2018 Volvo S90

 All Curves and Comfort!

By Charles Donaldson

Volvo was once recognized for producing boxy, slow performing, and safety-first DNA vehicles.  Let me tell you, those days are long gone! For a few years now, Volvo has replaced its tired boxy form with smooth, curvy lines that are gorgeous and graceful. The now, Asian-owned company, has continued its dedication to providing the safest cars on the road. Volvo’s premier sedan is the S90, and this 2018 version is loaded with luxury, performance, high tech equipment, and naturally, lots of safety-first inspired features. As of now, the S90 is still designed in Sweden, while being built in China.

Pricing and Trims
For 2018, the Volvo S90 is available in the following three trim levels: T5 Momentum ($48,100), T6 AWD Momentum and Inscription ($54,100, $58,600) and T8 eAWD Momentum and Inscription ($58,648, $63,148 – pricing with Federal Tax Incentive).

What’s new for 2018?
Starting with the 2018 model year, the Volvo S90 is sold in the United States and will be equipped with the long wheelbase version that is assembled in China. New for 2018 is the introduction of the T8 plug-in eAWD model and the base T5 is also available with all-wheel drive (AWD). The T5 AWD and T6 AWD models now come standard with blind-spot warning with rear-cross traffic alert, panoramic moonroof, retractable sideview mirrors, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. The Inscription model includes a tailored dashboard and upper door panels, power-operated sun curtains for the rear and side windows, and optional 20-inch eight-spoked silver alloy wheels. 

Interior Highpoints
The S90’s wheelbase has been stretched by 4.7 inches, while maintaining its beautiful proportions and complimenting the rear passengers with an extra 4.5 inches of legroom. You’ll feel the comfort level the moment you sit in the front and rear seats!  The seat’s surface has leather with a 10-way power front driver’s seat. From the rear passenger seat, you can operate the power rear sun curtain. A 9.0-inch center display and 8-inch digital driver’s display all increase the usability and functionality. With the Convenience Package ($2,550) you also have heated washer nozzles, power operated trunk lid, 360-degree surround view cameras, HomeLink, 12V Power outlet, compass, and park assist pilot and front park assist.

Exterior Highlights
The S90 is striking in design with a well-balanced front to rear ration and beautifully-sculptured inside and out. The outer shell initiates emotions of a sport sedan dressed in luxury attire. The rear cloaks fastback-esque appeal with thin taillights that curve around the edges and into the trunk lid.

Performance Specs
There are three engine variations to choose from coming from one motor: a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder. The S90 T5 includes a turbocharged 250 horsepower, the T6 is packaged with a supercharged and turbocharged 316-hp, and finally a supercharged and turbocharged working with an electric drive system on the T8 Twin Engine, which is rated at 400-horses. All three are mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Cool Features:

Safety Integrity
The Volvo S90 is considered an IIHS 2017 Top Safety Pick since the sedan received the highest ratings of Good in all five crash tests and the highest rating of Superior for front crash prevention for properly warning a driver of a possible collision. Other reasons include: avoiding both a 12 and 25 mph frontal collision thanks to the standard City Safety automatic emergency braking system. The 2018 S90 also comes standard with rear parking sensors, Pilot Assist (semi-autonomous drive system) with adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot warning with rear-cross traffic alert, front emergency braking, after collision automatic braking, driver alert control, and a rear collision alert system.

In Summary – My test vehicle was the 2018 Volvo S90 T8 eAWD Inscription with the Convenience and Luxury packages, so in other words – it was fully loaded (as was the price $82,140). With that said, the S90 was amazing to drive and always delivered the comfort and performance expected from a car in this price range. I kept finding new features and truly felt like I was driving with the 1%. The styling was beautiful, the interior was amazing, and I enjoyed the 360-degree surround camera view. Since it all comes with an $82K price, the more you want, the heftier the price tag. Even without the $20,000 of extra packages, the 2018 Volvo S90 still includes a lot of features and one of the best safety ratings.

Specifications

Base price:	$63,650 as driven: $82,140 (including destination & optional features)
Engine:	2.0-liter supercharged and turbocharged working with an electric drive system
Horsepower:	400 hp
Torque:	472 lb.-ft.
Transmission:	8-speed automatic
Drive:	All-Wheel Drive
Seating:	5-passenger
Cargo space:	15.4 cubic feet
Curb weight:	4,579 pounds
EPA mileage:	City 26/Hwy 33/Comb 29 MPG
Fuel Capacity:	13.2 gallons
Turning Circle:	38.7 ft – 40.0 ft
Wheelbase:	120.5 inches
Warranty:	4 years/50,000-miles
Also consider:	Audi A6, BMW 5-Series, Cadillac CT6, Lexus GS, Infiniti Q70, Jaguar XF, Mercedes-Benz E-Class