Still Svelte, Still Swedish, Still Superb!

It’s the stylish member of the sedan boy band, that is for sure but does the 2021 Volvo S90 still have what it takes to compete with the latest offerings from Germany?

Svelte, Swedish and oh so stylish the Volvo range has evolved over the years to go from the car your uncle mentioned as the safest car to own,  to a vehicle that appeals to a multitude of people.

The S90 is my favourite of the lot but not for reasons one would usually think. The performance from the 173kW diesel is sufficient, the torque (480Nm) plentiful and the tractability and poise, thanks to the 4wD system is still as sure-footed as ever.  But for me what separates Volvos from the usual experience delivered by the big three is the sense of occasion. In this case, being different Is a massive advantage.

The interior seats are still designed by orthopaedic surgeons and the massage function is still one of the best in class. The incredible 19 speaker sound system (an *** option) is still better than anything else I’ve experienced in a production car.  And even though this option is available across most of the Volvo range, it was designed, with the S90 acoustics in mind so the experience is simply unmatched in almost any car.

Fit and finish remain class-leading and not to mention the ergonomics are still up to date with the latest expectations.

With Autonomous driving now a staple across most brands, (I just had a friend boast about his adaptive cruise control on his relatively inexpensive Vag product) Volvo still leads the way with their adaptive cruise control and autonomous driving. At least in our Tesla free market.

The software has been constantly updated across the range with automatic braking and steering inputs constantly being smoothened out over the life of the car.

Volvo is still hellbent on powering the entire range with a 4 Cylinder engine so if you’re looking for a larger creamier powerplant, it best to look somewhere else. In this range though, the diesel is certainly my pic of the bunch.

Not much has changed on the current S90 but it’s now firmly up to date with what’s expected of a luxury sedan in 2021. A testament to how far ahead of its time it was when it first launched in 2016.

Even though it’s not dynamically on par with the German rivals, the Volvo S90 is still my choice in this segment. Who needs performance when I can simply put on my favourite song, let the car drive and enjoy some of the best interior ergonomics money can buy.