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Volvo Says They Will Continue To Update The XC90 As Long As There’s Demand
Volvo said that the Swedes “will continue to update the XC90 model as long as there is demand.” The brand’s largest SUV turns 10 next year, following a facelift introduced in 2019 and another update last September. Although there is now an all-electric EX90, they will coexist peacefully.
The previous generation XC90 also had an unusually long life cycle of 14 years. It went on sale in 2002 and was not discontinued until 2016 when the XC Classic was withdrawn from the Chinese market. It seems that its successor will have a similar shelf life. Despite its age, the XC90 remains the company’s third best-selling product, behind the cheaper and smaller XC60 and XC40.
According to a company spokesperson, the XC90 will not cannibalize the EX90’s sales as the two SUVs appeal to different customers. That makes sense in terms of pricing, given that the cheapest XC90 starts at $58,695, while the EX90 is almost $23,000 more expensive. A third option would be to get the XC90 plug-in hybrid for $73,195, but it only offers 53 km of electric range. It is estimated that the electric-powered EX90 can travel 500 km.
It’s too early to say whether the XC90 will see a third generation. A recent review tells us that the current model will stick around for a few more years. Volvo says it will continue to update the model, but that could mean a third facelift rather than an all-new vehicle.
Considering the latest goal is for plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles to account for 90-100% of total deliveries by 2030, a major investment in gasoline-powered SUVs doesn’t seem likely. This is especially true given that Volvo still wants the European Union to follow through on its plan to ban the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines by 2035. Having already discontinued diesel engines, which made the most sense in large and heavy vehicles like the XC90, Volvo believes that ICE is living on borrowed time.
