The Oldest Car That Still Looks New: Quick Jump
It’s come to my attention that new cars on sale are seeing longer life cycles. In the not too distant past, the typical span for a vehicle in production is about five years. Now certain models are seeing six, seven, eight years between redesigns; sometimes north of ten.
The pandemic may have played a role, but five years after lockdown, some vehicles finally saw a new generation for 2025. Case in point, the Toyota 4Runner received a complete makeover for the first time since 2009. While that falls on the extreme end of the spectrum, there are other models out that’s accomplished an elongated lifespan.
But not all of them age so gracefully. This can come down to mechanical design but I think it ultimately falls on the visual aesthetic. That brings me to the car worth shouting out today.
The Volvo XC90 is the first SUV for the company. It too enjoyed a production run that’s outlasted the Walker Bush administration, and even witnessed the passing of Obama’s Affordable Care Act. When you look at it like I do, it just makes sense.
It launched for 2002 with a smorgasbord of engines, from a turbocharged Swedish motor to a twin-turbocharged six-cylinder to a V-8 built by Yamaha of all things. It also didn’t sit on a truck chassis, delivering a smooth and refined ride from the start.
But the way it looks:
It seems modern and fresh and forward-thinking. It’s sleek without diminishing the trademark boxy styling Volvo is known for. And the best part is the way the rear opens.
Look at that! A split tailgate that opens in two parts. This was a rarity for SUVs back then and it remains a rarity today. Even the XC90 built in 2025 doesn’t have it anymore. A crime against humanity.
But I love that it just doesn’t look old. Especially in the age of overstyled mainstays from Hyundai and Kia. The general consensus is that cars are too complicated to look at, too complicated to use, too complicated all around. Vehicles like the XC90 from the Y2K can be a good point of reference to look back on.
If only that was the industrial trend.
-TA