2026 CarExpert Choice winner: Best Luxury PHEV SUV

The Volvo XC90 has been named Australia’s best plug-in hybrid (PHEV) luxury SUV in the 2026 CarExpert Choice Awards.
It beat out two finalists: the BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne.
We gave the nod to the XC90 in part due to the extra versatility it offers thanks to its third row of seating.
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Those two extra seats are situated in a spacious, comfortable and well-appointed cabin, which received some design tweaks and a larger touchscreen as part of a recent update.
The XC90 offers a decent amount of range plus strong performance from its well-sorted 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder PHEV powertrain.
Standard air suspension gives the XC90 an utterly plush ride that’s perfectly suited to the Volvo’s role as a family hauler.
Just over a decade into its run, the Volvo XC90 is just as charming as ever, particularly as a PHEV.
2026 CarExpert Choice – Best Luxury PHEV SUV
- Winner – Volvo XC90
- Finalist – BMW X5
- Finalist – Porsche Cayenne
To see all the CarExpert Choice winners, click here.
MORE: Explore the Volvo XC90 showroom