Yesterday in the car owners' group chat, Nianhan saw several car friends discussing an old-school luxury contender, and they were quite animated about it—it was the Volvo XC90.
Why talk about it? Because this car has recently launched a so-called "new model" globally, and it's said that the domestic version is about to hit the market too—the cars have already arrived at the port.
But hey, take a word of advice from Nianhan: don't get your hopes up too high for this "new model." Although the officials are calling it a "new generation," I think the extent of changes is, uh... let's just say it's very "Volvo"—highlighting their ancestral skill of "sticking to stability." Can you handle that?
If we're talking about where they actually made changes, it has to be the front face. They swapped in a more "unique" polygonal large-mouth grille, stuffed with slanted mesh inside, trying to echo their own logo.
But honestly, this design looks a bit like the neighbor BMW's flavor no matter how you look at it—who's "paying tribute" to whom, I wonder?
The headlight contours have also been slightly adjusted, with more eye-catching T-shaped daytime running lights stuffed in, plus some weird irregular structure, trying to inject some personality.
The lower bumper is just a flat lower grille paired with vertical air intake decorations, embellished with some chrome strips, striving to create a luxurious feel—personally, I find it a bit forced.
But! Mark the key point! The body sides and rear—those are truly... unchanged for a decade, same old look, no changes!
This design language has been used since its birth and is still going; it could probably fight on for another ten years, as long as Volvo itself doesn't get tired of it. That wide and elongated body really does make it look big, with chrome strips everywhere, as if afraid people won't know you're "luxurious." That small roof spoiler definitely can't be missing.
Oh, right, I heard the taillights got some smoked treatment, but I stared at the official images for ages and really couldn't see how "black" they were—maybe my eyesight's just bad?
Anyway, aside from these "negligible" changes, the officials didn't even bother mentioning other parts—just as I said at the start, it's all about "stability."
Stepping inside, the changes are slightly more noticeable. The vertical large screen in the center console has finally changed from the tacky embedded style to the now-popular floating style, and the screen size looks a bit larger.
The cluster of control knobs and buttons below the screen has also been slightly tweaked—counts as an optimization, I guess.
But that shiny crystal electronic gear shifter is still there, the steering wheel style hasn't changed much, and the center console trim material might have been swapped? But the overall feel is still the familiar formula.
As for the powertrain, it's even more untouched. Still that 2.0T engine, split into high and low power versions at 250 and 299 horsepower respectively, paired with an 8AT transmission, plus a 48V mild hybrid system for assistance.
Of course, for those pursuing eco-friendliness (or license plates?), there's a plug-in hybrid version available too, also with a 2.0T engine and electric motor.
The specs? Exactly the same as the old model—not a single number changed! All-wheel drive won't be absent either. With this powertrain setup, in 2025, facing new rivals that casually pump out four or five hundred horsepower, whether the XC90 can still compete—we'll just have to wait for the market to give the answer.
Seriously speaking, this "new model" of the Volvo XC90 is more like an annual minor facelift—patching things up, optimizing details, changing the front face so everyone knows it's new, and that's it.
If any car friends are existing owners, I reckon you'll smile knowingly when you see it. If you're planning to buy one, you might want to think it over a bit more. Because this move from Volvo truly engraves the word "conservative" into its bones—at the end of the day, it's still "stability."
