Similar to other large sedans, the 2023 Volvo S90 confronts the problem of consumers choosing crossovers over sedans. In the country, just 172 Volvo S90 automobiles left the lot in January 2023. Volvo sold 14 XC90 SUVs, their most significant and best-selling model, for every one of those cars. The S90, however, continues to make a compelling argument for itself by providing Mercedes S-Class-like restraints for about half the price, along with optional PHEV power, all-wheel drive, and lots of elegance.
This year’s sole modification is to the trim names, with a more significant update coming in 2022. Momentum, R-Design, and Inscription are no longer available. Plus and Ultimate are the new names for the lower and higher trim levels. Compared to its pre-2022 rating of 21 miles, the Recharge PHEV’s 38 miles of pure battery range is a significant improvement. It is exclusively offered as the Ultimate. The Android-based system with Google built-in is standard everywhere, and a new Lounge package gives comfort perks.
Competitors like the Audi A6 and Genesis G80 (which is moving toward the G90) are unable to match the S90’s roomy second row: Only purchasing a BMW 7 Series, an S-Class, or an A8 for thousands more would provide 40.4 inches of back seat legroom. But compared to those massive warships, the S90 is inexpensive, and only the plug-in hybrid puts prices into the upper luxury range. No sedans provide this much space and are entirely electric, even somewhat close to this pricing.
The non-PHEV Plus and Ultimate variants feature a mild hybrid 2.0-litre four-cylinder that is both turbocharged and supercharged; this engine generates 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque ($58,095 and $63,645, respectively, plus a $1,095 delivery fee). The bigger, 18.8-kWh battery in the plug-in S90 Recharge ($71,595) draws more power from its front and rear electric motors, producing 455 horsepower and 523 pound-feet of torque. Both engines are quick; the hotter Recharge reaches 60 mph in only 4.6 seconds, while the mid-range S90s needs 6.2 seconds.
The S90 has assured handling, although its German rivals are better at cutting through turns. This Volvo, though, is all about comfort. The limo-like rear seat, premium materials, cutting-edge technology with Google built-in, and the extensive plug-in hybrid range stand out the most. The PHEV foreshadows further electrification for the Volvo brand; in the future, a Volvo sedan in this style may be produced entirely electric.
In general, the S90 is a good deal, particularly for the interior. All classes start with leather as the primary material, but upgrading to the Ultimate adds amenities like intricate leather stitching on the dashboard, a head-up display for the driver, and an Orrefors crystal gear selector. The Ultimate grade includes Nappa leather upholstery, four-way lumbar support for the driver, and power controls for both the front passenger and driver. A 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system with a vented subwoofer is also included with Ultimate. It is obvious why the Ulitmate is superior to the standard Plus.
What’s New?
- Google-based connection is now included as standard throughout the lineup, with the basic model now going by the name Plus and the other trim going by Ultimate S90 Recharge, which is only available as PHEV Ultimate.
- With an 18.8 kWh battery and a 38-mile projected all-electric range, the S90 Recharge offers a more extended range.
- Front and rear seats that are heated and ventilated, front seat massages, and a luxurious rear armrest are included in the $1,500 Lounge package.
- With Google built-in, the Waze navigation app is now available for Volvo automobiles.
Performance: Volvo S90
The seamless hand-off between hybrid and gas engine propulsion is the feature of this system. That’s fortunate since the inline-four’s sound alone makes a strong case for the wisdom of Volvo’s impending switch to all-electric vehicles. If you get the Recharge, it is also wise to drive mostly on battery power since the torque delivery is enough, and you won’t notice the additional capacity the gas engine provides.
There are a few other strange things about the S90 Recharge, like the fact that you have to tab through several settings on the 12.3-inch touchscreen to change the drive modes (from blended to only EV or performance); there isn’t a hard switch for this by default; you have to pay extra for a drive mode selector. Hmmm.
That’s not just annoying; it’s irritating, particularly given that Volvo will offer Plus and Ultimate buyers a $1,400 Polestar Performance Package, a software upgrade that adds mid-range engine power and enables the eight-speed automatic to shift gears more quickly. But before you get too enthusiastic, know that Volvo is passive-aggressively reminding drivers that they are Swedish, not German and that it does not include paddle shifters.
