2021 Volvo XC90 Recharge T8 Inscription new car reviews

Photography Courtesy Volvo

5154 lbs. might sound like a lot of heft for a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine to motivate, but when it comes to the XC90 Recharge T8, that powerplant is getting help from a turbocharger, a supercharger and an electric motor.

In total, Volvo claims the gasoline engine plus the hybrid system in the XC90’s top T8 trim is good for 400 horsepower and 472 lb.-ft. of torque-capable of a 0-60 mph time of 5.3 seconds.

How well does that power figure transfer to real-world driving? Keep reading to find out.

Other staff views

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens
Editorial Director

If you're looking for an opulent SUV, yeah, add this one to the list. It does everything you'd expect from a vehicle in this class, whether it's from BMW, Audi or Benz.

It’s quiet, it’s comfortable. It looks good–really good. I might have used it to drag some tires to the tire store.

You can hop in it and point it towards any corner of this wonderful country of ours. Snow? No problem. White Castle drive-thru? Yes, please.

Is it a vehicle that's going to thrill me? No, honestly, because I'd rather have all of this Volvo goodness—the power, the comfort, the looks—packed into a wagon. You know, keep the practicality but move the CG closer to the ground. Because, let's be honest, I'm not likely crossing streams or climbing boulders in a $70k SUV.

Make mine the V60, please, although I’m bummed that Volvo’s wagon lineup has been so trimmed. Might have to shop used here.

But the bigger thing here: Do you want to subscribe to it–which is the hip, new word for “lease”? Looks like the pleasure would cost you about a grand a month, so $12,000/year, plus $1050 down. So make it $13,000 for the first year.

That’s likely a discussion between you and your checkbook, but I get it: A lot of people want to drive–and be seen in–the latest. What, be seen in a four-year-old luxury car? How common.

I’d love to hear more of that from the floor: Are there situations where you’d considering leasing/subscribing a car?

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