How Do Car Seats Fit in a 2025 Volvo XC90 Plug-in Hybrid?
The verdict: For the 2025 model year, the Volvo XC90 got updated tech and a face-lift. The plug-in version also got a new name, swapping the Recharge moniker for the more straightforward Plug-in Hybrid. For this Car Seat Check, we tested the top Ultra trim of the PHEV with seats for six across three rows; the SUV is also available with seating for seven with a second-row bench seat.
Does it fit three car seats? No.
Take a look at how the Latch system and each car seat scored below in our Car Seat Check of the 2025 Volvo XC90 Plug-in Hybrid.
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Latch: Grade A
The two sets of lower anchors are partially exposed for easy connection. Two top tether anchors sit halfway down the seatbacks; they’re also exposed for easy access.
Infant Seat: Grade A
The infant seat was easy to install thanks to accessible lower anchors and it fit well. Our 5-foot-6-inch front passenger had enough legroom in front of it to be comfortable.
Rear-Facing Convertible: Grade A
Again, installing the convertible in rear form was easy, and it did not negatively impact our front passenger’s legroom.
Forward-Facing Convertible: Grade B
In the second row, the head restraints aren’t removable, which caused some issues. The head restraint pushed the car seat off the seatback; it should fit flush against it. Also, per the SUV’s owner’s manual, the top tether strap should be routed through the hole in the head restraint before being connected to the top tether anchor. However, this was tough since the hole is small and our top tether connector is bulky.
Booster Seat: Grade B
Again, the fixed head restraint interfered with situating the booster flush against the seatback. The XC90’s sturdy, tall buckles should be easy for kids to grasp and use independently, though. Also of note, our model was not equipped with Volvo’s optional pop-up booster seats.
Third-Row Entry: Grade A
It’s easy to get to the third row thanks to a button that quickly moves the seat, and the opening is decently sized. The opening between the captain’s chairs can also be used to get to the third row.
Third-Row Forward-Facing Convertible: Grade B
There are no lower anchors in the third row, so we had to use a seat belt to install this car seat. There is one top tether anchor in the third row and it’s on the passenger side; it was easy to find and use. As with the second row, the third row’s head restraints aren’t removable and interfere with car-seat fitment.
Third-Row Booster Seat: Grade B
The fixed head restraint interfered with the booster’s fit, as well, pushing it off of the seatback. The third row’s stable buckles should be easy for kids to use.
Grading Scale
A: Plenty of room for the car seat and the child; doesn’t impact driver or front-passenger legroom. Easy to find and connect to Latch and tether anchors. No fit issues involving head restraint or seat contouring. Easy access to the third row.
B: One room, fit or connection issue. Some problems accessing the third row when available.
C: Marginal room plus one fit or connection issue. Difficult to access the third row when available.
D: Insufficient room, plus multiple fit or connection issues.
F: Does not fit or is unsafe.
About Cars.com’s Car Seat Checks
Editors Jennifer Geiger and Jennifer Newman are certified child safety seat installation technicians.
For the Car Seat Check, we use a Chicco KeyFit 30 infant-safety seat, a Graco Contender 65 convertible seat and Graco TurboBooster seat. The front seats are adjusted for a 6-foot driver and a shorter passenger. The three child seats are installed in the second row. The booster seat sits behind the driver’s seat, and the infant and convertible seats are installed behind the front passenger seat.
We also install the forward-facing convertible in the second row’s middle seat with the booster and infant seat in the outboard seats to see if three car seats will fit; a child sitting in the booster seat must be able to reach the seat belt buckle. If there’s a third row, we install the booster seat and a forward-facing convertible. Learn more about how we conduct our Car Seat Checks.
Parents should also remember that they can use the Latch system or a seat belt to install a car seat, and that Latch anchors have a weight limit of 65 pounds, including the weight of the child and the weight of the seat itself.
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