Introduction — Why I Took a Luxury Swedish Box on a Weekend
I confess: the classic-car part of me takes one look at a modern Volvo and feels faintly foolish. That part worships chrome bumpers, bench seats and simplicity that smells faintly of petrol and hub grease. And yet, here I am, smitten with the Volvo XC90 — a 2023 example — that seems designed by thoughtful engineers who once spent Sunday afternoons building picnic hampers instead of lap times.
I took the XC90 on the kind of jaunt that the modern world has made fashionable again: a weekend escape that involves a country lane, a cottage, a lake, a canoe and more gear than sense. The task was to see whether this glossy Swedish SUV could be a true Weekend Warrior — versatile, comfortable, sensible, and quietly capable — without being as smug as a yoga instructor apologising for your posture.
Design & Heritage — Scandinavian Restraint, Not Scandinavian Boredom
The XC90 wears its pedigree with a calm, almost anti-ego swagger. It doesn't shout; it suggests. Where many SUVs try to look like they could tow a small castle, the Volvo prefers the look of a boat designed by a sensible uncle: handsome lines, tidy proportions, and details that reward a second look.
As someone who adores classic cars, I appreciate a design that ages gracefully. The XC90 has that quality. The glasshouse is generous, the roofline comfortable rather than racy, and the third row (yes, there is one) folds away so obediently you could almost teach it to make tea. It’s the sort of thing your grandmother would approve of and your teenage nephew would grudgingly tolerate — high marks in my book.
First Impressions: The Cabin — Minimalist, But Not Ascetic
Step inside and you feel like you’ve been invited into a well-kept, slightly luxurious holiday home. The materials are soft, deliberate and, crucially, not shouty. I have a soft spot for wood and leather; Volvo uses them like accents rather than props. The seating is supportive for long blasts down the motorway but forgiving for an afternoon spent folding tarpaulins and persuading a canoe onto roof bars.
The layout champions a big central screen and clean surfaces rather than a battle of buttons. I liked that the controls you really need — heating, fan, and such — are sensible and accessible, rather than buried behind a series of thumb-swipes while your tea tumbler is doing its best impression of Niagara Falls.
Weekend Practicality — Boots, Seats and the Stowage Orchestra
The XC90 is, at heart, a practical vehicle. With the rear seats folded, the load area swallows gear with polite, Scandinavian efficiency. I packed a canoe, two bikes, a cooler, a wicker basket, a suspiciously heavy gramophone (long story) and still had space for a bag of peat. Loading is easy thanks to a sensible tailgate and a floor that stays disappointingly dry even in poor weather.
The optional third row is best suited to children or adults who enjoy the company of luggage, but it exists when you truly need it. The middle row offers a good balance between sliding to free up legroom and folding for cargo; in short, it behaves in that way you wish your relatives did when you point to the spare room.
Driving — The Peaceful Highway Cruiser
The XC90 is not a sports car and it makes no apology for that. What it does brilliantly is offer composed, confidence-inspiring progress. On country lanes it is steady and predictable; it leans politely in corners rather than throwing a tantrum. On the motorway it soothes rather than startles — an effortless, long-legged cruiser that makes a four-hour drive feel like an episode of a good radio play.
For weekenders, that matters. You arrive at the cottage without needing an hour of recovery time. You can tow, trundle, and transport with dignity. If you want fireworks and theatrical cornering, buy something smaller and louder and leave a note on its dash explaining your life choices.
Powertrains & Efficiency — The Modern Options I Won’t Pretend to Quantify
I will not offer numbers I cannot vouch for. What I will say is this: the XC90 lineup includes modern, electrified options alongside conventional engines. That means you can pick a version that suits your weekend habits — whether you favour the simplicity of a petrol engine, the mixed reality of hybrid motoring for short hops to the lake, or the cleaner conscience of an electrified setup for suburban errands.
In practice, the hybrid-ish options are useful if your weekend delights include short runs and suburban jaunts, while longer tours still benefit from the peace of a well-sorted internal combustion unit. I am old-fashioned enough to enjoy the whirr of a well-maintained engine, but pragmatic enough to appreciate a car that will zip silently away from a supermarket in near silence when civilisation demands it.
Technology & Safety — Sensible Buttons for a Complicated World
Volvo's reputation for safety is not a marketing fiction. It builds cars that make families feel less at the mercy of chance. The XC90 continues that lineage with modern driver aids and safety systems that do not attempt to substitute for common sense. They help; they do not lecture. This is a car that keeps you out of trouble rather than nagging you about your playlist.
The infotainment screen is large and the cabin an agreeable place for modern conveniences. Voice control and connectivity are there when you want them, without the obsessive need to redefine what a 'drive' is. I like that because a weekend drive should be about fresh air and music, not firmware updates.
Versatility for Hobbies — From Canoes to Carpentry
Where the XC90 shines as a Weekend Warrior is in its ability to adapt. On one weekend I ferried an absurdly long canoe and two bikes to a lake; on another I carried a folding table, four chairs, and a pile of firewood to a cliff-top picnic. It accepted each task with equal dignity. Roof rails are practical, the hitch will accept a towbar-mounted rack, and the rear floor is both sensibly low and annoyingly tidy.
If your life involves outdoor pursuits — walking, cycling, boating or the gentle art of taking photographs of sheep — the XC90 is a congenial partner. It doesn’t scream about ‘adventure’; it simply helps you have one without falling apart or demanding that you Instagram the moment.
Economics & Ownership — Not Cheap, But Not a Bank Heist
I will be candid: a well-equipped XC90 is not inexpensive. But nor is it sports-car money, nor does it require the emotional commitment of maintaining a classic XK. The build quality hints at longevity and the ownership experience is quiet rather than theatrical. If you’re buying for pleasure as much as utility, the XC90 can be a rational splurge — something you enjoy every weekend and which retains enough dignity to feel like an investment in your quality of life.
Who is the XC90 For? — The Contrarian’s Shortlist
The XC90 suits those who want a weekend machine that will behave on Monday. It’s for people who loathe flash but appreciate craft. It fits families that take breaks to the countryside, lovers of quiet engineering, and anyone who enjoys travelling with gear without needing to apologise for the vehicle in which they do it.
It is not for those who measure joy in zero-to-sixty times or tyre smoke. It is for the rest of us who prefer a good picnic to a bad attitude.
Minor Grumbles — My Pet Peeves
In the spirit of honest contrarianism, I should say what annoyed me. The XC90 is rather large in town and parking can feel like practising patience in a public square. The styling is subtle — which I love — but those who crave conspicuous aggression might find it disappointing. And the modern tech, while sensible, sometimes leans toward over-politeness: it’s all very refined, but never quite rude in the way that makes owners feel alive.
Final Verdict — A Modern Classic for Weekend Realists
I love a car that understands its role in life. The Volvo XC90 (2023) is a Weekend Warrior in the best possible sense: adaptable, comfortable, safe, and quietly elegant. It will take your family, your kit, and your eccentric hobbies on holiday with fewer complaints than you will make about the price of petrol.
As a classic-car enthusiast, I miss throttle bodies you can coax into cooperating and dashboards that rewarded you with honest wear. But I also appreciate a car that brings the same reliability and calm to weekend adventures — a modern car with old-fashioned virtues: comfort, usefulness and dignity. If you want to spend your weekends making memories rather than fixing things, the XC90 is a very fine companion.
In short: the 2023 Volvo XC90 is less about ostentation and more about reliability, understated luxury and the kind of versatility that turns a weekend into an escape rather than a mission. Bring a picnic. Pack the canoe. Leave the drama at home.