Review and specifications

2021 Volvo S90

Though plush and ornate, the S90 falls short of the refinement expected of a midsized luxury sedan, due to the stiff ride and gruff-sounding engine. Only four-cylinder engines are available. The 316-hp supercharged and turbocharged T6 pulls strongly, but acceleration falls below class expectations. We measured a respectable 23 mpg overall in our tests. The base T5 version uses a 250-hp turbocharged four-cylinder. All-wheel drive is available. Handling is sound but ordinary. The roomy cabin is gorgeous, with supportive seats, but the iPad-like touch screen proves frustrating to use. Automatic emergency braking, including pedestrian and large animal detection, is standard. The Pilot Assist system combines steering assistance and adaptive cruise control to try to make driving easier. The V90 is the wagon version. As of 2018, the S90 comes only as a long wheelbase version with a roomy backseat. Changes for 2020 included a new 12.3-inch display in the instrument panel showing information such as navigation directions, telephone and road signs. Also, the battery size for the plug-in hybrid increases to 11.6 kWh, and a sporty R-Design model joined the line. The V90 wagon was discontinued after the 2021 model. For 2022, the S90 has a 295-hp, 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder mild hybrid dubbed B6. The plug-in hybrid was discontinued for 2025.

Market value

$24,400

Fuel

Conventional

Transmission

Automatic

Seats

5