Used 2019 Volvo S90

The 2019 Volvo S90 luxury sedan offers buyers all the attributes expected of a luxury brand, but because it isn’t as commonplace as a BMW 5 Series or an Audi A6, it also comes with a fair bit of exclusivity. The S90 has all the latest bells and whistles including semi-autonomous driving capability. But it also has a look all its own, with a stunning interior and massive rear seat that dwarfs that of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Cadillac CTS. The S90 is offered in two trims, Momentum and Inscription, and a varying array of powertrains including a turbocharged 4-cylinder (T5), a turbocharged and supercharged 4-cylinder (T6) and a Plug-In Hybrid netting 400 horsepower (T8). A starting price well under $50,000 is another S90 advantage.

Smooth, responsive and powerful, the 2019 Volvo S90 is a dream to drive. Though it lacks the poise of a rear-drive German sedan like the BMW 5 Series, when equipped with all-wheel drive, the S90 T6 is every bit the equal of a car like the Audi A6. Our time in a T6 Inscription proved rather enlightening, with the big Volvo returning excellent feedback through the steering wheel and responding quickly to both steering and braking inputs. Although it displaces only 2.0 liters, the turbocharged and supercharged engine never failed to deliver, with no sign of lag and a stunningly flat torque curve. Rapid acceleration is now the S90’s new calling card. As much fun as the S90 is to drive, it’s even more fun to let drive itself, thanks to its standard semi-autonomous Pilot Assist feature. As long as the driver keeps his hands on the wheel and eyes on the road, the S90 can start, stop and steer itself in both city and highway driving, although it can’t make sharp turns as when going through S-curves or making a 90-degree left or right turn.

With an additional 4.5 inches of rear-seat legroom over last year’s standard-wheelbase model, the Volvo S90’s back seat is one of the most cavernous in its class. It’s wide too. This is a true 5-seater. Front-seat accommodations are also worth a few gold stars. Volvo is a world leader in vehicle seat comfort and function, and the S90’s seats are well shaped, and its seat heaters can beat back Old Man Winter. Volvo has managed to combine high-tech features in an understated overall design combined with old-world craftsmanship. A single piece of shaped walnut adorns the passenger side of the dash, while most controls are within the large touch screen, which looks and functions like an iPad. It’s a simple, elegant and intuitive design.

Adding 4.7 inches to the wheelbase of a car, any car, could be a recipe for design disaster. Chances are you’ll end up with awkward proportions and a cartoonish profile. Not this time. Volvo has pulled it off. With the short-wheelbase model given the boot, only the longer version remains for 2019. If possible, the new longer 2019 Volvo S90 looks even better. Not just longer, but leaner. This is a handsome sedan. Special features include the front grille that is scalloped in homage to the Volvo P1800 sports car, the “Thor’s hammer” motif in the LED headlights and a sweeping line that extends from bow to stern inspired by the sailboats of Sweden’s incomparable West Coast.

DRIVE-MODE SETTINGS
With four mode settings from which to choose (Comfort, Eco, Dynamic and Individual), the driver can set the S90’s driving dynamics to suit numerous situations, be it a desire for a soft ride or to deal with rough or twisting road conditions. Our only gripe is that the system resets to the Comfort setting every time the car is started.

VOLVO ON CALL
This app is standard on the S90 and comes as a no-charge service for the first four years. Via a smartphone, owners can check the car’s fuel level, heat or cool the car’s cabin, lock or unlock the doors and start the car. In the event of an accident, the S90 will alert an operator to send help using your GPS location.

Driver-assist and safety systems lead the Volvo S90’s most notable standard items. In addition to the previously mentioned Gen2 Pilot Assist system, the new S90 offers “Run-off Road Mitigation” that is designed to prevent one of the most common types of fatal accidents. Between speeds of 40-85 mph the system can sense a potential run-off-the-road situation, and in response it can both steer and brake automatically to keep the S90 on the road. Although potentially intrusive, the system can be overridden by overt driver action. It is designed to function in times of driver inattention and/or impairment that could send the car careening off the road. Other standard niceties include Volvo’s justifiably famous City Safety collision-avoidance system and LED headlights.

As one climbs the trim ladder the new Volvo S90 goes from very good to even better. Packages on the T5 Momentum can add heated front seats and steering wheel, a 360-degree camera system, front and rear park assist, a 4-zone climate-control system, high-pressure headlight cleaners and a power-operated trunk lid. The Inscription trim opens the door to heated and ventilated rear seats, massaging front seats and a rear console. All-wheel drive is available in both trim levels, and the rear air-suspension system, Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system and a Head-Up Display are available as stand-alone options.

Using a clean-sheet-of-paper approach to powertrains, Volvo has committed to an inline 4-cylinder engine as its basic building block. From there, it adds increasingly high levels of sophistication on the continuum from the 250-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter engine in the T5 version, to the 316-horsepower direct-injected, supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-liter engine in the T6. Both engines use an 8-speed automatic transmission to send power to the front (T5) or all four (T6) wheels. The T8 Plug-In Hybrid adds an electric motor in a plug-in hybrid configuration similar to that of the XC90 plug-in.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
250 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
258 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/35 mpg (FWD), 22/31 mpg (AWD)

2.0-liter supercharged & turbocharged inline-4
316 horsepower @ 5,700 rpm
295 lb-ft of torque @ 2,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/31 mpg (AWD)

2.0-liter supercharged & turbocharged inline-4 + 87-horsepower electric motor
400 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
472 lb-ft of torque @ 5,400 rpm
Combined EPA city/highway fuel economy: 29 mpg, 71 MPGe (AWD)
Electric-only range on a full charge: 21-miles