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- Integrated Built-In Booster: One of the smartest features in the segment. Perfect for booster-age kids or grandparents’ duty — convenient, safe, and eliminates the need for an extra seat.
- Three-Across Friendly Second Row: Three independently sliding seats (not a 60/40 split), two sets of lower anchors, and three tether anchors make this a strong candidate for multiple car seats.
- Impressive Trunk Space for a Midsize SUV: With the third row up, it fits a double stroller — which is not something every midsize (or even some full-size SUVs) can do.
The Exterior
Exterior: Sleek, Elevated, and Unmistakably Volvo
Volvo has perfected understated luxury.
The front grille is smaller but beautifully chromed, giving it a clean, high-end look without trying too hard. The 21-inch two-toned wheels elevate the side profile, and the signature vertical LED taillights still make this one of the most recognizable SUVs on the road.
It’s elegant. It’s refined. It doesn’t scream for attention — but it absolutely turns heads.
Plug-In Hybrid: The Best of Both Worlds
Here’s where things get interesting.
This XC90 gives you about 35 miles of all-electric range. That may not sound huge — but the average driver travels under 30 miles per day. That means many families could realistically use this as an EV for daily commuting.
You have three main drive modes:
- Hybrid (default) – Gas engine + electric motor working together efficiently
- Pure – Prioritizes electric driving (perfect for school drop-off or errands)
- Power – Emphasizes performance
Because the battery isn’t massive, you can plug this into a standard 110V home outlet. A full charge takes roughly 10–25 hours depending on setup — no fancy charging system required.
For families wanting to “dip their toe” into electric driving without fully committing to EV life, this is a really approachable option.
First Row
Highlights include:
- Wool-blend seat upholstery (stunning… but not the most kid-proof)
- Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system
- Heads-up display
- Fully digital gauge cluster with seatbelt occupancy map
- Crystal-style shifter
One of my favorite tech features? The seatbelt map. You can visually see who is buckled and who isn’t. For booster-aged kids, that’s a game changer.
Tech Notes
Volvo was the first manufacturer to fully integrate Google built-in. That means:
- Google Maps
- Google Assistant
- Google Play Store
- Google Podcasts
All native to the system.
It also includes Apple CarPlay.
My only tech complaint? The screen feels slightly small for how much functionality it holds, and I wish there were more physical climate controls. Even switching hybrid drive modes requires digging through the infotainment system — not ideal when you want something quick and simple.
Storage: A Little Light
Let’s be honest: storage up front is limited.
- Two usable cupholders
- Very small center console
- Modest door storage
For a midsize SUV, it leans toward the smaller side of the category. If you’re coming from something like a Traverse or Pilot, you will notice the difference.
Second Row
The XC90 is available as a 6- or 7-passenger configuration, but if you’re serious about car seats — get the bench.
The second row has:
- Lower anchors in both outboard seats
- Three top tether anchors
- Three completely independent sliding seats (not a 60/40 split)
That independent sliding design makes three-across installs much easier.
Built-In Booster = Genius
The integrated booster seat is one of my favorite features in any vehicle — especially this one.
For grandparents, carpools, or families transitioning out of harnessed seats, this built-in option is convenient, safe, and incredibly versatile.
Why more manufacturers don’t offer this is beyond me.
Third Row
Third Row: Occasional Use Territory
Let’s be clear: this is an excellent five-passenger vehicle with an occasional third row.
The third row:
- No lower anchors
- No tether anchors (in the 7-passenger version)
- Side vents
- Cup holders
- No charging ports
It’s actually more comfortable than expected for adults, with decent legroom — but it’s not a primary car seat zone.
Access also isn’t ideal if you have second-row car seats installed.
Trunk
Trunk Space: Impressive for Its Size
Here’s where Volvo surprises people.
With the third row up, the XC90 fit a Zoe double stroller. That’s impressive — especially for a midsize SUV.
With the third row down, cargo space is generous and completely flat.
One small frustration: there’s no pull tab to raise the third row back up. You physically have to reach in and lift it. It takes seconds, yes — but when you’re juggling groceries and toddlers, those seconds matter.
Volvo, if you’re listening: give us the tab.
Safety
The 2023 Volvo XC90 continues Volvo's long-standing reputation for prioritizing safety. It has earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+, the highest award, and also received a 5-Star overall rating from NHTSA. It has strong crash protection and crash avoidance performance. The XC90 also stands out by offering seat belt pretensioners in every seating position--a rarity and an important safety feature. Pretensioners remove slack from the seat belt in the nanoseconds before a crash, dramatically reducing injury in frontal and near-frontal collisions. This feature has been standard in front seats for nearly two decades, but not in most back seats. While this doesn’t affect children in harnessed car seats, it does affect other passengers. I applaud Volvo's dedication to safety by adding these in every seating position!
Other standard safety features include:
- Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) with crash avoidance, or severity reduction, for vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and even animals
- Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with steering assist
- Lane Keeping Aid and Oncoming Lane Mitigation
- Run-Off Road Mitigation
- Cross Traffic Alert with Auto Brake
Built-In Booster: A Standout Feature
One of the most unique (and genuinely useful) features of the XC90 is the optional built-in booster seat in the second-row center position.
The seat folds up and out to create a safe, integrated booster that’s incredibly convenient for everyday use. I highly recommend this option for families—it makes three-across and adjacent installations much easier, and it improves buckle access since kids don’t have to reach around bulky booster armrests.
LATCH & Third-Row Considerations
Lower anchors are only available in the second-row outboard seats, with no lower anchors in the third row.
The third row itself sits slightly higher, which can make it less comfortable for larger passengers or kids in certain boosters. If you’re using the third row for a child, opt for a low-profile booster to avoid sacrificing headroom.
Head Restraints & Car Seat Compatibility
All head restraints in the XC90 are forward-angled and non-removable.
This isn’t an issue for rear-facing seats, but it can create challenges for forward-facing car seats and boosters. That said, several seats tend to work well with this setup:
- Convertible & All-in-One Seats: Nuna Rava, Nuna Exec, Clek Foonf, Clek Fllo, Graco SlimFit3 LX
- Boosters: Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120, Nuna Aace, Evenflo GoTime
Most of these—especially the Clek and Graco options—also work well for three-across setups in this vehicle.
Accessing the Third Row
If you need third-row access with a car seat installed in the second-row center, you’ll need an extremely narrow seat.
The Clek and Graco models mentioned above are strong options, along with the Nuna Exec. And of course, the built-in booster is ideal here since it eliminates bulk altogether.
Space & Fit Notes
Both the second and third rows have some limitations when it comes to space:
- Bulky car seats don’t fit well in either row
- Most rear-facing seats will not work in the third row
- For taller passengers, look for more compact options like the Nuna Rava, Nuna Exec, or Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1
Rotating car seats tend to be bulkier, but a few more compact options—like the Cybex Callisto G 360 and Britax Galaxy—can work for some families in both rear- and forward-facing modes.
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