Fuel efficiency: Volvo S90
All Volvo S90 models are (mild) hybrids. However, the Plus and Ultimate only achieve adequate, and not particularly impressive, fuel economy ratings of 23 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined. That’s average compared to the majority of four-cylinder cars in the same class, and none of the competition can match the fuel efficiency of the Lexus ES hybrid, which is 43 cities, 44 highways, and 44 combined. However, most of its rivals, including the G80, meet or slightly exceed its combined mileage of 26 mpg.
They are more powerful and fuel-efficient. Because of its bigger battery, Recharge can be plugged in, and its 18.8 kWh battery is topped up. It has a combined EPA rating of 30 mpg or 66 mpg (the miles it can travel on a single fuel tank equivalent to one gallon of gasoline), and it can operate entirely on electricity. The BMW 530e gives comparable MPGe ratings but with less power and just 19 miles of EV-alone range, while the battery-only range of 38 miles is respectable and bests it.
Considering Volvo’s spin-off Polestar brand makes sense if you’re serious about switching to electric vehicles, given its 107 MPGe combined. Although you won’t come close to the backseat capacity in the smaller Polestar 2, you’ll get fantastic performance, comparable design cues, and no more frequent trips to the gas station.
Safety & Driver Support
However, unlike in 2022, the 2023 Volvo S90 didn’t once again get the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ designation. In tests with higher standards, it only received “Good” ratings. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not yet released ratings for the sedan.
It received five stars from the NCAP testing organizations in Europe and Australia for its earlier, pre-refresh version.
The Volvo BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) with steering assist is a standard feature on all S90s. It is intended to warn the driver of blind-spot traffic and help the driver steer the car back into its lane. By 2023, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian/animal/cyclist detection, lane keeping, and automatic emergency braking will all function from almost at a stop to highway speeds. In addition to whiplash-protective front seats that wobble slightly in severe g-forces, Volvo’s specially developed airbag suite for front passengers also contains front, side, curtain, and knee airbags. This allows the energy to be absorbed rather than passed through the passenger.
Additionally, standards are LED headlights with adjustable high and low beams.
Comfort and Space
It won’t be easy to find a midsized luxury sedan competitor with better backseat legroom than the S90, which has 40.4 inches. Only the Lexus ES comes close, with 39.2 inches of rear legroom, beating out the BMW 5 Series, Audi A6, and Genesis G80. To get close to European luxury, you’ll need to jump up to a full-size competitor like the BMW 7 Series (and pay $15,000 to $50,000 extra).
All versions come standard with leather and heated front seats, but upgrading to the Ultimate adds ventilation for the front seats, four-way lumbar support for the driver, and a motorized front passenger seat with a leg extension feature. Rear seat vents and armrest trim that complement the open-pore wood look on the dash are included with the $1,500 Lounge package.
The Recharge Ultimate trim level adds a heated steering wheel, motorized rear window blinds, clever accent lighting, and a laminated glass sunroof.
Infotainment: Volvo S90
Each S90 from Volvo comes with four years of “digital services.” Google powers this navigation system, and you can interact with it by asking Google Assistant to establish various tasks. If you have a Google account, your favourite destinations, including your house, favourite restaurant, and favourite school, are all only a voice command away.
However, speech has limitations since you must use the 9-inch vertically positioned touchscreen to alter driving modes or other settings. Similar to previous Volvos, the emphasis on simplicity necessitates more menu-driven functions rather than an over-reliance on hard buttons. Apple CarPlay is optional. However, it is also available.
The Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system, which is an option, equips the interior with stylish aluminium grilles and a central speaker with a tweeter on top. The sound system has enough finesse and clarity with 1,400 watts and 19 speakers to satisfy most audiophiles. Still, since that upgrade costs $3,200, you may be content with the 600-watt Harman Kardon system with 14 speakers and digital processing. Such a mechanism is standard on models such as the Ultimate and Recharge. The base has a 10-speaker audio system.
