Used Volvo V90 2016-present review

The Volvo V90 isn't the estate car your granny used to drive. No, this is a sharp, sleek, stylish vehicle, unlike the more boxy, sensible Volvos of old.

It's based on the Volvo S90 – the brand's largest saloon car – and it retains that car's level of luxury, all the while adding a handy dose of space and practicality. You can get the V90 in Cross Country form, too, meaning some SUV-inspired styling, as well as four-wheel drive.

Engines & Performance: There are a pair of 2.0-litre diesels (badged D4 and D5), and a couple of 2.0-litre petrols (T4 and T5), along with a powerful petrol-electric plug-in hybrid (T8).

The V90’s 232bhp D5 diesel engine is a punchy unit, even if it isn't quite as quick as the equivalent Mercedes E-Class Estate E220d. The lower-powered 187bhp D4 has just enough shove to cope with the V90's bulk. Both engines can feel a little gruff at times, plus we wish the eight-speed automatic gearbox would be slightly more responsive.

The 385bhp T8 is extremely quick and shuffles between power sources easily and seamlessly. The T4 and T5 are similarly powerful to their comparable diesels, but the T4 feels quite weak low down in the rev range – the T5 is noticeably stronger.

For 2020, Volvo added mild hybrid technology to the V90's engines and these engines begin with a 'B' to distinguish them from the regular 'D' and 'T' engines.

There's a 197bhp petrol unit that goes by the name B4P, as well as a 197bhp diesel is called the B4D. The most powerful engine with this mild-hybrid tech is the 300bhp B6P. After that you get to the 340bhp T6 Recharge, which is a plug-in hybrid.

Ride & Handling: Comfort is of great importance in family estate cars and, fortunately, the V90 impresses. Its ride particularly shines if the original owner ticked the box for the optional adaptive dampers (that includes air suspension at the rear), actually. This helps the V90 glide along motorways with a relaxing buoyancy and it rides over most surfaces at town speeds in a composed fashion.

Handling is neat and capable, but it's clearly not the focus of this car. Rivals such as the BMW 5 Series Touring and Jaguar XF Sportbrake are more fun to drive.

Interior & Practicality: Inside, the V90 is stylish and impressively plush. It can easily compete against premium models from German brands.

The infotainment system features a 9.0in portrait touchscreen, through which you control many of the car's functions. At times it’s unresponsive and hard to find what you want within the vast array of menus and functions, and trying to press the some of the smaller icons while driving can be tricky.

Passenger's in the front get loads of head and leg room, and it’s the same in the rear, with class-leading knee room back there. It's more of a squeeze width wise for three larger adults sat in the rear, but three children can sit side-by-side perfectly happily.

Although the V90's 560-litre boot all but matches that of a 5 Series Touring in volume, the reality is it struggles to fit eight carry-on suitcases that fit easily in its rival. It’s smaller still next to the Audi A6 Avant's boot and thoroughly thrashed by the carrying capacity of the E-Class Estate.

Trims & Equipment: Momentum trim is your starting point. You get LED headlights, heated leather seats, sat-nav, Bluetooth and a DAB radio. On top of that, there’s a powered bootlid, keyless start and rear parking sensors.

Stepping up to Inscription brings extra interior lighting, nappa leather seats and a larger, 12.3in digital instrument cluster, as well as bigger alloy wheels and electric front seats.

R-Design adds stiffer suspension that makes the ride harsher. This aids handling, but it doesn't turn the V90 into a Ferrari – not in the slightest – so we'd avoid it and stick with the other, more comfortable trims.

Interested in buying a used Volvo V90? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

Around a modest £14,000 is the entry point for the V90, this buying you a 2016 car with an average to high mileage for the year, with a full history, most probably privately.

Up your budget to between £16,000 and £20,000 and you should find plenty of 2017 and 2018 cars with an average mileage for the year and full history from an independent dealer. Up the dosh to between £20,000 and £23,000 and you'll have plenty of good 2019 full-history cars, all from Volvo dealers, with low mileages and with your choice of engines and trims. For 2020 examples or newer, expect to pay upwards of £23,000, with 2021 and 2022 cars from £28,000 and 2023 and 2024 from £35,000.

