2022 Volvo XC90

2022 is a pre-facelift year of the SPA-based second generation (2016–) and the last before the 48V mild-hybrid B5/B6 arrived in the US; the volume T5 uses the 2.0L turbo four at 250 hp.

258 lb-ft from the T5 is modest for a three-row luxury SUV; the T6 and T8 add meaningful torque.

The T5 AWD is leisurely for a ~4,500 lb luxury SUV; T6 and T8 are substantially quicker. The powertrain carried over unchanged from 2021, so the 2021 figure applies.

Smooth and reasonably responsive, but the four-cylinder sounds strained when pushed in a big SUV and the auto stop/start restart is noticeable; the T6's supercharger/turbo combo is smoother off the line.

The Aisin eight-speed automatic shifts smoothly and unobtrusively; comfort-biased calibration makes kickdown a little slow.

Maximum rating in any 2022 configuration is 5,000 lbs (T6 and T8); the volume T5 is rated 4,000 lbs.

AWD is available on the T5 and standard on T6 and T8 (electric rear axle on T8), with Off-Road mode and hill descent control, though the base T5 Momentum is offered in FWD and there is no low range or lockers.

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

Three distinct powertrains for 2022 — T5 turbo, T6 turbo+supercharged and the T8 Recharge PHEV (with a late-year extended-range version offering 36 mi electric) — plus FWD/AWD choice on the T5.

The volume 2022 T5 AWD (no mild-hybrid assist yet) is EPA-rated 23 MPG combined — below-average for a three-row luxury SUV.

Without electrification the T5 AWD gets little stop-and-go help; 20 MPG city trails hybrid rivals.

28 MPG highway is the T5 AWD's strongest figure and competitive for the class.

An 18.8-gal tank at 23 MPG combined gives roughly 432 miles of total range, above the segment floor but not a standout.

Premium fuel at 23 MPG combined puts the T5 AWD near the expensive end of the SUV band.

EPA lists premium gasoline for every 2022 XC90 powertrain, a material running-cost penalty; the T8 offsets only a little with an 18-mile (36 mi ext. Range) electric range.

NHTSA rated every 2022 XC90 gas variant (T5 FWD, T5 AWD, T6 AWD) 5 stars overall, with 5-star frontal and side results and 4 stars for rollover.

Earned the IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick+, with Good ratings in both small overlap tests, the original moderate overlap and side tests, roof strength and head restraints.

Every 2022 trim (Momentum, R-Design, Inscription) gets City Safety AEB with pedestrian, cyclist and large-animal detection, Pilot Assist with full-range adaptive cruise, BLIS, cross traffic alert, and run-off-road and oncoming-lane mitigation. The 360-degree camera is held back to options or upper trims.

IIHS rates the standard vehicle-to-vehicle AEB Superior (avoided collisions at 12 and 25 mph) and daytime pedestrian AEB Advanced. The 2022 model was not night-pedestrian tested, and the daytime pedestrian result was a step below Superior.

BLIS blind-spot monitoring with steer assist and cross traffic alert are standard on every 2022 trim, giving active steering intervention rather than warnings only.

Pilot Assist lane centering is standard. Reviewers find it smooth with no ping-ponging, but it needs clear lane markings and is quick to ask for steering input.

Standard full-speed adaptive cruise with stop-and-go works cleanly with Pilot Assist steering. Braking and resume are smooth, though following gaps are cautious compared with German rivals.

No hands-free driving option at any trim. Pilot Assist requires the driver's hands on the wheel.

One LED headlight variant with curve-adaptive beams and high-beam assist fits every trim, and IIHS rates it only Acceptable.

An upright glasshouse, low hood and beltline, and large mirrors give excellent natural sightlines. A surround-view camera adds coverage on upper trims or as an option.

IIHS rates LATCH ease of use Acceptable. Lower anchors are limited to the second-row outboard seats, and the third row has no lower anchors and only one top tether. Wide rear doors and the available integrated center booster help.

