The engine is mounted vertically on the rear left overhang of the chassis similarly to with the B7L, allowing B9Ls to be low-floor throughout the whole length of the bus due to a lack of underfloor equipment.

Additionally, the B9L reintroduced CNG engines, an option unavailable in its predecessor, the B7L.

Large orders for B9Ls were placed in Malmö, where they form the majority of the fleet, as well as in Stockholm, Kristianstad, and Örebro.

Despite this overall sales of the B9L were poor, especially outside of Sweden, with many operators instead preferring the existing B7RLE or new B9S.

Outside of Europe, ComfortDelGro Bus of Singapore had also purchased a fleet of SC Auto-bodied Volvo B9L buses in 2015 for its National University of Singapore internal shuttle service.