Storage & Cargo Space:
The inside of the S90 is pleasantly roomy. The trunk measures 13.5 cubic feet, which is more than the ten cubic feet of the BMW 5 Series but less than the 13.9 of the Lexus ES and far less than the hatchbacks of the Audi A7 and Tesla Model S, even though both of those models are significantly more expensive. But it surpasses the Genesis’ 13.1 cubic feet and falls just short of the A6’s 13.7 cubic feet.
If you don’t have the Lounge Package, which fixes the uprights in the back seats, you may flip the rear seats forward to create an SUV-like distance from the back of the front seatback of 82.6 inches. This won’t make your S90 into a hatchback; instead, for more adaptable storage options, check out the V90, Volvo’s S90 wagon’s sibling, which delivers superior driving qualities to those of an SUV in a more usable package.
Design: Volvo S90
The Volvo S90’s shape isn’t revolutionary yet has a timeless feel. The S90 is based on Volvo’s SPA (Scalable Product Architecture), an extended wheelbase chassis that gives it a royal, dignified appearance.
It’s possible to describe the decor as stylishly Scandinavian. The combination of open-pore wood trim, heavy metal door releases, and nicely bolstered upholstery gives off a particular atmosphere partly because it doesn’t seem like an assortment of bright sports buckets and gaudy chrome. Volvo’s minimalist aesthetic conveys timelessness. More minor, subtle trim pieces soften the “frame” of the car’s interior components, which act on your brain like exposed beams in a colonial house and inspire confidence. The abbreviation: Picture a modern-furnished pied-à-terre in Stockholm.
Is the Volvo S90 from 2023 worth it?
This battle is near. Because the top-trim Ultimate provides so much value above the $58,095 (plus $1,095 destination) vehicle, at $63,645, Additionally, it is the most excellent bargain by far—but only if you ignore the expense of ownership. The federal government estimates that the mild hybrid Plus or Ultimate will cost you $1,050 more in petrol per year than the $71,595 Recharge. However (!) for that money, several almost luxurious EVs (from Hyundai, Tesla, and Polestar) instead of plug-in hybrids will allow you to forgo petrol altogether. The fact that they are all smaller and have far less backseat capacity is yet significant.
How Much Will Insurance for a 2023 Volvo S90 Cost?
Insurance premiums for the S90 are expensive, typical of many of its rivals. Though this averages all 50 states, an ordinary 30-year-old female driver with a clean record may anticipate an average yearly premium of $3,000 for the basic model and $3,185 for the PHEV. The essential Genesis G80 costs $2,844, $2,872 for the Audi A6 and $2,960 for the BMW 5 Series.
Verdict
Volvo’s S60 and S90 sedans must fit into three size categories since the company no longer offers tiny sedans like the S40 for sale in the United States. Instead, it gives its midsize and compact market share to small crossovers like the XC40 and XC60 and wagons like the V60. The 2023 Volvo S90 now sits one rung higher, more like a full-size BMW 7 Series, although it costs much less. It is not as athletic as competitors but luxurious and packed with high-tech amenities.
Generations of the Volvo S90
First Generation from 2017 forward
The present S90 is the correct first version of Volvo’s flagship sedan, even though the Swedish automaker temporarily marketed the old 900-Series as the S90 in 1997 and 1998. The contemporary S90 made its premiere as a 2017 model during the 2016 Detroit Auto Show. A long-wheelbase variant (S90L), first exclusively offered to the Chinese market before being swiftly extended to include the North American market, was first marketed as a short-wheelbase sedan in Europe and North America.
Interestingly, the short-wheelbase variant was dropped in the United States the following year. Although no “L” indicates, the American S90 is only available as a long-wheelbase AWD sedan. The short-wheelbase variant is still available in many other areas, especially Europe and the Middle East. The S90’s extended wheelbase allows it to be sized halfway between full-size (and much more costly) siblings like the A8L and midsize luxury sedans like the Audi A6.
The S90’s exterior had a minor restyling in 2021, which included an updated rear decklid. A Google-based infotainment system with Google Maps and Assistant was improved for 2022. The PHEV variant, which has a 38-mile battery-only range, now has more power. The trim names had minor changes in 2023; the basic model is now called Plus, while the other is called Ultimate.