Check the value of a used Volvo V90 with What Car? Valuations

Find used Volvo cars for sale

MPG: On paper, the most economical V90 is the 2.0-litre T8 petrol-electric hybrid model. This has a combined fuel consumption figure of 141.2mpg under the older NEDC tests, with a correspondingly impressive 46g/km CO2 emissions figure. However, this will be achievable only in very limited circumstances, with its real-world figure being considerably more ordinary. If it fits into your lifestyle, though, it’s worth a look.

The 2.0 D4 diesel engine helps the V90 to achieve a combined average of 62.8mpg under the NEDC tests and 50.4mpg under the newer and more realistic WLTP tests, and 119g/km, while the more powerful 2.0 D5 has figures of 57.6mpg under the NEDC tests, and 43.5mpg under the newer and more realistic WLTP tests, and 129g/km.

The V90’s newer line-up of mild-hybrid powertrains are even more economical, with engines such as the petrol B4P claiming a WLTP figure of 40.9mpg and 158g/km of CO2, while the diesel B4D claims a WLTP figure of 49.5mp and 149g/km of CO2. The T6 Recharge is the greenest, however, with a claimed WLTP figure of 134mpg and 47g/km of CO2.

Road tax: Current road tax charges for cars registered after 1 April 2017 are £190 per year for petrol and diesel vehicles, while hybrid owners will be charged £180 per year – pure electric vehicles continue to be exempt from VED. The supplementary luxury tax is currently £410 per year and is to be paid for years two to six of the car's life.

Insurance and servicing: Insurance groups can wildly vary depending on your chosen engine. For instance, the D4 belongs to a fairly mild group 27, while the T8 can rise to group 44.

Volvo doesn't have specific fixed-price servicing costs, but main dealer servicing is competitive with other premium brand manufacturers.

Reliability

The Volvo V90 has a good reputation for reliability, as echoed by many of our readers who have experienced minimal issues. Its build quality and durability are often highlighted, reinforcing the brand's reputation.

While the V90 has a generally solid track record, some owners have encountered minor electronic and software issues, which dealers addressed quickly.

Dealer service for the V90 receives high marks for exceptional customer service. Volvo's dealerships are praised for their attentive, knowledgeable, and efficient staff. Any problems are dealt with swiftly and professionally, impressing owners with the care and transparency offered.

Discover more about used Volvo V90 reliability and common problems on our dedicated reliability page.

The V90 is a big car, and if you’re planning on using it as an estate then you may need the extra performance of the D5 diesel engine. Don’t discount the D4 if you can’t stretch to a D5, though – for most situations we think it'll be fine.

The T8 petrol-electric hybrid is rare and expensive, and the T5 isn’t that common either. You will find many more T4 petrols around, but they’re still more costly than a diesel equivalent, so only makes sense if you don’t cover many miles.

Entry-level Momentum trim makes most sense to us because you get all the equipment you'll need without having to spend too much. Inscription is a little more luxurious and R-Design is sportier, but unless these two trim levels can be found for a similar amount to a Momentum car, they're not worth paying extra for.

Our favourite Volvo V90: 2.0 D4 Momentum

The V90 runs head to head with one of our favourite cars, the BMW 5 Series Touring. Here is a model plush and sophisticated enough to take on just about any car it chooses. It’s spacious, brilliantly appointed inside and great to drive, with a range of quiet and efficient engines. Our only criticism is that you have to add optional adaptive dampers to make it handle and ride as well as we know it can.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate has a range of strong, smooth engines, too, as well as a supple ride and a generous amount of standard equipment. It’s not quite as good to drive as the BMW, but it’s a strong contender with a vast boot, so it's a good used proposition.

The Audi A6 Avant offers an excellent ride and handling balance and comes with plenty of standard equipment. It’s also extremely refined and comes with a high-quality interior and a large boot.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? Newsletter here

Interested in buying a used Volvo V90? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.