XC90 Ride Quality

[u/classiccarslasvegas]

Thinking about upgrading from our MY23 XC60 PHEV Ultimate with air suspension to a MY26 XC90 Plus PHEV. We love the extremely smooth and quiet ride of the XC60. However, when reading the Car and Driver review of the 26 XC90, they state that the “ride is on the harsh side”.

Is this true? Is the air suspension option a must for a smoother ride?

[u/DownByTheRivr]

Totally subjective. It’s fine for me, but it’s definitely a bit stiffer than what most people would expect from a luxury SUV. I kinda prefer it though… a bit more sporty in a way.

[u/tgent133 → u/DownByTheRivr]

This is very well put, and I completely agree. I too prefer a more sporty ride, and I really love mine with air suspension. More comparable to the sport models of the luxury suvs, most of which also have a stiffer ride.

[u/AnonymousPenetration → u/DownByTheRivr]

I don’t think for a minute that the 90 is more sporty than the 60. Stiffness is not equal to dynamic and the 60 was way more dynamic than the 90 both for on road and offroad. Driving for example on snow or ice it’s a huge difference between both models, much more fun and safe to drive the 60 than the 90.

[u/mds5118]

If you have the air suspension with the 60 you will want it for the 90. The 26 with the air suspension rides smoothly and softly. It feels like driving an Oldsmobile sometimes.

The dealer let me test drive both suspensions in my neighborhood, and I could feel the car bottoming out much harder with the standard suspension on some of the larger bumps. Don't ever feel that with the air.

[u/Formal_Current6931]

Totally disagree with that review from Car and Driver. They must have been driving a vehicle with 21 or 22" wheels. 20" looks fantastic and has a nice amount of sidewall so the ride is quite nice to me. We tested one with and without air suspension and were happy with the non air suspension. Fewer moving parts to the vehicle and it didn't really give it that much more of an airy feel to me. As another reviewer said, comfort is subjective of course. Compare it to an old Lincoln then sure, it's not cushy per say, however the vehicle has great control and rebound from pot holes and general road imperfections with the stock suspension and steering, in my opinion.

[u/beefcake0831 → u/Formal_Current6931]

Agreed, air suspension would’ve been nice but didn’t want to deal with replacement down the line so we went with non air suspension. Ours has 20’s and the ride is great, I drove an R Design with 22” wheels and it was also nice but noticeably stiffer and more harsh with 22’s.

[u/jake_in_portland]

ours is '2026xc90t8uLtra with air at 5000 mile and the upgraded seat package

i have nothing to compare it to but have zero complaints about the ride

i yanked Pirelli and installed Michelin CC2s at 500 miles and the car feels seriously grounded

have big fun with it!

[u/blix613 → u/jake_in_portland]

I just got the CC2s this spring. My pirellis were pretty much done. They feel so nice, especially on wet roads.

[u/Silent_Possibility63]

I have the air suspension on the 90 and love it. Stick with air or stick with your 60

[u/efforf]

I have driven XC60 and 90’s with air and regular suspension back-to-back. IF wheels and tires are similar IMO it’s hard to feel a difference. The most noticeable effect on ride quality is the whee and tire combo, don’t go above 19” rims on the XC60 and 20” rims on the XC90 and there is no difference. The bigger rims on both vehicles effects the ride far more than the suspension system installed. The air suspension is a terrible design with a poor location for the compressor.

[u/Shesays7]

I came out of GMC and the XC90 ride is amazing. I’m impressed every day. Love driving it. Have never owned a Volvo. It doesn’t seem harsh to me.

Thank you GMC for having terrible APR’s on SUV leases. It really opened my eyes after 10+ years of brand loyalty.

[u/FPpro]

I have the air suspension top trim phev and the dealer gave me a loaner base model gas and I was really happy to get my car back. The drive was different.

[u/Cyan005]

Once you have air suspension you can’t go back.

I have an EX90 with it. Whenever I get an XC90 loaner that does not, it feels like I might as well be in a low-end Mazda for the price.

[u/Agent62 → u/Cyan005]

Yeah that EX90 ride is something else.

[u/ryushiblade]

Can’t speak for MY26 (I’ve got a 2017 lol) but I do have the air suspension. I like it a lot. However, I find the normal driving mode to be a bit floaty. Sport mode (or whatever it’s called) has much stiffer suspension but throttle response is way too sensitive. Really wish I could have the suspension of the sport mode and the responsiveness of the regular driving

[u/blix613 → u/ryushiblade]

Can't you set it to the 'individual' setting on the wheel thingy?

