat below the industry average in J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS). A brief improvement around 2023 did not last, and by 2026 Volvo was near the bottom of the VDS again. Overall that is a lower-third multi-year record.

On recalls, 2018 is the cleanest early year of this generation. The scored gas trim has only two NHTSA campaigns, and neither involves the powertrain or fire risk. It missed the 2017 airbag and seat-belt campaigns and the 2019-2020 AEB-software and fuel-pump stall recalls. Owner forums and technical service bulletins (TSBs) for 2016-2018 cars do show recurring fixes for Sensus software, battery drain and electrical faults, which keeps this out of the top band.

The 2018 volume trim is the T6 AWD, a carry-over year with no powertrain change. It pairs a 2.0-litre Drive-E four that is both turbocharged and supercharged with the Aisin eight-speed automatic. The transmission is proven. Early Drive-E engines, however, drew owner complaints about oil consumption and the supercharger, and a heavily stressed small engine in a heavy three-row SUV has a mixed long-term record. That is a mixed history, not a known failure.

The cabin is a segment benchmark. Real wood and metal trim, Nappa leather on upper trims and the Orrefors crystal shifter (Inscription) put it level with or above the X5, GLE and Q7, with hard plastics only in low-touch areas.

Reviewers find the body assembly tight and the cabin quiet. However, early cars on the SPA platform drew many owner complaints about electrical and in-car electronics faults, and Consumer Reports' below-average rating reflects that. J.D. Power's 74/100 Quality & Reliability score is only middling. Together these put it at the bottom of the generally-solid band.

Volvo's US retailer network covers metro areas well but is thinner than BMW's or Mercedes-Benz's, so rural owners may face long drives for service.

Repair costs run above the segment norm. Parts come mostly through dealers and from Europe, and the independent aftermarket is thinner than for Lexus or Acura rivals. An 8-year-old twin-charged 2018 is long out of warranty, so owners pay these costs themselves.

Every 2018 XC90 uses the same 9-inch portrait Sensus touchscreen, and no larger screen was offered.

Sensus is clean and tablet-like, but it buries climate and other common functions in touch menus and is slow to boot. Its software was updated only through dealer visits.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard but wired only. Sensus XC90s never offered wireless projection.

Sensus Navigation and voice controls are standard and maps get free MapCare updates. The command-style voice control feels dated, so most owners use phone projection.

The 10-speaker base system is decent, a 14-speaker Harman Kardon is on upper trims, and the optional 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins is excellent.

A 12.3-inch digital driver display with map view is standard on every trim, though it is less configurable than German rivals' clusters.

Sensus software is updated only at the dealer through VIDA, and only map updates arrive over the air. No update adds features.

Volvo On Call covers remote start, climate preconditioning, lock/unlock and locate. There is no phone-as-key, and the service needs a subscription after the trial.

The volume Momentum has USB-A ports only, with no wireless pad, no rear USB-C and no household outlet. A 12V outlet is the rear power source.

Keyless entry and ignition and a power tailgate are standard on the Momentum, and Volvo On Call adds remote start. The hands-free tailgate needs a package, and there is no phone-as-key.

A rearview camera and rear parking sensors are standard. The 360-degree camera and front sensors require option packages.

A head-up display is available across the range, but only as an option or in a package.

Wide rear doors, three individually sliding second-row seats, an available integrated booster and a kid-usable third row make family logistics easy. LATCH is only Acceptable, and the third row has no lower anchors.

Every crash test is Good, and City Safety AEB, Pilot Assist adaptive cruise, lane keeping and blind-spot monitoring are standard on the base Momentum. Weaker headlight ratings kept it from TSP+, and NHTSA never rated the 2018 model.

Four-zone climate, comfortable front and middle rows and about 450 miles of range make it a strong family tourer. Rear device charging is thin, and luggage space with all seats in use is limited.

