2019 Volvo S90 Road Test and Review

The current version of Volvo’s most luxurious sedan offers the confident “face” that is a hallmark of Volvo’s design language, along with the classic “broad-shouldered” styling that exaggerates the rear fenders. It also incorporates the “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlight design flanking a new grille, a tasteful version of the Volvo “Iron Mark,” and, at the rear, V-O-L-V-O spelled in chrome across the trunk lid. Happily, the grille, while substantial, doesn’t go to the extremes of some of its competitors (Audi and Lexus, for example). The overall impression is of an attractive, solid sedan with enough flash to be interesting but not so much to be over the top.

This cabin is clean, bright, sensibly laid out, and easy to use. While competitors Mercedes-Benz and BMW offer more elaborate and somewhat baroque interiors, the S90’s design is much more similar to that of current Audis. They are elegantly simple with high-quality materials used in a casual way. The interior’s real wood accents are accompanied by well-crafted leather trim, delivering an easy-going feeling of calm and tranquility. The S90’s seats are absolutely top-notch in both looks and comfort. Functionally, front and rear headroom and legroom are plentiful. 

Volvo's portrait-oriented 9-inch touchscreen mounted in the center of the dashboard includes Sensus navigation, Bluetooth, in-vehicle Wi-Fi, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. Unlike some systems that allow Apple CarPlay to take over the entire screen, Volvo limits CarPlay’s territory so that you can access other touchscreen functions. Depending upon how you feel about touchscreen controls versus discrete buttons and knobs, you might think Volvo has relied too much on the screen. For instance, heating and air conditioning are controlled via the touchscreen, forcing you into the Sensus interface before you reach the controls. In lower-level S90s, the center touchscreen is supplemented by an 8-inch digital instrument cluster. High trims feature a 12.3-inch digital display. The audio system has 10 speakers, a 330-watt amplifier, and aux and USB inputs. 

The mid-level T6 features the same basic engine, but it is equipped with supercharging as well as turbocharging to deliver 316 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of peak torque, along with all-wheel drive. At the top of the line is the T8 plug-in hybrid powertrain, a technical tour-de-force that combines the 2.0-liter supercharged and turbocharged engine with a 65-kW electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery pack, along with all-wheel drive. The T5 front-drive configuration is very pleasant, and the excitement and capabilities simply build from there.

When pushed hard, the S90 is mildly handicapped in front-wheel drive form, where understeer is more pronounced. But most drivers will never explore the limits of the sedan’s handling, nor do they seek to do so. The Volvo S90’s good ride quality, its quiet interior, and its massive doses of safety equipment provide excellent reasons to consider the car. Handling is predictable, but occasionally in T5 form, the small-displacement engine needs a second to catch its breath. For commuting, around-town driving, or lengthy road trips, the S90 is very satisfying.

The vehicle's standard features include adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, a forward collision warning with automatic braking, a lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The S90 also features automated emergency braking in the rear, a rear cross-traffic monitor, and a rearview camera with dynamic gridlines. (Interestingly, the car has rear parking sensors, but it does not offer front parking sensors or an automated parking feature.) Volvo has set the goal that no one will die in a Volvo in an auto accident, and Volvo engineers are working night and day to make that happen.

With the rear seat folded, the S90 offers an 82.6-inch-length cargo floor, while with the seat in place the cargo floor length is 45.2 inches. Liftover height is a convenient 26.5 inches. In its conventional trunk, the S90 boasts 15.4 cubic feet of total cargo volume, including 0.2 cubic feet in underfloor storage. Maximum towing capacity is 2,000 pounds with all three powertrains. 

The T8 version with its very sophisticated plug-in hybrid gasoline-electric powertrain has ratings of 29 mpg in combined city and highway driving and a 71 mpge (miles per gallon equivalent) rating for city and highway driving. The ratings compare favorably to other luxury sedans in the segment.

The T5 front-drive powertrain is only available in the Momentum trim, but you can also get T6 and even the T8 hybrid powertrain in the Momentum line. The more luxurious Inscription trim is available only with all-wheel drive and only with the T6 and T8 powertrains. Overall, Volvo offers exceptional choice with the S90 line, and for those who don’t want a sedan, there is the very similar V90 station wagon.

Perhaps oddly, the highest performance version of the S90 — the T8 — also delivers the best fuel economy. So you can go fast and feel good about yourself at the same time — very Scandinavian. The least expensive S90 Momentum T5 has an MSRP of $47,350 including a $995 destination charge. If you opt for the all-wheel-drive Momentum T6, it jumps to $54,350 including the destination charge. The top-of-the-line Inscription T8 has a base price of $68,750 including destination.