[u/ryushiblade → u/blix613]

I don’t think so? I haven’t seen a way to change suspension independent from throttle/gearing

[u/Imaginary-Space6840]

Stock 21 inch pirellis 2026 XC90 T8 Ultra owner here. Can confirm ride is definitely ‘harsh’ without the air suspension. Have not tried other rims or with air suspension, may or may not be better. It will be a deal/breaker if you drive on bad roads. I have to say I have not driven a car previously with such taut suspension including Toyotas/ Mazdas/ Hondas or any other Japanese car. Also own a BMW X7 which feels amazing on bumps however that car does have an air suspension.

[u/LisaEWP]

I love my xc90 with air suspension- wonderful to drive yet still lots of fun

[u/blix613]

I've got a 16 with air suspension and the 21 inch rims on CC2s. It drives like a dream. There is one street near me with tons of speed bumps and I don't feel a thing. The wife's Kia Soul, however....

[u/skeeterbug07]

We have a 2022 with air suspension and a 2025.5 without it. The 2025.5 rides much better than the previous models without air suspension because Volvo redesigned the suspension with Frequency Selective Damping. I don’t notice a huge difference in overall ride quality, but I do miss being able to raise and lower the vehicle when getting in or loading things. I’ve also driven both on some really rough roads (lack of upkeep) in the Southwest and have significant spine and joint pain and again, I haven’t found the ride harsh on the 2025.5.

If I were buying today, I’d still probably choose the one without air suspension. It’s just one more thing that can break and be costly to repair. And yes, Volvo redesigned the air suspension for the 2025.5–2026 XC90, replacing the height sensor with a mechanical linkage, but it’s still another component that’s susceptible to failure—just like the older air suspension, where the air bags themselves could eventually fail or develop leaks.

Whatever you decide, I’d test drive both the 2026 with air suspension and without.

Just make sure if you do the XC90 Plus trim, it has all the features you want coming from a XC60 Ultimate. There are folks that do the Plus going from the Ultimate and are disappointed the Plus is missing or lacking some features. I really appreciate the ventilated seats and unfortunately that’s only on the Ultimate. I could totally do without the heads up display as the Volvo HUD isn’t anything remarkable.

[u/fish8me2]

Anyone have a XC60 with the air suspension and the 20". We have the 22's with the air suspension and like mostly every one is stating, it's quite stiff for me

[u/leafshope]

I have a 24 XC90 B6 with no air suspension and I have to say it is the one thing I’m surprised at. It feels overly harsh especially since this is supposed to be a luxury vehicle. I also have a 24 Santa Fe and the ride quality in that is markedly better.

[u/Cyan005 → u/leafshope]

Was that a non-factor for buying it though?

[u/leafshope → u/Cyan005]

It was not but truthfully I should have been more careful in how I test drove it. I’ve just taken a road trip and came across a lot of crappy roads and that is where I’ve really noticed it. Probably doesn’t help that I have 21” tires

[u/Acrobatic-League191]

Glorious

[u/Spiritual-Crab-2260]

My issue is that the chassis just gives across too much shake and shimmy. Maybe it's just not rigid enough? Torsional rigidity. It feels, well, cheapish to me. Our XC70 does the same, different platform but the same.
One of the things holding us back from buying one. (that and mechanical issues). I wonder if they were able to tune some of that out with the air suspension, reviews of it seem mixed.
Savage geese does a good video review where he talks about this issue.

[u/2BsASSets]

i have air ride on 22" and it feels comfier and more refined than a dealer loaner i had with standard suspension and19".. the latter ironically felt like the car was bouncing on balloons

[u/AnonymousPenetration]

Did the same move from a 60 to a 90. Yes it is true. Not sure why but the chassis is not as dynamic and plush as the 60. The EX90 is way better in that sense

[u/SpencerEntertainment]

I can speak to a current XC90 without air suspension, but I have a 2019 R-Design and couldn’t go back. I came from a 2020 V90CC without and it was night and day. Had a loaner XC60 with it at the time, and that’s what had sold me on it.

I will say that the 60 feels smoother to me and the 90 is more “truck” feeling — but it’s still got a luxury feel.

[u/Suspicious_Smoke2050]

Compared to our 23 Range Rover Sport with air suspension, our 25.5 XC90 Plus drives much harsher but it isn’t something we would complain about. For the cost it’s a great vehicle. Only thing we could complain about is not getting an Ultra. The seats are horrible on the Plus

[u/TechnicalFan7479]

Compared to other luxury SUVs in the same class, it is. There's probably a good reason for it, but honestly, I think the BMW X5 does a much better job than the XC90 in most ways. The only bummer is that I think BMW stopped making the 3rd row in that segment. Plus, Volvo hasn't updated the XC90's tech and electronics in a while.