2023 Volvo S90

Overview

Think of the Volvo S90 as the contrarian’s luxury sedan. Not only does it have a distinct Scandinavian personality thanks to its distinctive design inside and out, it also presents somewhat of a value equation compared with its rivals. With pricing that aligns with mid-size luxury sedans but a similar amount of rear-seat space as full-size entries such as the Genesis G90 and Lexus LS, the S90 finds itself in an interesting middle ground. A turbocharged four-cylinder engine is standard across the board, with varying degrees of hybrid assistance. The Recharge plug-in-hybrid model is the most powerful and most expensive of the lot, and it offers an EPA-rated 38 miles of electric-only range when fully charged.

What’s New for 2023?

The S90 offers a simplified lineup of trim levels for the new model year. Plus and Ultimate trims replace the old Momentum, R-Design, and Inscription models, and the hybrid S90 Recharge is only available in the loaded Ultimate configuration. Additional Google-based connectivity features also come on board.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The nicely equipped Ultimate model is what we’d choose, and it offers a $1500 Lounge package that fancies up the rear-seat accommodations. It’s up to you whether the Recharge hybrid’s extra performance and electric range are worth thousands more, but the base B6 engine is perfectly adequate.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

With the new 295-hp B6 mild-hybrid powertrain under the hood, the S90 delivered a solid 6.4-second zero-to-60-mph time in our testing. Although that’s slightly slower than the previous T6 model, the hybrid powertrain’s low-end torque and responsive eight-speed automatic transmission helps maintain the car’s perky feeling off the line. The previous iteration of the plug-in hybrid Recharge version blasted down our test track, matching results of the six-cylinder BMW 540i xDrive (4.5 seconds) in our zero-to-60-mph testing, and we haven’t yet tested the even more powerful hybrid setup introduced last year. We’re also hoping that the revised hybrid powertrain smooths out some of the hiccups from before. Handling is surefooted, but the trade-off is a ride that hardly feels like terry cloth. Rough stretches of road transmit more vibrations into the cabin than in more softly sprung competitors. The steering has a weighty feel, but it isn’t as direct or as precise as it should be, which erodes the S90’s perceived athleticism.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

Models equipped with the B6 powertrain earn EPA fuel economy ratings of 23 mpg city and 31 mpg highway while the hybrid Recharge models earn a rating as high as 66 MPGe combined. On our 75-mph highway fuel economy test, the S90 with the standard B6 powertrain returned 29 mpg. For more information about the S90’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The S90’s cabin is by far its most impressive feature. A mixture of high-end materials—open-pore wood, genuine leather, brushed metal, and finely grained plastics—come together in a cohesive and undeniably modern space. The 14-way power-adjustable front seats are all-day comfortable and should fit all body shapes. The S90 lacks features we’ve come to expect in this segment, though. A manual steering column makes a surprising—and disappointing—appearance, as nearly all of the Volvo’s rivals offer power adjustments. The S90 sedan will meet the needs of most drivers, and models with the folding rear seatback offer a cavernous cargo area. Have even more gear to cart around? Check out the V90, the S90’s wagon-bodied sibling.

The Car and Driver Difference

Infotainment and Connectivity

The S90 is as connected as any of its rivals, and it relies heavily on its infotainment touchscreen to control many of its functions. All S90s feature a 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen mounted in the center of the dashboard. To adjust simple functions such as the heated seats or the optional head-up display, the user must interact with the system. This is becoming par for the luxury-brand course, and some systems are more user-friendly than others. The S90’s system is easy enough to use, but the driver will have a learning curve before feeling comfortable enough to make changes on the go. Volvo’s latest Android-based infotainment system now supports Apple CarPlay and offers over-the-air software updates.

How to Buy and Maintain a Car

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The S90’s long list of driver-assistance features is impressive, and Volvo offers most of it as standard equipment. For more information about the S90’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

Standard automated emergency braking with forward-collision warning Standard lane-keeping assist Standard adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Volvo offers a class-standard four-year warranty and includes all scheduled maintenance for the first three years. Genesis offers longer warranty coverage for owners of its G90 sedan, but it’s the outlier in the segment.

Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles Complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for 3 years or 36,000 miles

Specifications

SPECIFICATIONS

2018 Volvo S90 T8 Plug-In Hybrid
Vehicle type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

PRICE AS TESTED
$82,140 (base price: $64,645)

ENGINE TYPE
turbocharged, supercharged, and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter inline-4, 316 hp, 295 lb-ft; 2 permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors (front: 46 hp, 111 lb-ft; rear: 87 hp, 177 lb-ft); combined output, 400 hp, 472 lb-ft; 10.4-kWh lithium-ion battery pack

TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 120.5 in
Length: 200.1 in
Width: 74.6 in
Height: 57.1 in
Passenger volume: 102 ft3
Trunk volume: 14 ft3
Curb weight: 4701 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS

Zero to 60 mph: 4.5 sec

Zero to 100 mph: 12.3 sec

Zero to 130 mph: 28.2 sec

Rolling start, 5-60 mph: 5.3 sec

Top gear, 30-50 mph: 2.9 sec

Top gear, 50-70 mph: 3.6 sec

Standing ¼-mile: 13.3 sec @ 103 mph

Top speed (governor limited, C/D est): 140 mph

Braking, 70-0 mph: 166 ft

Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad*: 0.91 g

*stability-control-inhibited

C/D FUEL ECONOMY

Observed: 27 MPGe

75-mph highway driving, hybrid mode: 32 mpg

Highway range, hybrid mode: 500 mi

EPA FUEL ECONOMY

Combined/city/highway: 29/26/33 mpg

Combined gasoline+electricity: 71 MPGe

EV range: 21 miles

c/d testing explained

More Features and Specs