2026 Volvo XC90 B6 Long-Term Test 10K UpdateMarc Urbano - Car and Driver10,000-Mile UpdateReaders, the long-term test is ultimately for you. Like a noogie from your stinky cousin, we do it because we love you. And sometimes, in our attempt to drive 40,000 miles as quickly as possible, problems arise. The loyalists in the audience might remember our Kia Sorento, which required a complete dual-clutch transmission replacement before it hit 25,000 miles. More recently, our long-term 2026 Mazda CX-5 has kept our complaining muscles strong thanks to its constant infotainment malfunctions. That brings us to the first update in our initial months with our long-term Volvo XC90. Problems? No. Complaints? We have some notes.Through the first 10,000 miles, we give the XC90 a well-earned "so far, so good." No warning lights, no unscheduled dealer visits, no trim pieces that randomly fall off (we're once again looking at you, Mazda). At 10,729 miles, we took our Swede in for its scheduled oil-and-filter change, tire rotation, and inspection. The bill came to just $32 because we opted for the suggested tire rotation. We've spent more than that at lunch.Marc Urbano - Car and DriverWithout much reliability drama, we thought it important to pad this update's word count with some fun facts: Staff photographer Marc Urbano currently holds the record for the longest XC90 excursion so far, piling on 815 miles during a weekend trip to Pittsburgh. Creative director Darin Johnson, meanwhile, achieved the far more ambitious distinction of emptying the XC90's 18.8-gallon fuel tank more thoroughly than anyone else, with a fill-up of 16.332 gallons. It's something he does; the thrill keeps the creativity alive, or so he claims.AdvertisementAdvertisementUnfortunately for the Volvo, its solid early reliability doesn't mean it's been free of complaints. The most universal gripe has been about the XC90's ride quality. Our long-termer does without the optional air suspension, instead relying on a transverse composite leaf spring at the rear—a layout that brings to mind, of all things, older Corvettes. Nobody can agree on precisely how bad the ride is, but nearly everybody agrees they don't like it. Around town, sharp impacts and broken pavement come through more harshly than expected from a $75K three-row luxury SUV. Get it onto the highway, though, and the XC90 settles down considerably, where its sweetest attributes (such as the excellent heated and ventilated front seats) have earned praise from top brass. "Stellar seats, best in the biz," wrote editor-in-chief Tony Quiroga.Marc Urbano - Car and DriverOther parts of the cabin have been considerably less popular. Technical editor Mike Sutton gave a succinct and honest review: "From the cryptic steering-wheel controls and the wonky phone mirroring to limited overall functionality, this infotainment user experience is hot garbage." The absence of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto has drawn ire from staffers as well, especially at this price.Then there's the third row. Managing buyer's guide editor Drew Dorian would've settled for even a simple piece of string to help raise the third-row seats from the cargo area. "Oh, there aren't any," he concluded about the lack of any devices to help maneuver the seats back into place. Even our tallest staffer, testing director Dave VanderWerp, found manually setting the seats upright from the rear to be an unnecessarily difficult exercise. Many luxury SUVs offer powered third rows or at least a strap to help unfold the seats. Unfortunately, that is not the case with this XC90.Marc Urbano - Car and DriverStill, after more than 10,000 miles, our Volvo has done exactly what we hoped it would: nothing particularly noteworthy. A recent software update even added the ability to disable the stop-start system through the drive-mode menu, eliminating one of our earliest annoyances. Thus far, the XC90 has been a little bumpy but largely trouble-free—and in 2026, "nothing is falling apart" is a fantastic break from recent headlines. Who knows, maybe we'll jump it.AdvertisementAdvertisementMonths in Fleet: 5 months Current Mileage: 12,582 milesAverage Fuel Economy: 22 mpg Fuel Tank Size: 18.8 galObserved Fuel Range: 410 milesService: $32 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0Damage and Destruction: $0Marc Urbano - Car and DriverIntroductionDoes anyone remember Irv Gordon? He was the late Guinness World Records holder who put more than 3.2 million miles on the 1966 Volvo 1800S he'd driven since new. Fast-forward to today, and Volvo's durability report looks less bulletproof. In J.D. Power's 2026 Vehicle Dependability Study, Volvo finished near the bottom, narrowly ahead of Jeep and Land Rover.Higher problem rates among plug-in hybrids and EVs, along with spotty over-the-air software updates, are causing headaches across the industry, all but confirming our long-held disdain for retractable door handles and touchscreen-only interfaces. At the very least, we've got 40,000 miles with this seven-passenger Volvo XC90 B6 Ultra to find out whether the grass is truly greener without some of that baggage.Marc Urbano - Car and DriverVolvo has given the XC90, now a full decade into its second generation, a few lime-squirts worth of updates to keep things fresh. Updated headlights, a new grille that looks ready to sear moose meat, and an 11.2-inch touchscreen that oddly requires a wired connection for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. For no additional cost, you can darken the grille, window, and door trim from silver to black. It looks cooler this way, according to a study I recently conducted that included the most important critic, myself.Our example is the top non-plug-in model, which starts roughly $10,000 under the XC90 T8 PHEV. At $74,745, the all-wheel-drive B6 Ultra trim brings the expected luxury hardware—heated and ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, a head-up display, and a Harman Kardon stereo. It wears high-style 21-inch wheels, and the Aurora Silver paint picks up a faint lavender tint in the right light.Marc Urbano - Car and DriverAt the test track, the 295-hp Volvo posted respectable numbers. This powertrain uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with an electric supercharger, which is good for a 6.7-second run to 60 mph. As you'd expect, it's a bit slower than the last 2025 XC90 T8 PHEV we tested, which packs 455 horsepower and reaches 60 mph in 4.8 seconds.AdvertisementAdvertisementYou cannot turn off traction control or limit stability control. There is no sport mode, just "Normal" and "Off-road," and the latter remains enabled only at lower speeds. While we can't fault a 4713-pound three-row SUV for lacking a "Track" mode, with fewer than 2000 miles on the odometer, staff are already crying (and rightfully so) about the non-defeatable start/stop. It interrupts the otherwise smooth workings of the XC90's engine and eight-speed automatic transmission.Michael Simari - Car and DriverWe've only just tested it, so the logbook is mostly empty for now, which is usually a good sign. One of our first stops was ArborMotion, a local European and Japanese specialty repair shop with a special affinity for Volvos. The owner told us the business has been around for nearly 40 years and has long relied on old Volvo sedans and wagons as loaners, including S60s, V70s, and Cross Country models. One of them has piled up roughly 350,000 miles.So, it's not just Irv Gordon's P1800S that can go the distance. We're about to find out whether Volvo's bestselling vehicle still has that same mojo.Months in Fleet: 1 month Current Mileage: 1241 milesAverage Fuel Economy: 20 mpgFuel Tank Size: 18.8 gal Observed Fuel Range: 370 milesService: $0 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0Damage and Destruction: $0You Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029