CARS.COM — The 2016 Volvo XC90 in Cars.com’s long-term test fleet has guzzled fuel more efficiently in the second half of its 12,000 miles, improving on the 19.3 mpg we recorded during the first half of the year when the odometer read 6,436 miles. From 6,436 to 11,940 miles, the XC90 averaged 20.8 mpg and recorded fill-ups in the 23-24 mpg range, which nearly matches its 25 mpg highway rating.
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Its lifetime calculated fuel economy (miles divided by gallons used) increased to 20 mpg thanks to the SUV’s higher observed fuel economy since our last update. That’s still short of its 22 mpg combined EPA rating, and it will need a few more efficient fill-ups to get there. Unlike some cars and SUVs where the EPA ratings are easily exceeded — our long-term 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 was good at that, for example — the Volvo XC90’s fuel economy, with its supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, hasn’t shown any tricks up its sleeve thus far, and a number of mid-to-high teen fill-ups early on are still keeping the car’s overall average on the low side.
