2013 Volvo XC90 SUV launched in US and Europe

Volvo has launched the facelift version of their flagship SUV, XC90, in Europe and America. The current version of the XC90 has been around without too many changes since 2003, and is actually well past product life cycle. However, the all new XC90 will be arriving only later next year and the Swedish manufacturer has decided to give the current model a facelift for the time being.

Volvo had defined this facelift as the most significant update made to the SUV since its introduction. The 2013 Volvo XC90 gets body-color bumpers - and in fact all freshly painted exterior body parts that were previously black.  The SUV also gets LED daytime running lights and LED tailgate for the R-design models along with side skirts and 18-inch alloy wheels – but somehow does not help the XC90 much, and the design still looks dated. The non R-design XC90 also gets new sliver and chrome garnishing on the exterior, while all models now come standard with rain-sensing windshield wipers and headlight washers.  

The entry-level XC90 now comes with sanded silver aluminum interiors, while the premium and platinum trims come with “sovereign” leather seating, red wood inlays, gearshift knob and executive floor mats. There are no changes to the interiors of R-design and likewise the SUV is still powered by a 3.2-liter inline-six engine which churns out 240PS of power and 236Nm of torque.

The new model has been launched almost simultaneously in both Europe and America – and should replace the current model in almost all other markets including India in the coming months. The 2013 XC90 is priced slightly higher than its predecessor, so the impact might be a little more in India thanks to the increased customs duty on CBU.