Light, precise steering, a smooth eight-speed and excellent visibility make it easy in traffic. Climate controls buried in Sensus and the abrupt stop/start add friction.

The T5 AWD returns 24 MPG combined, which is good for a three-row luxury SUV, but it needs premium fuel and repair costs run above average.

Good visibility and standard rear sensors and camera help, but it is a long three-row SUV with a 38.7-ft turning circle, and the 360 camera is optional.

A 5,000-lb tow rating handles a small camper or boat, though the 250-hp T5 works hard at that load. The flat-folding cargo area helps, but this is a luxury family SUV, not a work tool.

Early second-generation XC90s have below-average reliability and above-average repair costs, and the luxury cabin isn't suited to hard use.

It has roof rails, cargo tie-downs and a dealer tow bar, but no household outlet or other work-oriented features.

Excellent seats, a quiet cruise and standard Pilot Assist with adaptive cruise make it a capable mile-eater, and about 450 miles of range is strong. Pilot Assist wanders on faded markings, and the T5 drones on grades.

AWD on the volume T5, about 9 in of ground clearance, hill descent control, optional air suspension and a 5,000-lb rating handle gravel roads and toys. The base T5 is FWD, and there is no off-road hardware.

The second and third rows fold flat into a large, square load bay. Roof rails are standard and a tow hitch is available.

It is secure and well controlled for its size but not engaging. The BMW X5 and Mercedes GLE are more fun to drive fast.

The steering is precise but very light, with little feedback.

The brakes are easy to modulate day to day, but instrumented stopping distances trail German rivals.

The 250-hp T5 is smooth with little turbo lag and the eight-speed shifts cleanly. It feels stretched in a 4,400-lb SUV (about 7.5 s to 60 mph), kickdown is slow and stop/start restarts are noticeable.

It is quiet at a cruise, but the T5 four-cylinder sounds coarse and out of place in a luxury SUV under hard acceleration.

The turning circle is middling for a three-row SUV, and the large optional wheels widen it by about a foot. The figure is unchanged across the pre-facelift second generation.

The driving position is commanding and highly adjustable with excellent visibility, let down by the Sensus screen taking over climate and other functions that deserve physical controls.

It is pleasant and comfortable, but the volume T5 is merely adequate and the chassis is tuned for comfort rather than sport.

Even the T5 Momentum includes leather, a panoramic sunroof, power liftgate, LED headlights, the 9-inch Sensus touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and City Safety AEB, with a third row standard; Android Auto was not yet offered, and adaptive cruise/Pilot Assist and premium audio stayed in option packages.

A three-row luxury SUV starting under $48K undercut comparably equipped Audi Q7, BMW X5 and Mercedes GLE/GLS, though the four-cylinder-only lineup gave up performance per dollar to six-cylinder rivals.

Three trims (Momentum, R-Design, Inscription) across T5 FWD/AWD, T6 AWD and T8 plug-in hybrid powertrains, 6- or 7-seat layouts, plus the four-seat T8 Excellence flagship — a wide, well-spaced ladder from under $48K to over $100K.

About 31,600 US sales made it a steady mid-pack seller among luxury three-row SUVs — well behind the Lexus RX and BMW X5 — with modest growth over 2017.

Volvo's safety and Scandinavian-design image was on the rise after the SPA-generation revival led by this model, though it trailed the German brands and Lexus on prestige and resale.

Volvo ran regular lease specials, loyalty/conquest offers and its Costco/partner pricing programs in 2018; typical discounts ran a few thousand dollars off MSRP without fire-sale pricing.

MY2018 was the third year of the 2016 SPA generation with no facelift yet; still among the more modern designs in a class where the Mercedes GLE and BMW X5 were near the end of their cycles, but its replacement-free run meant no imminent redesign risk either.

Still widely praised for design, interior and safety, and the generation's headline awards were recent; reviewers marked it down for the busy touchscreen and four-cylinder refinement, so it was rarely the outright comparison pick.