Volvo can do no wrong. Latest S90 sedan driven

Even Volvo, while revelling in XC90’s worldwide success, would have realised that although their car had broken much new ground, ultimately a 7-seater SUV was perhaps too cumbersome for most needs.  The Volvo S90 sedan brings everything that was class-leading about that 2016 South African Car of the Year and restructures it as a rival to the Mercedes E Class and BMW 5 Series.

Styling

Let’s start with the looks. It’s achingly beautiful, stylish and sophisticated… from the front. The rear end is up for debate, but in the flesh we quite liked it. One gets the sense that those Thomas Ingenlath lines won’t age anytime soon either. Heck, old S40s still look modern compared to similarly aged BMWs and Mercs. The standard look is resolved, but for those seeking some individualism, various extras are available, such as upgraded 21 inch alloys, spoilers and colour coding. All in all, it’s a win for Volvo especially because unlike those competitors, there is no uneven looking bottom specification model spoil things.

Engine, Drivetrain and Chassis

Currently, Volvo S90 is available in either 140kW diesel or 235kW petrol, both with 8 speed Geartronic automatic gearboxes and four-wheel drive.  There’s no fire-breathing AMG or M Division rival. No Polestar, yet. The gearbox is seamless but is much more suited to sedate driving. When meandering through twisty bends in the twin-charged T6 petrol version, the chassis and engine obliged but the gearbox lacks some of the punvh delivered by rivals. S90 performs best being brisk rather than being rushed. The chassis eventually leans towards safe and predictable understeer yet this leviathan of an executive sedan is still a fun car to drive . The twin turbo diesel seems more balanced with its responsive and quiet engine that murmurs along at 4.4l/100 fuel consumption, as opposed to the 7.2l/100 in the sportier petrol version.

Interior

Available in three trim levels, Momentum, Inscription and sporty R-Design, the S90 mirrors the award winning XC90’s interior.  Interior options include the crisp and clear 19 speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, Visual Park Assist with the practical and functional 360-degree HD camera. Cockpit ergonomics are good, with multiple seat adjustments and obvious R&D going into interior design and feel.  Voice control comes standard, with S90 allowing control of navigation, phone, climate, media and other vehicle functions without the need to lift a finger.

Autonomous Driving and Safety

Our chauffeur promptly demonstrated the autonomous driving modes and with glee we laughed as the car seamlessly navigated its way towards our destination. Unlike older generation systems, the car follows curves with greater accuracy, although not invulnerable to our faded road markers that confuse even the most sophisticated of radar systems…  It does, however, hold following distances well and flawlessly adjusts speed as to tag on to the “lead car”.  The technology is improving, and the S90 is a case in point.

With Volvos having always been pioneers in safety, one has to wonder how such a company stays ahead of the curve in the current competitive climate.  But it does. With a host of safety equipment, most pioneered by the XC90,Volvo  S90 comes with Pedestrian, Cyclist and Large Animal Detection. Run-off Road Mitigation and Protection with Road Edge Detection works better than similar systems from other manufacturers, as the car gets nursed back from the verge rather than forced.  These are just a few of the S90s long list of passive and active safety features. All with a view to take us ever closer to a fully autonomous experience.

All in all it might not appear as a giant leap, but these tiny adjustments imbue the car with an improved sense of awareness of its surroundings and how to react to them. Building towards greater trust because which without it the very purpose of autonomous driving can dissolve instantly.

The 2017 Volvo S90 will still remain a niche product against the burgeoning premium SUV but as the second (modern) model to reach South Africa, in what has become a watershed period for the Swedish carmaker, S90 certainly proves that Volvo has discovered its mojo.