Volvo has officially launched the facelifted version of the XC90 in India at a price of Rs 1.03 crore (ex-showroom). Like the outgoing model, the updated XC90 comes to India as a fully-imported CBU model and rivals other flagship luxury SUVs such as Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW X7. The facelifted Volvo XC90 made its global debut in September 2024.
2025 Volvo XC90: Updated exterior
As anticipated from Volvo, the 2025 XC90’s exterior showcases subtle yet evolutionary enhancements over its predecessor. The most notable change is the redesigned front fascia, which features a refreshed grille accompanied by reshaped LED headlamp clusters. However, Volvo has preserved its signature Thor’s Hammer LED element. Additionally, the reprofiled front bumper now incorporates a revised air dam.
The XC90’s side profile remains unaltered but will feature newly designed alloy wheels, likely maintaining the current model’s 21-inch size. At the rear, the overall look is familiar, with minor updates such as a new bumper adorned with a horizontal chrome strip and subtly redesigned LED taillamps. There are now six colour options on offer including a new new Mulberry Red shade.
2025 Volvo XC90: Interiors & Features
Inside, the refreshed Volvo XC90 will retain its minimalist design and 7-seater configuration. Notable interior elements include a three-spoke steering wheel, a dual-tone theme, and leatherette seat upholstery. The updated model is also expected to incorporate more sustainable materials throughout the cabin.
ALSO READ
Volkswagen Golf GTI, Tiguan R-Line India launch confirmed for this year
In terms of features, the 2025 XC90 will be packed with premium amenities including a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, an 11.2-inch freestanding touchscreen, a 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, a color head-up display (HUD), powered seats with ventilation and massage functions, a panoramic sunroof, and four-zone climate control, among others.
Occupant safety will be ensured with multiple airbags, a 360-degree camera system, hill start and descent control, and an electronic parking brake. Additionally, the latest iteration of this full-size luxury SUV will feature a Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), offering technologies such as lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking.
2025 Volvo XC90: Powertrain specs
Powering the facelifted XC90 is a 2-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a 48V mild-hybrid tech delivering a peak output of 247 bhp and 360 Nm of torque. Power is transferred to all four wheels via an 8-speed torque converter automatic transmission.
2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE 300 Review: All The Details
What’s New for 2025:
The CLE, or at least the name. As that third letter implies, it is closest in spirit to an E-Class coupe replacement, borrowing the sedan’s four- and six-cylinder powertrains. This example tested here is the entry-level, 255-horsepower four-pot CLE 300; the CLE 450 and AMG 53 use two different tunes of Merc’s silky-smooth inline-six for 375 or 443 horsepower, respectively. Every single CLE comes only with 4MATIC all-wheel drive in both Canada and the US.
Meanwhile, the cabin is an almost wholesale transplant from the smaller C-Class. Beyond some unique trim and seat color choices, it’s the familiar setup of a large, angled dashboard, with a portrait-style touchscreen rising up from the center console and angled ever so slightly towards the driver. A trio of air vents top the dash, with a pair bookending it for balance.
Of the handful of five-figure coupes left on the market, arguably none are as elegant as the CLE. Merc does this well, capable of spanning the range from models like this and the old S-Class coupe to the rabid AMG GT. There’s a fair amount of C-Class to that low nose, but with squintier headlights the CLE makes a unique impression. Follow the character line across the flank of the coupe as it fades into the door and resurfaces aft, providing definition to the rear haunches. The pert tail diverges from the family look, with dark taillights connected with a matching trim piece for a faux-full width look. Don’t tell Merc about the Infiniti vibes from the rear three-quarter view…
This tester’s optional AMG pack gives it hungrier intakes in the lower front bumper, fake vents on the rear bumper, and trim pieces that actually look like exhaust tips. It might not be as elegant, but it does unlock the pretty 20-inch alloys, as difficult as they must be to clean.
I know almost nobody will buy it, but I continue to commend Mercedes for offering up its Sun Yellow on cars like the CLE—at no additional cost too, compared to the $1,750 ($2,300 CAD) Patagonia Red seen here.
Powertrain and Fuel Economy:
The small luxury segments are all awash in ubiquitous 2.0-liter turbocharged fours. Merc’s example is one of the better ones in terms of performance: it’s torquey (295 pound-feet of torque), responsive, and shacked up to a smooth-shifting nine-speed automatic. Fuel economy is solid: not BMW 4 Series good, but an official 28 mpg (8.6 L/100 km) combined figure is wholly achievable without effort. The mild-hybrid setup is smooth, shutting off the engine before a full stop to conserve fuel.
It’s the aural signature that lets this side down. Prod the clicky starter button—a modern Merch tactile delight—and those four cylinders awaken with all the drama of a diesel truck. It’s uncouth, and at odds with the elegance expected of a vehicle carrying the three-pointed star. Not that the paddle shifters get a whole lot of a workout here anyway—that’s more of an AMG thing—but I have almost no interest in wresting control from the computers and manually holding onto gears, just to avoid hearing even more of that engine.
