A GROSSLY UNDERRATED PACKAGE
VOLVO S90 D5 INSCRIPTION
WHAT WE HAVE GLEANED
Proportionately, I reckon that the designers have nailed the brief here. There is an air of elegance and grace that is devoid in the rather clinical German design approach, with elements of the Polestar 1 hybrid sports car even more prudent in the S90. The rear, meanwhile, may not be to everyone’s liking, but I really adore its fuss-free, no-frills minimalistic styling.
Our D5 Inscription derivative comes with a bevvy of luxury chrome finishes that seems to fit the premium executive brief quite snuggly. It must be said, though, that I am a huge fan of the R-Design trim that outguns the Germans on the aesthetics front. Our test unit comes with 19” alloy wheels shod with 255/45 tyres that offer a relatively comfortable ride quality.
This month we bid farewell to our long-term Volvo S90 D5 Inscription that has been in our care for the past few months and we have gleaned a few noteworthy aspects of this underrated and unsung executive sedan.
LOVELY CABIN LAYOUT
There is a great deal to admire about the sumptuous interior that is festooned with swathes of quality leather, piano black and silver smatterings on most touchpoints, while the nowfamiliar infotainment screen takes centre stage. The digital instrument cluster, meanwhile, imparts a great deal of vital information all the while giving the cabin a very modern ambience to boot.
The cabin has space for up to five passengers with shoulder room, while boot capacity measures a relatively generous 500 litres. A ski hatch also adds convenience to transport those long and cumbersome items. There is a modicum of storage nooks and crannies for one’s bits and bobs, but all is done tastefully with little in the way of clutter.
THE ENGINE
Our D5 derivative is powered by a 2.0-litre, fourpot turbo diesel engine that is also found in the XC90 and delivers a healthy 173 kW and 480 Nm through an 8-speed gearbox and all-wheel-drive system. It is a peachy engine, if a little marred by initial turbo lag, but feels decidedly adequate once on the move and returned a thrifty fuel consumption figure of just 7.7-litres per 100km. That figure, it must be noted, was primarily achieved during urban sprawls and we suspect that a figure in the sub-seven-litres per 100 km is attainable without trying too hard.
NEW TECHNOLOGY
Volvo On Call is a newly developed app that affords owners to remotely communicate with their vehicles and works off any smart electronic device, including smartphones, smartwatches, tablets and desktop computers. Among other things, the system allows owners to lock and unlock their vehicle, check fuel tank range and even pre-set the climate control for impending weather conditions.
The app can also help you to locate your vehicle in large parking areas such as shopping malls or airports where it is quite easy to lose track of where you parked. The system is also linked to an emergency call centre where, in the unforeseen event of you vehicle being involved in an accident, the vehicle will automatically dial the centre and, should you be incapacitated at the time, the call centre agent will send emergency help to the GPS location of your vehicle. While this might not be new to the premium automotive sector, it is good to see Volvo on par with other premium manufacturers.
LAST WORD
While we, unfortunately, did not accrue sufficient mileage to warrant visiting the dealership and experiencing the aftersales aspects of being a Volvo owner, we were suitably satisfied with the Volvo S90 D5 Inscription. It is unpretentious in its disposition, yet decidedly a premium product through and through. It still baffles me, however, as to why not many people have given it a second glance. Granted, the SUV segment continues to suppress the large luxury sedan segment, but the S90 makes for a compelling alternative to the German triumvirate’s offerings.