2019 Volvo S90 Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byJason KavanaghSenior Vehicle Test Engineer

　　Jason joined zzdcar' testing team in 2006 as a vehicle testing engineer. Jason believes true appreciation of modern cars stems from owning really, really bad old ones.

　　

What's new

Revisions to standard equipment and trim level contentsPart of the second S90 generation introduced for 2017

　　Volvo fully embraced its heritage when creating the S90. At the vanguard of elegant Scandinavian design, this luxury sedan is roundly attractive inside and out. Its sheet metal is crisp, and its cabin materials are first-rate. While it's not an overtly sporty luxury sedan, the S90 confidently goes its own way.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Volvo S90 T5 Momentum 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$166/mo  for S90 T5 Momentum

　　S90 T5 Momentum

　　T5 Momentum 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $47,350 MSRPT6 Momentum 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger 8A) - $54,350 MSRPT6 Inscription 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger 8A) - $59,450 MSRPT8 Momentum Twin Engine Plug-In Hybrid 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) - $63,900 MSRPT8 Inscription Twin Engine Plug-In Hybrid 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) - $69,000 MSRP

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　There's substance to back up the style, too — the 2019 Volvo S90 boasts a long list of luxury appointments and driver assistance features. Roominess is another virtue of the S90. While it's priced like competitors' midsize luxury sedans such as the Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series, the S90 is as long as sedans one class higher. This length gives the S90 a lot more rear legroom and a bit more front legroom than the midsize competition.

　　The S90 draws criticism for one thing: its four-cylinder engine. While the power specs are solid, it doesn't offer the same level of refinement as its competition's optional six-cylinder engines. The same could be said of the S90's ride quality, which can be overly firm for this class of vehicle. Overall, though, we think the Volvo S90 is an appealing pick for a stylish luxury sedan.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.9 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Volvo S90 T6 Inscription Sedan (turbo 2.0L inline-4 | 8-speed automatic | AWD).

　　NOTE: Since this test was conducted in 2017, the current S90 has received some revisions, including the switch to a longer-wheelbase version. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's S90, however.

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.9 / 10
Driving	7.5
Comfort	8.0
Interior	8.0
Utility	7.5
Technology	8.5

　　

Driving

7.5

　　The S90 doesn't wow you with performance, but it's plenty fast when called upon. The steering feels precise but needlessly heavy. The car's mass also makes it less snappy than its rivals in quick turns and corners. It can still hustle, but it's no sport sedan.

　　

Acceleration

8.0

　　The T6 engine's turbo-supercharger tandem whips the S90 to highway-merging speeds in no time, but it sounds raspy at higher engine speeds. There's plenty of power almost anywhere in the first six gears; seventh and eighth are fuel savers only.

　　

Braking

7.5

　　The firm, solid pedal feel transmits confidence, which is good since this is a heavy car for its size.

　　

Steering

6.0

　　The steering requires more effort than we expect in a large luxury sedan. There's good feel on-center, and decent road feel is sent back to the driver, but extended driving will induce some fatigue.

　　

Handling

6.5

　　All-wheel drive and grippy tires signal sporting intentions but feel outmatched by the car's mass. Handling is able but not inspired. The S90 feels less willing to change directions than some other cars in the class.

　　

Drivability

7.0

　　The refined driving character is oriented more to comfort than speed or sport. Comfort mode is too sedate and dulls the S90's senses and accelerator response. Sport mode will be the default for most drivers seeking some spirit.

　　

Comfort

8.0

　　What the S90 lacks in heart-racing performance, it makes up for in high-class cabin comfort. But the ride quality is too harsh, perhaps due to a poor wheel-tire combination. Smaller wheels might ease the thumping we observed.

　　

Seat comfort

9.0

　　The firm but pliable seats have excellent support and shape. Ten-way power adjustments include thigh extenders and upper and lower lumbar. It's easy to dial in comfort and adjust for sustained comfort during long drives.

　　

Ride comfort

7.5

　　The ride is regal and undisturbed on most road surfaces but jostles like a sports car over more severe bumps and imperfections. Our test car came with the optional rear air suspension, which helped, but also optional 20-inch wheels, which made it worse.

　　

Noise & vibration

7.5

　　Wind and road noise is well suppressed, but there's a dull tire roar from the low-profile tires. Engine noise pipes in through the speakers. It's not a bad sound but not worth highlighting either.

　　

Climate control

8.0

　　The stylish center console vent design has directional vents and adjustable fan speed for rear-seat passengers. The seat coolers emit some fan noise, but it's muted. Most functions are accessed via a touchscreen menu instead of buttons and knobs.

　　

Interior

8.0

　　The S90 concedes nothing to its rivals in cabin design and materials. This interior is first-rate all around, from upholstery, touch points and surfaces to infotainment integration. However, the large rear pillars and a sloping roofline create blind spots and diminish headroom.

　　

Ease of use

8.0

　　The button labels aren't always obvious, which leads to some confusion. The touchscreen is intuitive, so it's easy to access primary navigation, phone, audio and climate functions.

