The Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine Inscription Plus is a new variant for the plug-in hybrid SUV sold in Malaysia, joining the existing Inscription. Priced at RM 413,888 on-the-road without insurance, the new variant is RM 10,000 more than the Inscription, but comes with a slightly improved equipment list.

The big ticket item here is the addition of a Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system with 19 speakers, optimised by a 12-channel, 1,400 watt Class D amplifier. This system wasn’t fitted on both fully-imported (CBU) and locally-assembled (CKD) units of the XC90, which instead came with a 10-speaker 330-watt sound system – still standard on the Inscription.


Aside from that, the Inscription Plus appears to be identical in terms of specifications to the Inscription, retaining the black Nappa leather upholstery, Comfort seats, Sensus Connect infotainment system, 12.3-inch Adaptive Digital Display instrument panel and four-zone climate control. Curiously, both variants of the XC90 no longer come with a surround-view camera – previously standard on CBU and CKD cars.

On the exterior, you’ll still get 20-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels and the full Inscription get-up, including the black and matte silver grille with gloss chrome surround, side mouldings with ‘Inscription’ lettering and dual integrated tailpipes.


Motivation comes from a T8 Twin Engine powertrain, which is made up of a 2.0 litre four-cylinder super- and turbocharged Drive-E petrol engine, rear axle electric motor and a crankshaft-mounted starter generator (CISG) positioned between the engine and eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission. Total system output is rated at 407 hp and 640 Nm of torque.
Safety and driver assistance systems include seven airbags, Adaptive Cruise Control, City Safety with Front Collision Warning and Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection with Full Auto Brake, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Aid, Roll Stability Control and Hill Descent Control.

This two-variant approach is similar to what was done with the S90 CKD, which also comes in Inscription (RM 368,888) and Inscription Plus (RM 388,888) variants. As you can see, there’s a larger price disparity compared to the XC90 variants – higher-spec S90 gets the Bowers & Wilkins sound system as well as Active Chassis with two-corner air suspension (XC90 comes with four-corner air suspension as standard).