The Volvo S90 is an all-new midsize luxury sedan that competes with vehicles like the Acura RLX, Audi A6, BMW 5-Series, Cadillac CT6, Infiniti Q70, Jaguar XF, Lexus GS and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The S90 is sourced from the same chassis architecture as Volvo's crossover the XC90. The S90 is offered with front- or all-wheel drive and is currently only available only as a four-door sedan, however, a wagon model will be available later in the 2017 model year.
Two trim levels and two engines are offered, creating a total of four models. The trim levels are called Momentum and Inscription. Trims designated T5 are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 250 horsepower. Trims designated T6 get a turbo and supercharged 2.0-liter four that makes 316 horsepower. Both engines mate to an eight-speed automatic transmission. T5 models are offered only with front-wheel drive and T6 models come only with all-wheel drive. A hybrid model will be available later in the model year.
Standard safety features include anti-lock brakes, stability control, rear-view camera, forward collision mitigation, lane-keeping assist and dual-front, front-side, side-curtain airbags. Additionally, available safety features include active headlights, blind-spot detection, cross-traffic alert and surround-view camera. Forward collision warning also includes automatic emergency braking and pedestrian, cyclist, animal and road-sign detection.
Momentum models start at $46,950 and include 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, keyless entry and ignition, sunroof, dual-zone climate control, 9-inch touchscreen information display, 10-speaker sound system. Inscription adds $2700 to the base price and brings 19-inch wheels, Napa leather upholstery, heated and cooled front seats, leather-wrapped dashboard, walnut trim, four-zone climate control, 12-inch information display and cooled glovebox. All models have a $995 destination charge and are assembled in Sweden.
In a land where turbocharged six-cylinder engines and brawny V8s reign supreme, Volvo chose to tack a different course, with "smallish" 2.0-liter four-cylinder mills. Fortunately, both make enough power move the 4,000-pound sedan from the slow lane. As you might imagine the performance champ is the T6. From a standstill, the T6 engine helps the S90 accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 5.5 seconds. That's a match to most competitors. The engine is smooth around town and emits a refined growl in hard acceleration.
The eight-speed automatic shifts smoothly and downshifts promptly. The all-wheel-drive system that is standard on the T6 does not have a low range and is not intended for off-road use. It does a good job of delivering power to wheels with the most traction on slippery roads. However, the available touring tires don't provide much grip in snowy conditions, making snow tires a must.
The T6 is EPA rated at 22 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. Those members are better than most competitors. Unfortunately, premium-grade fuel is required. Real-world fuel economy will likely depend on your driving style. If you can manage to be easy in acceleration, you can eek out 25 mpg overall.
Dynamically, the S90 isn't as agile as a BMW 5-Series or as composed as a Mercedes-Benz E-Class, but it strikes a fine balance between the two. At more than 4000 pounds the S90 is no lightweight and you can feel that heft in the way the car smothers potholes and rounds corners. The ride is never busy or harsh and the longish wheelbase provides relaxed highway cruising. Steering has a nice heft and the brakes have ample stopping power.
Interior noise levels are class appropriate and, despite the lack of additional cylinders, the engine never seems coarse or rough. In fact, it's quite smooth in cruising and growls expensively in hard acceleration.
S90 sports a contemporary and elegant cabin that's backed by pleasing materials and lots of leather, wood and metal. The dashboard is dominated by a 9-inch touchscreen and an all-digital instrument cluster. Front seats are easy-chair comfy and provide ample support for long trips. Leg room is great and head room okay for adults up to 6-foot-2. Beyond that, the low roofline might frustrate. Rear-seat passengers are treated like first-class citizens with comfortable seats and ample leg room. Visibility is great to all directions and the rear headrests fold down out of view with the push of a button.
Switchgear is kept to a minimum thanks for Volvo integrating most systems into the large central touchscreen. Elegantly simple, it's a joy to operate under most circumstances. Occasionally, there's an extra screen press required to navigate to the proper menu and there's certainly a steep learning curve. It's a refreshing departure from competitor systems that combine buttons, toggles and touchpads.
With more than 17.5 cubic feet of capacity, the trunk has ample storage. The opening is wide and there's even an underfloor storage compartment. The S90 has fold-down rear seatbacks as well as a central pass-through for skis. Interior storage is just adequate with a few open and covered bins throughout.
The 2017 S90 is a huge leap forward Volvo -- both as a car company and as a competitive midsize luxury offering. Pluses include Interior space that rivals full-size luxury sedans, well-crafted interior, abundance of available safety and convenience features, efficient yet powerful engine offerings and large trunk. Prices are very affordable when compared to competitors. Unfortunately, the low price means that some safety features are now optional -- and that's too bad. Buyers may find the large touchscreen a trifle daunting, but it's a significant step forward in control simplification at this price point.
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