Volvo S90 Review 2024

The Volvo S90 also has its uniquely Scandinavian appeal that no other executive saloon can get close to. Where its German rivals can feel a little austere inside, the S90 has a simple, clean approach to comfort and style, and it’s all put together nicely. If you like a leftfield option but you still have a taste for the finer things in life, the S90 could be right up your street.

The Volvo S90 has been offered with a variety of powertrain options over the years. If you're looking to keep your costs down, the entry-level four-cylinder diesel engines will be fine for most folk. All the trims are well specced, too, so just find a nice example at a good price.

If you have more of an environmental conscience and you're prepared to spend a bit more on your car, consider the T8 Plug-In Hybrid. The 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine is a strong performer thanks to its 303PS, which drives all four wheels through a slick eight-speed automatic gearbox.

It also has an 87PS electric motor that can drive the car for up to 37 miles on just battery power and can be topped up by plugging the car into any of the usual charge point options. Crucially, the way the car blends its two power sources is really smooth and effective.

While the usual German trio of the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class are all superb executive saloons, none has quite the distinct flavour of the Volvo S90 that reflects its Swedish heritage. For something with this sort of standout appeal, you need to look to the Jaguar XF for its smooth ride, nifty handling and classy cabin.

Or, you could opt for a Japanese take on the executive theme with the Lexus ES. It also comes with hybrid power, though it’s not of the plug-in variety, and the ES is an even more acquired taste than the Volvo for often conservative executive class buyers.

The finish is excellent inside and out of the Volvo S90. It gets leather upholstery as standard, while the trim inserts in wood feel much more natural and authentic than the often overly glossy finishes in other executive saloons. It certainly feels like a well-made car with a genuine air of luxury. 

The minimalist Swedish design also helps the Volvo stand out from the competition and there's a range of different materials and trim finishes, so you can make your Volvo feel very Scandinavian if you want. Of course, if you want a more subdued black ambiance, that's available, too.

As for the way the Volvo S90 is put together, Volvo gets the basics here spot-on. It’s obvious from the moment you open the door of the Volvo S90 that it’s a car built to very high standards. Everything works with a fluid action and feels weighty and precise. Everywhere your hands come into contact with the car, it just has that sense of care and attention-to-detail that reassures you spent your money in the right way, which is all part of the executive class experience.

Dominating the dashboard of the Volvo S90 is the big 9.0-inch Sensus Connect central touchscreen, looking a lot like someone has stuck an iPad in there. It's a good system and we have found it slick and intuitive, although it can take some getting used to at first simply because there are so many functions and features operated through the screen.

It controls the ventilation, navigation, audio and phone connectivity, plus it means there are fewer buttons to clutter up the interior. However, unlike some systems that have attempted to simplify only to then confuse with endless menus, the Volvo set-up is quick to respond and everything is ordered in a way that makes it easy to get what you want quickly. Again, it’s this iPad-like functionality that sets the Volvo S90’s infotainment apart from most of its rivals.

The main dash also uses a digital display that can be configured in a number of ways to show whichever information you regard as a priority. There is also an optional head-up display that projects on to the windscreen and shows vital info such as speed, traffic recognition data and sat-nav directions, and we’ve found this system to work very well.

When it comes to size, the Volvo S90 provides more rear-seat passenger space than rivals (the Volvo S90 measures 4963mm long and 1879mm wide by the way). That competition being things like the BMW 5 Series or Jaguar XF, and even the Mercedes E-Class has to bow to the Swede in this area. Little wonder the Volvo S90 is another popular choice among luxury private hire firms.

All of this means better rear legroom for your passengers and it's a Volvo S90 trump card. It's got plenty of rear space for heads and shoulders, too, even with the sloping rear roof line, so if you've got ever-growing teenagers to transport around, your back will appreciate not having their knees jabbed into it.