Third-row seating is standard on every 2022 US XC90 (Momentum, R-Design, Inscription), giving a 2+3+2 layout; optional second-row captain's chairs drop it to six.

2022 is a carry-over year inside the SPA second generation (between the MY2020 and MY2025 facelifts), so the body and interior dimensions match 2023; 38.9 in is average for the class.

40.9 in is modest for a three-row mid-size SUV; the upright seating position makes it feel adequate in practice.

The tall, boxy roofline gives generous second-row headroom even with the panoramic roof.

The sliding second row trades legroom with the third; 37.0 in is mid-pack for the class but fine for adults.

A genuine but small third row (31.9 in legroom, 36.3 in headroom) that suits children and short adult trips; the sliding/tilting second row makes access easy, keeping it above token seating.

Volvo's own figure with the third row folded is middling for a three-row SUV, and the hold with all seven seats up is small.

With both rear rows folded the XC90 opens to a competitive, flat 85.7 cu ft.

Competent everyday storage: 40/20/40 fold-flat second row, available integrated booster cushion, underfloor bin and grocery holder. The pre-facelift console is shallow and there is no onboard power export.

Volvo's supportive, highly adjustable front seats are a segment benchmark for long stints; ventilation is Inscription-only and the third row is cramped.

Smooth and comfortable on the Momentum's 19-inch wheels and steel springs, smoother still with optional air suspension; larger 21-inch wheels make it jittery over harsh pavement.

Quiet at a cruise with little wind noise, but this is the pre-facelift body without the MY2025 update's added insulation, and the T5's four-cylinder turns coarse under hard throttle.

Four-zone automatic climate, heated front seats and panoramic roof are standard; the heated steering wheel and heated rear seats come in the optional Climate package, and ventilated seats are Inscription-only.

2022 is a carry-over year of the SPA-based second generation (2016–), after the MY2020 facelift; the line-up is still Momentum/R-Design/Inscription with T5, T6 and T8 Recharge powertrains, and the front-drive T5 Momentum is the entry point.

The T5 AWD Momentum is the representative gas configuration — most US XC90s are AWD, and the T6 Momentum ($58,300) and T6 Inscription (~$64,600) sit above the typical transaction.

Same generation and broadly the same hardware as the scored 2023, so the same blended projection applies; the 3-year complimentary maintenance program covers the early services.

The XC90 typically loses more than half its value over five years — around the large-luxury-SUV average but weak in absolute terms.

Volvo's New Vehicle Limited Warranty runs 4 years or 50,000 miles, matching the German luxury norm.

Volvo offers no separate longer powertrain warranty in the US — the engine is covered only under the 4 yr/50,000 mi new-vehicle warranty.

MY2022 is the first year of Volvo's reinstated Complimentary Factory Scheduled Maintenance (10k/20k/30k-mile services, 3 yr/36,000 mi), plus 4 years of unlimited-mile roadside assistance — on par with BMW and ahead of Lexus and Mercedes.

$54,495 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (46% retained, or about $25,068) leaves about $29,427 in depreciation. Add the projected $6,500 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $35,927 in total.

Both major sources put the 2022 XC90 at average: Consumer Reports rates it about average for its model year, and J.D. Power gives it 76/100 for Quality & Reliability, a bit better than the 2023 car's 70. RepairPal's above-average repair frequency for the nameplate keeps the score in the mid band.

Around the 2022 model year Volvo was a below-average dependability brand. It improved briefly in J.D. Power's 2023 VDS but still sat well above the industry PP100 average and has since slid to near-last, so its multi-year record is lower-third, not mid-pack.

The 2022 XC90 has four to five NHTSA campaigns, but only two touch the scored gas T5: a serious steering-gear lock-up risk from a loose screw (fixed by replacing the gear) and under-torqued second-row seat-belt bolts. The high-voltage battery and ECM campaigns cover the T8 PHEV. As a Sensus-era car it also avoids the 2023+ Google built-in rearview-camera recall.

