The Volvo XC90 is the only Volvo car that has 3 rows in it. It is s a mid-size luxury crossover SUV. Volvo had been making station wagons and SUVs for years, but they only added the 3rd row in the recent XC90 model. The third row is accessible from the rear doors by folding the 2nd row of the car.
Volvo’s history of family-friendly vehicles
Volvo has a history of making big family cars. They made Volvo 740 GLE in the past which was a big hit and the 700 series is still used by many people today. However, it was not equipped with the third row. Then Volvo introduced V70 wagons, which also had no third row. All of these cars were hit sellers, but they all lacked the third row for maximum family comfort. Volvo kept this in mind while designing XC90.
Volvo XC90
Volvo introduced the XC90 SUV in the 2002 as a mid-size-luxury crossover SUV. It was made on the Volvo P2 platform, which was the same platform Volvo used for other cars too, like V80 series.
Volvo’s third row
The third row on the latest XC90 model is very comfortable. The accessibility of the third row is also fairly easy. The rear doors of the car give the access by folding the 2nd row seats. The 7-seater XC90’s third row offers room for two people with two individual seats.
The seats are pretty spacious and can be used by a passenger that is up to 5.5 ft easily. The third row can also be folded down, as well as the second row, which gives a pretty big cargo space for the users. This spacious SUV is roomy and has many safety features, which is why it car has been termed as the “World’s safest family SUV”.
First generation (2002–2014)
First generation XC90 came in two trim levels of 2.5T and T6. The 2.5T version had a 2.5-liter “T5” turbocharged inline-five engine. It gave an output of 208 hp (155 kW). The T6 version had a 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six, which offered 268 hp (200 kW).
The 2.5T version came with front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive, while T6 variant only came with an all-wheel drive option. The car was a success, winning the North American Car of the Year and Motor Trend magazine’s Sport/Utility of the Year for 2003. It was termed a family car from the start.
Second generation (2015–present)
Volvo started selling the second-gen XCX90 in 2015. This time, the car’s platform was based on Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) technology, a stronger platform that certainly improved safety and efficiency of the car. All the trim levels came with the same engine with 2.0-liter four-cylinder Drive-E powertrains and Volvo’s eight-speed Geartronic transmission.
The car lineup had two gas engines and two diesel engines. The gas engine had a twincharged 320 hp T6, producing 400 nm of torque and a turbocharged 254 hp T5, producing 350 nm of torque. The diesel engine had a twin turbo 235 hp D5, producing 470 nm of torque and a turbocharged 190 hp D4, producing 400 nm of torque.
The top-of-the-line hybrid model was also introduced for the first time in XC90. The hybrid version came with a more powerful engine with an electric motor. It produced 400 hp and 640 nm of torque. The hybrid model has an 11.6 kWh lithium-ion battery. NHTSA gave it overall 5 stars rating and Euro NCAP also rated as the “best in class”.
The second-generation XC90 comes with three trim levels to choose from: Momentum, R Design, and Inscription. In 2017, another trim level was introduced named T8 Excellence. However, this was discontinued in 2020. This followed by receiving XC90, a mid-cycle facelift in 2021. Volvo now only produces the hybrid version.
Design and Features
The second-gen XC90 came with a new design and a double wishbone front suspension. There’s also an optional choice of electronically controlled air suspension in the new models. The interior has a 9-inch infotainment system. The volume and other things can be controlled on the steering wheel.
The first-row seats are equipped with side bolsters, seat cushion extensions, and a massage feature. The car also has an air purification system. To ease the driver, the car also comes with a 360° view system. Of course, the XC90 also has all the top-notch safety features which Volvo provides, including the Intellisafe feature, which is a trademark feature of all Volvo cars.
Volvo’s future family plans
Volvo is going to launch a fully-electric version of the XC90 in 2022. This clearly means that they are not going to discontinue it, at least, not in the near future. The sales of this car are also a success for the Volvo. Hopefully they will retain the third row in 2022 XC90 models.
Also read about Mercedes-Benz with 3 rows.
FAQ
What other cars have a 3rd row?
There are many options available in the market for 3-row cars. Most of them are made for families, so they are all equipped with the latest safety features. Many of them are minivans, while others are SUVs. Some of the best ones include:
- Mitsubishi Outlander
- Chrysler Pacifica
- Volkswagen Tiguan
- Kia Sorento
- Kia Telluride
What is the cheapest 3-row car?
Three-rows cars don’t come very cheaply. However, compared to other three rows seaters, there are some that are more affordable. These are some three-row SUVs for under $25,000:
- Ford Explorer
- Toyota Highlander
- Dodge Journey
- Nissan Pathfinder
- Honda Pilot
- GMC Acadia
- Acura MDX
What is the smallest car with 3 rows?
There’s always a demand for small cars. However, in three-row category, most of them are pretty big. Not everyone can fit these big cars in their garages, and some families prefer small-sized three-row cars. Some of these are:
- Volkswagen Tiguan
- Kia Sorento
- GMC Acadia
- Volvo XC90
- Hyundai Palisade
