Volvo's all-new S90 is such a Swede ride

Published on 13 December, 2016

The new Volvo S90 is truly amazing

Overview

The new Volvo S90 is truly amazing

Volvo S90 - D4 Inscription

Let the battle begin. First out of the blocks was the all-new Mercedes E-Class, which has already scooped the Continental Irish Car of the Year award a few weeks back.

Second up was a test car that we feel can put the cat among the German pigeons, in the form of the Swedish Volvo S90.

And, finally, both of these models will be joined by the long-awaited new 5-Series BMW – which we have already seen in the flesh – when it arrives on our shores early next year.

Both Motormouths agreed, the new E-Class was a deserving winner of the Irish Car of the Year gong – until we drove the new Volvo S90.

It is just a pity that it arrived too late to be in contention for the prestigious award, as we feel it is every bit as good as the Merc, and it can certainly give it a run for its money.

The first thing you will notice about the new S90 when you see it in the flesh, is just how slick it looks.

It seems Volvo has ripped up its age-old tradition of building big, boxy cars, and the men with the white coats and sharpened pencils have come up with something quite out of the ordinary.

The S90’s sibling, the XC90 SUV, was a game-changer for the Swedish brand when it was launched at the end of 2014.

It was built on Volvo’s all-new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform, which the new S90 will be built on too.

Like the XC90 before it, the S90 features the new face of Volvo, including the T-shaped LED headlights that make them instantly recognisable.

However, it’s not only the sharper looks on the outside that will keep this saloon up with the German Joneses – the inside, a bit like Santa’s grotto, is a magical place to be.

There is a familiar look found in the XC90, with the large iPad-like touchscreen the main focal point of the dash.

It is here where you can control all the functions and the latest technology Volvo has to offer – and, believe us, this is like a Santa sack full of equipment.

However, some of the motor writers in the industry feel it may even be a bit too far advanced for the older generation, and that some of these new touchscreen systems can cause the driver to be distracted.

For instance, most manufacturers are switching from the traditional heating systems, where you just put the dial on hot or cold – or in between – and put the blower from 0 to 5 or 6 and you are sorted.

New digital screens tend to increase and decrease the hot and cold air by half a degree Celsius every time – and we find it a bit distracting.

However, it’s all down to how companies are going for a de-cluttered look inside their cabins, and the S90 certainly has achieved this.

Like the XC90, the S90 is extremely spacious for both front- and rear-seat passengers, and leg room is not far off the Skoda Superb, or even BMW 7-Series.

The seats are possibly the most comfortable we have ever sat in.

However, it’s the standard technology and safety equipment that sets the Volvo apart from its German rivals. Standard on all models now is what the company calls Pilot Assist.

This system automatically keeps you at a set speed or distance from the vehicle in front, braking and accelerating with the flow of traffic, and gives gentle steering inputs to keep the car within lane markings at motorway speeds up to 120km/h.

On the road, the S90 is excellent all round. It still possibly falls just short of its German rivals in terms on handling – but it’s certainly not far off.

We drove the D4 Inscription model matted to an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Although it is certainly no slouch on the road, you could always opt for the more powerful D5 unit if you really want to pack a bit of punch.

The 235bhp D5 utilises an innovative technology called PowerPulse to boost responsiveness.

This uses compressed air, which is stored in a tank in the engine bay and refilled automatically, to spool up the turbo at low revs.

There is no doubting the S90’s appeal, in both looks and driver refinement, yes, we both have an A7 for it’s dynamic drive, and the E-Class is a stunning car worthy of it’s accolade.

However, the new Volvo is top notch and it’s right in the mix for luxury saloons.

One sticking point for us was that, although the S90 starts from €44,800, our test car, with €20k of extras, was a whopping €75k.

That’s a hell of a lot of money. Go easy on the extras and for not much more than €50k, the S90 should be at the top of your shopping list for 2017.
Tech Spec:

Model: Volvo S90 D4 Inscription

Price: From €44,800 (test car €75,195)

Road Tax: (Band A4) €200 per year

0-100kph: 7.9s

Max Speed: 225kph

Fuel Economy: 4.4 litres /100kms (claimed)

Boot space: 500 litres