Volvo XC90 T5 with front-wheel drive is a new entry-level XC90

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The Volvo XC90 T5 has been revealed as a new entry-level XC90, with the T5 petrol engine delivering 250bhp and with front-wheel drive.

Volvo is already struggling to cope with demand for the new XC90, and that demand looks set to rise further with the arrival of a new entry-level model – the Volvo XC90 T5.

Volvo has taken the T6 engine already fitted to the XC90, removed the supercharger (but kept the turbo) and delivered a T5 offering 250bhp and 258lb/ft of torque, complete with eight-speed automatic gearbox and the option of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

Unlike the rest of the XC90 range, the new T5 will come with just five seats, rather than seven, but it will still have a decent spec including Volvo’s impressive 12.3″ tablet infotainment screen, Sat Nav, electric seats, Lane Departure Warning, panoramic sun roof, parking sensors and 18″ alloys.

So far, Volvo has only confirmed the T5 for the USA, where fitting the lower power T5 engine, and with the FWD option, means the XC90 costs almost $6,000 less than the previous entry-level AWD T6, and even if you spec the T5 with AWD it’s still almost $4,000 cheaper.

We’ve reached out to Volvo this morning to see if there are any plans to bring the T5 to the UK – especially with a growing aversion to diesel-engined cars from both buyers and legislators in the UK – and we’ll update when we get an answer.