　　

Getting in/getting out

8.0

　　Getting in and out of the front seats is easy thanks to a wide door swing and aperture. The sloping rear roofline means taller passengers might need to stoop slightly to get into the rear seats.

　　

Driving position

7.5

　　The steering column has manual tilt-and-telescoping, though it should be power-adjustable at this price. A 5-foot-10 driver will have no trouble finding a good position, and we wouldn't anticipate trouble for taller or shorter drivers.

　　

Roominess

7.0

　　There was enough legroom for a 6-foot passenger seated behind a 6-foot driver in the smaller-wheelbase S90 from last year, so we expect the 2018 long-wheelbase model to feel even more spacious. The sloping roofline eats a bit into the rear headroom, but headroom is on par with what competitors offer.

　　

Visibility

6.5

　　The sloping roofline and wide pillars inhibit some rear corner visibility, but generally there's no problem quickly assessing the blind spot before a lane change or when reversing. Blind-spot monitoring sensors are optional, an odd circumstance for a car in this price range.

　　

Quality

9.0

　　Time will tell with Volvo's latest family of new products. But to the eye, the S90 is free of unsightly gaps and obvious build quality issues. Early impressions suggest Volvo sweated the details.

　　

Utility

7.5

　　A 60/40-split folding rear seat with a long-item/ski pass-through improves flexibility for what is an otherwise average-size trunk. The optional hands-free trunklid and a 12-volt outlet in the cargo area add some errand-running and tailgating utility.

　　

Small-item storage

7.0

　　The door pockets, center console and glovebox storage are all adequately sized.

　　

Cargo space

7.0

　　At 13.5 cubic feet, the Volvo's trunk is roughly the same volume as the rest of the segment, give or take a cubic foot. The disappearing gooseneck hinges keep luggage from getting smashed.

　　

Technology

8.5

　　We sampled only the high-end stereo system, but it sounds worth every penny. The navigation system also impressed with its precision. Wireless connectivity comes via 3G but should be 4G at this level. Semiautomated driving features work well both on the highway and in city traffic.

　　

Audio & navigation

9.0

　　The optional Bowers & Wilkins audio system is top-shelf, with only slight bass distortion when cranked (the standard audio system was unavailable to test). Turn-by-turn navigation is impressively accurate.

　　

Smartphone integration

8.0

　　There are no issues with standard Bluetooth connection. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are optional.

　　

Driver aids

8.0

　　Pilot Assist coordinates adaptive cruise control, steering and lane keeping assist systems for semiautomated driving that works well at highway speeds and in stop-and-go traffic. Blind-spot monitoring and a 360-degree camera are available.

　　

Which S90 does zzdcar recommend?

　　The Momentum trim hits the sweet spot since it is well-equipped and offers many of the Inscription's features as options. There's simply more flexibility to configure a Momentum to your liking. As for engines, it's worth springing for the higher-output T6 engine over the T5.

　　

2019 Volvo S90 models

　　The 2019 Volvo S90 is offered in either Momentum or Inscription trim level with a choice of three powerplants. The T5 models are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (250 horsepower, 258 pound-feet of torque) paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels. All-wheel drive is optional on T5 models. The T6 is both supercharged and turbocharged (316 hp, 295 lb-ft) and comes standard with all-wheel drive. The plug-in hybrid T8 adds an 87-hp electric motor to the T6 engine for a combined output of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft.

　　Standard features for the T5 Momentum include 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a panoramic sunroof, rear parking sensors, keyless entry and ignition, selectable drive modes, simulated-leather upholstery, wood interior trim, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, heated power-adjustable front seats, driver-seat memory functions, and power-folding rear headrests.

　　On the technology front, you also get Volvo On Call remote features, a virtual instrument panel, a 9-inch touchscreen with Volvo's Sensus infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a navigation system, and a 10-speaker audio system with satellite radio.

　　Standard advanced safety features include forward collision warning and mitigation, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assist, oncoming lane mitigation, a drowsy driver warning system, and a traffic sign reader.

　　The T6 Inscription trim extends the features list with 19-inch wheels, Harman Kardon premium audio, four-zone automatic climate control, a cooled glovebox, interior ambient lighting, upgraded wood interior trim, leather upholstery, leather coverings on the dash and door panels, ventilated front seats, power-adjustable front-seat side bolsters and thigh extensions, and power sunshades for rear windows.

　　An optional Advanced package adds parking assist, a surround-view camera system, upgraded headlights and a head-up display. For the Inscription only, Volvo offers the Luxury package, which includes massaging front seats, heated and ventilated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and upgraded materials for the headliner and sun visors.

　　

2019 S90 Highlights

Type: SedanPlug-in HybridSedan

　　Trim: T5 MomentumT6 MomentumT6 InscriptionT8 Momentum Twin Engine Plug-In HybridT8 Inscription Twin Engine Plug-In HybridT5 Momentum

　　

Base MSRP	$47,350
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	27 MPG
Cost to Drive	$166/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	13.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles