May 10, 2017, 00:00 AM by Paul Immediato

Volvo has launched a new flagship, its all-new midsize luxury sedan, the S90, that replaces the S80 in its lineup. Marketed as a vehicle that celebrates those who follow their own paths, its commercials are set to the inspiring words of American poet, Walt Whitman, and his “Song of The Open Road.”

This subliminal urging to escape the confines of indoor spaces to seek inspiration outside and behind the wheel, is paid off with Volvo luxury, attention to detail, crisp and upscale architecture, and Volvo’s advanced modular product platform – Scalable Product Architecture – that underpins all new Volvo cars in the 90 and 60 Series.

Making a strong first impression, the 2017 S90 has received a car-full of accolades from industry magazine and groups: S90 was a finalist for the 2017 Motor Trend “Car of the Year” and the “2017 North American Car of the Year”; it won the “Roadshow Editor’s Choice Award”, presented by CNET, excelling in multiple areas; it won the NAIAS (North American International Auto Show ) “EyesOn Design Awards” that honor the best production and concept vehicles making their worldwide auto show debut in Detroit; was called “an All-Star” for its “cohesive package of safety, style, sensibility, and supple ride” by the editors of Automobile magazine, and the S90 was awarded Top Safety Pick designation for 2017 by the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety).

The S90 is a premium 4-door, 5-seat flagship sedan that carries the confident face of Volvo’s new design language, along with classic Volvo styling cues. Key features include the iconic “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlight design, the new grille and Volvo Iron Mark, and the expressive use of the Volvo word mark on the rear.

Measuring 56.8 inches in height, 195.4 inches in length, and 79.5 inches in width, on a 115.8-inch wheelbase, the Volvo S90 is sleek, rounded and elegant with 9-inch 10-spoke Silver Diamond cut alloy wheels, special trim badges, grille and cosmetic elements; color-coordinated door handles with side decor, illumination with Puddle Lights, a Panoramic Moonroof with Power Sunshade; dual integrated tailpipes; retractable mirrors and tire pressure monitoring system.

The lavish cabin adapts design cues utilized in Volvos XC90 model with new details on the dashboard and instrument panel, including new air blades that stand vertically on each side of the Sensus user interface. Measuring a comfortable, but not spacious
38.7 inches of front headroom with 37.8 inches in the rear; legroom of 42.2 inches up front and 35.9 inches for passengers and front shoulder room of 47.5 with 44.9 inches in row two, the cabin is packed with amenities. A brief list of interior niceties includes Keyless entry; Rear Park Assist Camera; 4-Zone Electronic Climate Control; an Automatic CleanZone Function that lets you and your passengers enjoy clean, healthy cabin air and monitors incoming air -- shutting the cabin's air intakes if harmful substances are detected. You also get a 12.3-inch digital driver display; 224-watt High Performance Audio System with tweeters and woofers; Sensus Navigation; Smart Phone Integration; SiriusXM Satellite Radio; Speech Function; Sun Curtain, Rear Side Door Windows and rear window; Nappa Leather upholstery; ventilated and heated front seats; 10-way, Power Front Driver Seat including Driver Seat Memory; Inscription Carpet; Interior High Level Illumination, headlight high-pressure cleaning; and Road Sign In formation that detects various speed limits and road information signs.

Offering two 4-cylinder engine options (and a Plug-in Hybrid model as well), the T5 models use a 2.0-liter Inline four -cylinder turbocharged engine that puts out 250 hp and 250 lbs.-ft. of torque for an EPA estimate of 34/highway and 23/city. My test T6 AWD powered up with a 2.0-liter In-line four-cylinder turbocharged and supercharged engine that provided 316hp and 295 lbs.-ft. Rated at 31/highway and 22/city, my tests brought in an average of 26.6mpg.

Handing was solid, and road manners were refined, though the suspension was rough at times. S90 was agile, but steering was a bit heavy with minor understeer. Performance-wise, the twin-charged T6 engine was not hesitant and accelerated seamlessly. On the track, a zero-to-60mph sprint was finished off in 5.9 seconds and the quarter-mile was dispatched in 14.4 seconds (hand timed).

Available in four trim options, the S90 T5 Momentum starts at $46,950; the S90 T5 Inscription starts at $49,650; the S90 T6 Momentum starts at $48,100 and my test S90 T6 Inscription based at $58,600. The T8 Hybrid will start at $68,150.

My T6 Inscription added Bright Silver Metallic exterior paint for $595 and was mated to Charcoal Perforated Leather upholstery. A heated steering wheel added $300; the Convenience package added $2250 for a compass in Interior Rear View Mirror, Park Assist Pilot and Front Park Assist, Heated Washer Nozzles, Power Operated Trunklid, 360-degree Surround View Camera, 12 Volt Outlet in Luggage Compartment and Homelink®. Going all out and all upscale, the Luxury Package added $3450 for Nubuck Headliner, Heated Rear Seats, Deluxe Rear Seat Center Armrest and a Backrest Massage. A Graphical Head Up Display added $900 and upmarket sound systems and suspension could have added an additional $4400, but were not on my test vehicle. With destination fees of $995, the sticker as tested was $67,390.


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Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.