There is a high central tunnel, though, which means you can't comfortably get three passengers in the back for any length of time, but the ISOFIX points are easy to use thanks to plastic covers and guide slots.

The Volvo S90's boot is a good size and very deep, but the 500-litre boot space isn't that easy to utilise as the opening is wide but fairly shallow. Although it's no better or worse than any other saloon in this class, it still makes loading bigger suitcases or boxes a bit of a shuffling match. Getting a pushchair in there is no problem, though, even a larger one, plus it has an electric opening boot lid as standard.

All S90 versions come with a power folding 60-40 split rear seat back rest. It makes it very simple to extend the load capacity, while a ski hatch is another feature to make it easy to use the S90’s versatile nature to the full. Our only complaint here is, with the back seats folded down, there is a small step in the load floor that makes sliding in longer loads a tad trickier than in the V90 estate model, with its completely flat cargo deck.

There are two motors in the Volvo S90 Recharge. The combination of the 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine with 303PS and the 87PS electric motor make the S90 decidedly swift when you plant your right foot to the floor, as the car will deliver 0-62mph in just 5.1 seconds. Top speed, however, is restricted to 112mph.

More importantly, the way the two power sources blend with one another is what makes the Volvo S90 Recharge so effortless to use day in, day out. There is no perceptible point where you feel either motor coming into the mix, which makes for a very easy-going driving experience.

The eight-speed automatic transmission is one of the smoothest you’ll find in any executive class car, adding to the general air of calm, competent ability in the Volvo S90, although it can be slow to respond when you need a quick burst of acceleration. In electric-only mode, the Volvo S90 Recharge is brisk and makes this saloon ideal for anyone who has an urban commute but wants to minimise their impact on air pollution. You can also travel at higher speeds, although left to its own devices, the car will mix and match petrol and electric power to get the best performance and economy depending on how you drive the Volvo S90.

Before the Recharge arrived, the Volvo S90s started life with just one 2.0-litre diesel engine. It may sound small for a car of this size, but with twin turbochargers, it offered more than enough performance for most people. The entry-level D4 has 190PS and we think it provides all the power you'll need. The D5 had a 235PS version of the same engine, but it doesn't feel that much quicker in everyday driving.

Volvo then added petrol-powered T4 and T5 models to the S90 range, both 2.0-litre units with 190PS or 250PS. We never got to try these, though.

Depending on which version of the Volvo S90 T8 Recharge Plug-In Hybrid you choose, and what wheels it’s riding on, you can enjoy an EV-only range of up to 36.7 miles. With a fully charged battery, which is achieved with the port positioned in the front left-hand wing, that means most urban commutes can be managed with zero tailpipe emissions. 

You can drive all the way up to motorway speeds on EV power, although range will drop off quickly. There is also a mode to increase brake regeneration and another to preserve the battery charge until you need it, such as for driving in town. Recharging times are around two hours from flat to full using a public or home fast charger. Our guide to best hybrid cars will give you more info on the benefits (and downsides) to running a hybrid, as well as our top PHEV picks. 

Few cars in this class come close to the Volvo S90 Recharge’s refinement levels when it’s being driven solely on battery power. With no internal combustion engine to be heard, it’s almost silent around town and only some whoosh from the tyres and wind passing over the car at higher speeds lets you know the pace has quickened.

When the 2.0-litre petrol motor does come on song, it’s happy to keep in the background, even when pushed to give maximum acceleration. It’s certainly smoother and more hushed than the turbodiesel motors that tend to make up the bulk of sales in its rivals.

A little road noise is stirred up at motorway pace, particularly if the road has a grainier surface than is ideal. However, the Volvo S90 is no better or worse in this respect than any of its major rivals when they are fitted with alloy wheels of the same size.

The final part in the Volvo S90’s impressive showing for refinement is the slickness of its eight-speed automatic gearbox. It smooches from one gear to the next with barely a shimmy, helping the Volvo S90 make deft, calm progress that’s very much its trademark.

