Volvo S90: Elegant, powerful, luxurious
2017 Volvo S90 AWD T6 Inscription: A luxurious and smooth new Swede in town?
Price: $65,105 as tested. (Price for the Inscription trim level is $56,250; Vision Package and Climate Package with HUD added $1,950 each; Convenience Package added $1,000; metallic paint was $560; 20” wheels, $750; more below.)
Conventional wisdom: Car and Driver liked the “knee-weakening style, pleasant cabin, efficient and responsive powertrain” but not the “loose-feeling chassis, complex display screens, engine lacks refinement.”
much all these years later.
And that’s a good thing. It has given us the XC90 crossover, and now the S90 sedan.
Like the XC90, the new top-of-the-line sedan from Volvo really shows what Volvo can do.
The outside resembles a Volkswagen Passat or Audi A6, both of which are pretty cars to emulate. Up to speed: The standard Volvo 2.0-liter four-cylinder gets both supercharged and turbocharged, creating 316 horsepower in the T6 version of the S90. (A less-charged, T5 frontwheel-drive version comes at a discount rate.) Acceleration to 60 mph is 5.7 seconds in the T6, according to Volvo.
Shifty: The eight-speed GearTronic shiftable automatic functioned without much notice. In Dynamic mode, shifts were a little more abrupt than I might have liked.
On the curves: Handling never sporty or exciting, but the S90 moved through winding roads competently. Body roll was a bit of an issue, but this is a giant luxury sedan targeted for comfort.It was — Volvo-y.
Driver’s Seat: Frontrow passengers were blessed in comfort. Lumbar, wing and cushion extender could be adjusted by a knob and buttons by following the interface. All this plus ventilation was thanks to the Inscription trim level.
Speaking of Volvo-y, luxury is the order of the day here. We had burnished walnut trim on the dash and in the console, and silver accents abound.
Friends and stuff: Legroom was stupendous, reports Sturgis Kid 4.0, but headroom left a little to be desired. Foot room under the seat is a bit of an issue. And center passengers would require stupendous balance. But the seats were really comfortable, although the headrest was not upto Genesis standards.
Play some tunes: The S90 benefits from the Sensus radio interface pioneered in the XC90. The iPad-like interface offers clear control in its 9-inch screen, and getting from mode to mode was just a simple press or swipe.
The Bowers and Wilkins Premium Sound ($2,650) replays your music in various forms, from Gothenburg Concert Hall to Personal Studio. Each mode offers a distinct sonic treat.
Keeping warm and cool: The HVAC settings only operate through the touchscreen. This becomes a bit of a problem when the car heats up in the sun; the screen responds best to warm hands, and became unresponsive when the inside temperature was that close to body temperature.
Smart owners would do well to plan for this when they’re parking in sunny spots. Blast the AC before shutting down so that the setting comes on automatically at startup.
Night shift: Active Bending Headlights made driving around curves pretty fun. The interior lights were magnificent.
Fuel economy: I averaged about 25 mpg in a variety of driving experiences. Feed the S90 premium only.
In the end: If you’ve got the money, go for it. I would.