The volume T5 AWD uses Volvo's widely deployed 2.0L Drive-E turbo four and the proven Aisin eight-speed, with no 48V mild-hybrid layer (that arrived with B5/B6 for 2023). No systemic high-mileage failure pattern is reported, though the small engine works hard in a three-row SUV and some Drive-E engines have drawn oil-consumption complaints.

The XC90's cabin is one of the segment's best-finished: real wood and metal, an Orrefors crystal shifter on upper trims, and a restrained Scandinavian design that reviewers rank with or above the X5, GLE and Q7. Some plastic appears only in low-touch areas.

Reviews describe solid assembly on this mature platform, but Volvo's objective dependability evidence is weak, and two 2022 recalls are production-line defects: a misassembled steering-gear screw and under-torqued seat-belt bolts.

Volvo's US retailer network covers metro areas adequately but is thinner than BMW's or Mercedes-Benz's, leaving rural owners with long drives. The 2022 model year came with 3-year/36,000-mile complimentary maintenance.

Repair costs run above the segment norm. Parts move mostly through the dealer channel, and the independent aftermarket is thinner than Lexus or Acura owners get.

2022 uses the 9-inch portrait Sensus center screen on every trim; Google built-in software arrived for 2023 and the 11.2-inch screen only with the MY2025 facelift.

The tablet-like Sensus interface looks clean but is slow and occasionally glitchy, and it buries climate and most vehicle settings in swipe menus with few physical controls; CarPlay works better than the native system.

Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard but wired only, and Sensus runs them in a reduced split-screen window rather than full screen; no wireless projection on any trim.

Sensus Navigation is standard and functional, but its maps and command-based voice control are dated and most owners default to phone projection; Google Maps and Assistant only arrived for 2023.

A competent base system on Momentum, a 14-speaker Harman Kardon on Inscription, and the optional 19-speaker, 1,400 W Bowers & Wilkins system, one of the best in any SUV, at the top.

A crisp 12.3-inch fully digital driver display is standard on every trim, with a few layout modes and a nav map view; configurability trails Audi Virtual Cockpit and BMW.

Sensus-era XC90s get map updates over the air but system software is updated at the dealer; Volvo's whole-vehicle OTA arrived with the Google built-in platform in 2023 and is not offered on 2022 Sensus cars.

Volvo On Call provides remote start/preconditioning, lock/unlock, locate and status, but the Sensus-era app was clunky and connection-dependent, and there is no phone-as-key.

Wireless charging is standard, with two front USB-A ports and two second-row USB-C ports, but nothing for the third row and no household AC outlet in a seven-seater.

Push-button start, a power tailgate, and remote start via Volvo On Call are standard; full proximity keyless entry and the hands-free tailgate are package or upper-trim content, and there is no phone-as-key.

A rear camera with front and rear park assist is standard; the 360-degree Surround View camera is part of the optional Advanced package rather than standard on the volume Momentum.

A graphical head-up display is available through the optional Advanced package, so it is reachable on volume trims but never standard.

Seven seats standard, a sliding/tilting 40/20/40 second row for easy third-row access, tall square door openings and Volvo's integrated booster cushion make family logistics easy; held back by an Acceptable IIHS LATCH rating, no third-row lower anchors, and a small 15.8 cu ft hold with all seats up.

A 2022 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and NHTSA five-star overall, with City Safety, Pilot Assist, adaptive cruise and BLIS with steer assist standard on every trim; headlights only Acceptable and surround view is optional on Momentum.

Standard four-zone climate, benchmark seats, Pilot Assist and ~430 mi of T5 AWD range make long trips easy; the tight third row, small hold with seven aboard and no rear entertainment limit it.

Calm and easy in traffic with light, quick steering, smooth brakes and standard adaptive cruise, but the slow Sensus touchscreen that holds the climate controls and the big footprint are daily irritants.

The T5 AWD's 23 MPG combined on required premium fuel ($3,550/yr EPA estimate) plus luxury-brand servicing makes it costly per mile; the T8 Recharge's 18–36 electric miles help only those who pay for it.

A ~195-inch three-row footprint and ~39.7 ft turning circle demand care, offset by excellent outward visibility from the upright greenhouse; the 360 camera is an Advanced package option on Momentum.

