Volvo S90 long-term test review
The Volvo S90 is an all-new luxury saloon built to take on some of the most accomplished cars on sale. We’ve added one to our long-term test fleet to find out what it’s like to live with...
- The car: Volvo S90 D4 Momentum
- Run by: Steve Huntingford, editor
- Why it's here: To see if Volvo has built a genuine alternative to luxury saloons from the likes of Audi, BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes
- Needs to: Offer outstanding comfort and refinement, a sumptuous interior and low fuel consumption
Price £33,865 Price as tested £40,585 Miles covered 7214 Official economy 64.2mpg Test economy 46.2mpg Options fitted Head-up display (£750), 18in alloy wheels (£700), metallic paint (£700), electric driver’s seat with memory (£600), IntelliSafe Surround Pack (£600), Keyless Drive (£575), Volvo On Call with app (£550), Winter Pack (£525), electric passenger seat (£400), rear parking camera (£400), TFT driver’s information display (£400), smartphone integration (£300), Dark Flame Birch inlays (£220)
30 November 2017 – sixth report
Last week, I attended the launch of Volvo's new small SUV, the XC40, and came away impressed. In particular, even though its starting price undercuts the S90's by around £7000, interior quality is very nearly as good.
There is, however, one area of the XC40's interior that does show signs of cost cutting, and that's the front seats. Don't get me wrong, they're not bad; in fact, they're probably some of the best in the class. But they're still a step down from those in my S90, offering less under-thigh support.
The S90's seats really are one of its greatest strengths. While most rival models feature firm, heavily bolstered designs that hold you tightly in place through corners, Volvo has clearly focused more on long-distance comfort.
Yes, this does means you slide around a bit on B-roads, but everywhere else you appreciate the fact that you're sitting on something that makes your grandad's armchair feel like a park bench.
In addition, adjustable lumbar support is standard, so you can tackle any back ache that sets in after a couple of hours behind the wheel, whereas this feature costs extra on the BMW 5 Series and Jaguar XF.
The S90 is one of those cars that takes the dread out of marathon motorway journeys. And in a luxury car, that counts for a lot.
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