13/07/2025

Contributing Editor Keshy Dhillon / keshy@piston.my Editorial

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SUNDAY | JULY 13, 2025

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The redesign has kept the XC90 looking fresh.

The best just got better New Volvo XC90 T8 PHEV still top 7-seater premium SUV

BY KESHY DHILLON

has done a spectacular job at further refining an already impressive car. First, some background The XC90 was Volvo’s answer to the explosive popularity of the SUV segment in the late 1990s. The first ever XC90 debuted in 2002 and in true Volvo fash ion, it featured world-first safety systems such as the Roll Stability Control, Side Curtain Airbags and Integrated Booster Cushion for children. The second-generation XC90 was introduced in 2014 and it marked a major departure from its predecessor. It was introduced post-Ford ownership and marked a new direction for Volvo under Chinese carmaker Geely. It was also the first model to be built on Volvo’s then new modular Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform. The second-generation XC90 was also the first Volvo to feature the now iconic “Thor’s Hammer” LED daytime running light and a minimalist yet elegant Scandinavian interior, which ultimately set the tone for all future Volvo’s. Over 1.2 million units of the XC90 have been sold worldwide, making it one of the most popular Volvos of all time. And just in case you are wondering, the most popular Volvo ever is the 200 Series, which includes the 240 sedan and the 245 wagon. Moving on to the new XC90 Introduced to Malaysians back in April of this year, the new XC90 is set to carry

EVERY TIME a new brand is intro duced to the Malaysian market, the next question that often follows is about local assembly plans. This is then met with cheers all around when assembly plans are confirmed. Why? Because that often means that the price of the cars will be reduced as compared to being imported. And more high-value jobs will be created for Malaysians. But did you know that among all the brands now assembling locally, Volvo has one of the oldest local assembly pro grammes? Volvo has been assembling in Malaysia since 1967. In fact, Volvo does not only assemble cars but also trucks at their plant in Shah Alam. So, there is a deep-rooted connection between Volvo and Malaysia because there are only a handful of countries where Volvo is assembled. The others being Poland, Belgium, Sweden (of course), China and the United States. Yes, Volvo and Malaysia have a deep bond, and perhaps that is why we see Volvo cars everywhere – old and new – and why every time a new Volvo is intro duced to the local market – it is a big deal – with Volvo Cars Malaysia sparing no expense at making it known that another Volvo has hit Malaysian roads. The latest one is the new Volvo XC90 facelift. Facelifts rarely are as good looking as the one you see on these pages, but Volvo

Rear of the XC90 is the same as before.

The new SUV retains the crystal gear selector.

The 20-inch wheels have been redesigned.