The diesel engines sound a little more rattly than the petrols, but they're still fairly well isolated most of the time.

It will come as no shock to learn the Volvo S90 sailed through Euro NCAP crash tests to record a full five-star rating. It scored a highly creditable 95 per cent for adult occupant safety and 80 per cent for child passenger safety.

The basis for this showing starts with twin front, side and curtain airbags, which are augmented with a driver’s knee ’bag. All occupants have a three-point seat belt and there are ISOFIX child seat mounts on the two outer rear chairs.

Volvo also fits every S90 with Front Collision Warning and Full Auto Brake to spot potential hazards, warn the driver and, if need be, perform an emergency stop to avoid or lessen the damage of an impact. The S90 also comes with a lane keeping assistance system and Oncoming Lane Mitigation, as well as traffic sign recognition and driver alert to let you know if fatigue is a risk as you drive.

An Active Bonnet protects pedestrians should the worst happen, while all-round parking sensors and a reversing camera make it safer and easier to guide the Volvo S90 into a parking space.

The Driver Assist pack is an option for both trim levels of Volvo S90 and comes with Blind Spot with Steer Assist, Cross Traffic Alert with Autobrake, and Rear Collision Warning and Mitigation. The Lounge pack includes Park Assist Pilot to take care of steering the car into parallel parking spaces.

The Volvo S90 has been around for a few years now and the only major recall has been for cars (not just the S90) with the 2.0-litre diesel engines that Volvo put right for free. 

The Volvo S90 came with a three-year/60,000 warranty, while Volvo came in 14th overall in the latest HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index, behind Lexus, Jaguar and  BMW, but ahead of Audi and Mercedes. 

Insurance grouping for the S90 range start at group 27 for the D4 diesel in more basic trim levels, while D5 diesels start at 33. The disparity is similar between the T4 and T5 petrols, although these sit a couple of groups higher up than their diesel-powered equivalents, while the T8 Recharge plug-in hybrids sit in either group 43 or 44. With insurance grouping running between 1 and 50, with 50 being the most expensive, it means that the PHEV will be decidedly pricey to insure, but given that it has a total output of more than 400PS, that's not a colossal surprise.

Volvo S90s registered before April 1st 2017 will be taxed under the old system, which is based on CO2 emissions. This sees a couple of low-spec D4 diesels qualifying for an annual fee of just £35, but most will command a sum similar to the £190 flat rate applicable to cars registered after that deadline.

However, that's for cars that cost under £40,000 when brand new, and there are plenty of versions that bust that threshold. Any that do are liable for an additional 'luxury car' surcharge on top, which is payable between years two and six of the car's life. That surcharge currently stands at £410, taking your total annual outlay for that period to £600. You'll get a discount if you choose the plug-in hybrid, but it's only a tenner per year, so it won't make much of a dent. When buying a used example, it's always worth chucking the car's registration into an internet browser so you know what you're letting yourself in for.

The Volvo S90 range has chopped and changed a bit over the years with various trim levels being available over time. Early on, Momentum, R-Design and Inscription trim levels were available, but even the lowest-spec one came rammed with kit. These got alloy wheels, keyless start, a powered bootlid, LED headlights with Active high-beam, rain-sensing wipers, rear park assist, two-zone climate control, four powered windows, leather upholstery, heated front seats, powered front seats, power folding rear seats and adaptive cruise control. That's on top of all the infotainment and safety gear we mentioned earlier.

R-Design added sportier styling touches inside and out, plus sports seats, ambient lighting, cornering front foglights and a lowered sports chassis. Inscription trim swapped most of this for more luxurious features such as a handsfree bootlid, extended ambient lighting, upgraded leather and a memory function for the electric seats.

Later on, 'Pro' packs were offered on each trim level to enhance the amount of luxury kit further, and later still, the range was slimmed down to incorporate just the R-Design and Inscription.