It’s official! The Volvo XC90 has been confirmed for a South African market introduction and we have pricing as well as details on its new mild-hybrid tech.

The big change to the 2022 Volvo XC90 is the addition of new mild-hybrid petrol engines, which the Swedish brand says will offer a smoother driving experience on top of improved fuel efficiency.

The badging for the 2022 Volvo XC90 changes slightly with the T designation being replaced by B badging. The T5 is replaced by the B5, while the T6 gets B6 nomenclature. At the top of the pile will be the XC90 T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid.

These new engines feature mild-hybrid technology as well as a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) that captures brake energy to charge the 48V onboard battery. The integrated starter generator then uses this energy to support the petrol engine.

The new engines still deliver credible power and torque from their turbocharged and supercharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder motors. The B5 is good for 183 kW and 350 Nm, while the B6 thumps out 220 kW and 420 Nm.

According toGreg Maruszewski, Managing Director at Volvo Car South Africa, there are many benefits to the new engines. “Emissions are reduced and fuel economy is improved. Furthermore, thanks to the 48-volt battery, the vehicle’s performance during start-up and take-off is exemplary. From a practical point of view, there are no cables; the vehicle does not need to be charged at an electrical socket,” he explains.

Other changes in the 2022 Volvo XC90 include an update to the 8-speed Geartronic gearbox which now features shift-by-wire tech as well as a new start/stop function which Volvo claims is quieter than ever. There’s a new CleanZone air purification system too, which is said to filter the air even more thoroughly than before.

When you dive into the options list, Volvo says its has simplified things to avoid customer confusion and as a result there are tweaks to the upholstery, alloy wheels and exterior colour range. As before, Volvo is offering its updated XC90 with the standard trim levels of Momentum, R-Design and Inscription.

How much does the 2022 Volvo XC90 cost in SA?

B5 AWD Momentum R1 213 000

B5 AWD R-Design R1 283 000

B5 AWD Inscription R1 283 500

B6 AWD R-Design R1 338 400

B6 AWD Inscription R1 338 900

D5 AWD R-Design R1 348 500

D5 AWD Inscription R1 349 000

T8 Twin Engine AWD R-Design R1 529 500

T8 Twin Engine AWD Inscription R1 530 000

Further Reading

#CarsAwards Best Executive SUVs

Power upgrade for Volvo’s hybrids