Meet the Volvo S90, the car that is engineered towards comfort and luxury

Words by Hani Mustafa    Photographs from Nithin Nambyar

Luxury is a word that has a lot of definitions, and it varies according to individuals – a state of great comfort or elegance especially when it involves great expense. The term luxury has been defined more clearly and in a broader manner by a car recently in India. Swedish luxury car maker Volvo always had an identity that stood out amongst its rivals. It’s the term ‘safe’ that comes first to your mind when your hear someone saying Volvo, but Volvo Cars do not just settle at being the safest cars on Earth. They are unarguably, masters in crafting unique designs and comfort features which is what is otherwise called luxury. Having a strong pedigree in making extraordinary, stylish, and comfortable cars, with legendary models like P1800 and 940 to show up as examples, you will always defend someone who calls Volvo the pandit of luxurious products.

Power Joins Elegance

The modern day masterpiece of Volvo you have known so far was the XC90. It’s obvious that the Volvo XC90 sits on top holding the flag, but I am talking about the segment where luxury, comfort and elegance are showcased. The Volvo S90 was showcased late last year as a replacement for the ageing S80 sedan and a competitor to the German trio Audi A6, the BMW 5-series and the Mercedes E-class as well as the British Jaguar XF. From the design it’s evident that the Volvo S90 has been pampered well inside the factory during its make, since you see no unnecessary lines or curves on its body. It’s literally clean with a straight and simple shoulder line spread along from the bonnet to hood. With chrome detailing and coupe like finish, the car looks stunningly beautiful from the side. The new Thor’s hammer LED treatment of the headlamp and a very impressive grille borrowed from the old estate version P1800, together gives credit to the very beautiful face. Being larger and wider than all its rivals, the presence of the S90 on the road is intense. The most attractive part of the car to me is the rear. You get to see a fresh new tail lamp treatment which speaks of Volvo’s heritage and modernity. The placing of the Volvo logo is another notable character. It’s magical how the five letters of the brand stay immersed in the whole rear end design of the car. The Volvo S90 sits on beautiful 18” ten spoke alloy wheels that make a statement. The boot is equipped with gesture control. Swipe your feet under the rear bumper to open and once it is, you see a sizeable trunk that can accomodate a goo amount of luggage.

The Volvo Comfort

The interiors of the car borrow heavily from the XC90, which by itself had set benchmarks in interior quality and luxury. The instrument cluster is similar to the one in the XC90 with the high-res display in the centre of the speedometre and the odometre, a heads-up display and the Sensus touchscreen infotainment system with a B&W audio system. The wooden finish and the one piece chrome line across the fascia are very attractive. The knob for the start-stop system, the mode select roller and the other control switches on the centre floor console are the same as on the XC90 and then again, unlike anything else in its class. Seats which are similar to the XC90 have good support. Whether on the front or the rear, they ensure you a fatigue-free travel. Made of leather across the range, they not only look premium but also feel premium with the contrast colour stitching and the Swedish flag motif sewn in. Though the engine is a bit noisy on the outside, it’s calm on the inside; there’s no engine noise or noise of the wind or tyres getting in.

The S90 has been powered by Volvo’s latest 2 litre displacement engine that produces 190hp and 400nm torque. Not a massive power mill but the S90 is not meant for that. So is the story of all its rivals as far as power is concerned; all of them have a smaller engine. The engine of the S90 is mated to an 8-speed gearbox which is quite smooth and gives good response. It offers you three modes of driving; Eco, Comfort and Dynamic. Though the small engine restricts you from pushing the car to the limits the Dynamic mode can help you if some decent performance is what you are after. The S90 also gets the lane assistance but this may not always help you on most of the Indian roads though on expressways it will obviously work. Suspension is a mix of MacPherson struts up front and air-suspension at the rear and here is where Volvo’s focus becomes very clear. The car is engineered towards comfort and luxury and where that is most evident is from the rear seat. Of course the ride is exceptional and the car does not lose it even when pushed hard around the twisties. The S90 also offers the park assist feature. All you have to do is use the gears as instructed and the car will park itself in the available space. Needless to say, being a Volvo, there is a long list of safety features. The Volvo S90 will be available with only one engine, the D4 and in one variant, the ‘inscription’ at a price of 55.15 lacs (Ex.Sh Kochi) which puts it right up there with its competitors.