Light-to-moderate towing only: 4,000 lbs for the volume T5 and 5,000 lbs for T6/T8, well short of German rivals at 7,200+ lbs; no bed or work configuration.

A mature SPA platform and proven 2.0L four, but above-average repair frequency and a luxury-oriented cabin make it ill-suited to hard use; no fleet variant.

Basics only: roof rails, 12V sockets, power tailgate, cargo hooks and a factory tow bar accessory; no AC outlet and no work-focused tie-downs or upfit ecosystem.

A strong mile-eater: benchmark seats, a smooth, quiet ride and standard Pilot Assist with adaptive cruise, with ~430 mi of T5 AWD range; the four-cylinder's note under load and the dated infotainment keep it below the top band.

AWD on all but the base T5 FWD, ~9 in of ground clearance (more with optional air suspension), Off-Road mode with hill descent, roof rails and 4,000–5,000 lbs of towing handle trailheads and ski trips; no low range or underbody protection.

85.7 cu ft max behind a flat floor and 41.8 cu ft with the third row down, a 40/20/40 second row, roof rails and an available tow bar; the 15.8 cu ft hold with seven aboard is the limit.

Composed and surefooted with noticeable body lean; secure rather than agile, trailing the German benchmarks.

Quick and accurate with a natural weight, but filtered of road texture.

Ample stopping power and easy modulation on the T5; instrumented XC90 stops, notably the heavy T8, are long for the class.

The volume T5 (250 hp, ~7.5 s) has adequate, smooth power with a slick Aisin 8-speed, but no mild-hybrid assist, so the auto stop/start restart is abrupt and kickdown can hesitate.

Quiet at a cruise, but the 2.0L four sounds strained under hard throttle in a big SUV and the stop/start restart shudders through the cabin.

Wide for the segment given the 117.5 in wheelbase; the chassis is unchanged across the 2016–2024 bodies.

Excellent, widely adjustable seats, a commanding position and thin pillars with great sightlines; docked because climate and most functions live in the slow Sensus touchscreen.

Pleasant and relaxed but not engaging; the T5's anonymous four-cylinder and comfort-tuned chassis make it a cruiser, with only the T6 and T8 offering real thrust.

Every 2022 XC90 gets three rows, a panoramic roof, leather, heated front seats, a 12.3-inch digital cluster, the 9-inch Sensus touchscreen and the IntelliSafe suite; but the base T5 Momentum is front-drive, and ventilated seats, Nappa leather, Harman Kardon audio and air suspension are reserved for Inscription or options.

The XC90 undercuts comparably equipped German rivals and bundles three years of free maintenance, but the T5 is a 250-hp four-cylinder in a large three-row SUV and the stronger T6 costs about $58,000 — fair value rather than a bargain.

Momentum, R-Design (Recharge) and Inscription across T5 FWD/AWD, T6 AWD and T8 Recharge powertrains, with 6- or 7-seat layouts and optional air suspension, span roughly $52,000 to over $75,000 — one of the few luxury three-rows still offering a front-drive entry.

A steady, solid seller for its class — 38,657 US sales in 2021 and 34,101 in 2022 (down 11.8%, largely supply-constrained) — trailing the X5 and RX but strong for a design in its seventh year.

Volvo's safety halo and admired Scandinavian design carry real appeal and the XC90 is the brand's US flagship, but the badge reads sensible rather than aspirational next to the German three, and resale is only class-average.

MY2022 sold through the chip-shortage inventory crunch, when luxury SUVs commonly transacted at or near sticker; Volvo support was limited to modest subvented financing and loyalty offers.

The second-generation XC90 had been on sale since MY2016 with a MY2020 facelift, so 2022 was a mature mid-to-late-cycle design still on current SPA hardware; the EX90 successor was not unveiled until November 2022.

Earned a 2022 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ (Good in all six crash tests) and remains well reviewed, but reviewers place it mid-pack among luxury mid-size SUVs rather than the class pick.