Volvos90t6 Essentials

Xxxxxxxxxxx FIRST DRIVE Petrol exec shows promise of new diesel-only UK range Volvo S90 T6 Inscription

AS well as Volvo’s sexy new V90 estate (Page 30), we got a chance to sample a production-ready S90 – after a brief winter drive on snow earlier this year (Issue 1,411).

The S90 replaces the S80, but it’s a world away from that outdated offering. It gets Volvo’s latest Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA) chassis, which is, in effect, the same underpinnings as the XC90. This means the S90 can share all of the big SUV’S safety tech as well as building upon its cabin quality.

Like the V90, the S90 is available with a pair of diesel engines in the UK, although neither was available for evaluation at Volvo’s Spanish launch venue. The D4 and D5 diesels are the same as those in the V90, but ever so slightly faster and more efficient; the 187bhp D4 will cover 0-62mph in 8.2 seconds and emit 116g/km of CO2.

The not-for-uk S90 T6 acquitted itself pretty well on Spanish roads, but there are a few caveats. In the most part, the chassis set-up is comfortable. It doesn’t try to feel as agile as a BMW 5 Series or a Jaguar XF; instead, it focuses on being a refined cruiser, and while that does mean a bit of extra body lean round corners, it’s composed enough for all but the most enthusiastic drivers. Like on the V90, we’d avoid the larger wheels, which may make the ride a bit brittle on UK roads.

The main niggle in this S90 is, sadly, the engine, which did a good job of vindicating Volvo’s decision not to offer it in the UK. The T6 packs a decent amount of shove, but it needs to be worked harder than the D5 diesel did in the even heavier V90.

What’s more, while the T6 is calm enough once you’re up to speed, it sounds thrashy if you put your foot down. Whatever Volvo may claim, the four-cylinder petrol just isn’t as sweet as a big six-cylinder in this kind of car.

The cabin is a lot more positive; it’s a real delight, with excellent use of natural materials, and a clean, uncluttered facia. There’s space for tall adults in the back seats, too, with impressive legroom.

The S90 features Volvo’s latest semiautonomous technology, called Pilot Assist. It’s improved since past models, and now works up to around 80mph. You still need your hands on the wheel, but Pilot Assist can keep your car in the right lane and watch for hazards. Volvo is keen to stress that the system is only semi-automatic – but we can already see how it would take a great deal of strain out of most commutes.

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