Most top-of-the-line luxury sedans are two things — big and pricey — except for one big luxury sedan that's not but is often overlooked: Volvo's S90.
What It Is
The S90 is Volvo's largest, most luxurious sedan. It costs about the same as other luxury car makers' smaller, mid-sized sedans.
Prices start at $52,850 for the Momentum trim, which is equipped with a 316-horsepower, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that's turbocharged, supercharged and mild-hybridized.
All-wheel drive is standard.
The S90 also offers a 400-horsepower plug-in hybrid option that can travel about 21 miles on battery power before the gas engine kicks on to keep you going. It stickers for $61,050 with the Inscription package, which includes the option to get massaging driver and front passenger seats, a 13-speaker Bowers & Wilkins ultra-premium audio system, automated self-parking and an adjustable air suspension.
What's New
The standard 2.0-liter engine is now paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that cycles the gas engine off and on to increase gas mileage and lower the emissions of greenhouse gases.
What's Good
More size, room and power than the same money buys in something smaller elsewhere.
Almost the same size and comparable power (Inscription trim) as what you'd get in something larger, such as a Mercedes Benz S-Class, for a lot less money.
Exceptionally comfortable seats, even without the optional massagers.
What's Not So Good
Trunk isn't big (13.5 cubic feet).
Four-cylinder engine is small, irrespective of the power it makes.
You could get a loaded Toyota Avalon or even a Lexus ES350 — about the same size and with a stronger V6 — for a lot less.
Under The Hood
All S90s come standard with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, an increasingly common type of engine found in all kinds of cars, not just luxury cars.
The Volvo's 2.0 engine differs from all the others in at least two ways, however.
In addition to being turbocharged, it is also supercharged. The reason for that being to eliminate, not just reduce, the lag you get with just a turbo. And the reason for that is turbos don't produce boost pressure until exhaust pressure increases, which takes a moment, leading to the lag. You push down on the gas and then exhaust gases are made and the boost produced.
A supercharger does not rely on exhaust gas pressure to build boost. These devices are mechanically (or even electrically) driven, so they build boost immediately. So why not use just a supercharger? Because, paradoxically, superchargers take a lot of power to power, whereas a turbo scavenges the free power of the engine's spent exhaust gasses.
Volvo's solution to both problems is to combine both things. The supercharger imparts immediate boost, eliminating the lag, while the turbo maintains boost without the cost (of power) that relying on just a supercharger otherwise would.
The end result? A vehicle packed with 316 horsepower and 295 foot-pounds of torque at 2,100 RPM and zero to 60 in about 5.5 seconds.
The S90 is also available with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain, 400 horsepower and zero to 60 in 4.5 seconds.
On The Road
Performance is excellent with either of the S90's available drivetrains, but it's smoother with the standard (mild-hybrid) drivetrain.
The turbo-supercharger setup responds immediately, without any hesitation or abruptness. The plug-in hybrid setup is also usually smooth but under sudden, wide-open throttle input, there's sometimes a moment of apparent confusion as the electronics decide which parts of the hybrid drivetrain to engage and how much. This being due to the 400-horsepower plug-in version being more reliant on the power delivered by the battery/motor side of its drivetrain.
At The Curb
Splitting the difference isn't a bad idea.
The S90 is bigger (and roomier) than comparably priced mid-sized luxury-sport sedans such as the Benz E-Class and BMW 5 Series, while also being nearly as big (and almost as roomy) as much higher-priced full-size luxury sport sedans such as the Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series.
It's 200.4 inches long overall and has 40.4 inches of legroom for backseat passengers. The Mercedes E-Class sedan is 194.3 inches long and only has 36.2 inches of legroom in back. A BMW 5 Series sedan is 195.8 inches long overall and has 36.5 inches of backseat legroom.
On the other end of the spectrum, a full-size Mercedes S-Class sedan is 208.2 inches long overall and offers 44 inches of legroom for backseat passengers — as it should for $109,800. The BMW 7 sedan is similarly sizable (207.4 inches) and spacious (44.4 inches of backseat legroom) but it's also a pricey proposition at nearly $90,000 to start (equipped with AWD, optional in this model but standard in the S90).
The Rest
Two things are lacking here, one of them subjective.
The objective deficit is this big car's small trunk — just 13.5 cubic feet, which is about the same size trunk as you'd get if you were to buy a typical compact-sized sedan. It's usually big enough, but it might be not enough if you and three passengers go for a road trip and need a place to put all your stuff.
Subjectively, the Volvo isn't as recognizable as a status car, which for some people will be the opposite of a deficit. Volvo has become kind of like what Buick once was, i.e., a luxurious car (like a Cadillac) but without flaunting it.
The Bottom Line
If you prefer a lower-profile luxury sedan, and like paying less for more, you may want to have a look at this Volvo.
Eric's latest book, "Doomed: Good Cars Gone Wrong!" will be available soon. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
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