Volvo’s S90 T8 R-Design puts you in the lap of performance luxury
Beach Wheels
Time for full disclosure: I am a big, big Volvo fan. I owned an S70 GLE for number of years and nearly wept the day I donated the dang thing to a charity.
It’s funny how people get emotionally attached to their cars — especially here in L.A. I know that I do. There is just something about the time we spend in these machines that allows us to form real bonds with them.
So when Volvo was kind enough to loan me its flagship sports sedan, a 2020 S90 T8 R-Design to drive for a week, I was jazzed.
The S90 is a midsized sedan that delivers Scandinavian luxury and true road performance. To be sure, this ain’t your granddad’s road yacht. The S90 will do 0-60 in a scant 4.8 seconds and is a PHEV or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.
Two electric motors work flawlessly in concert with a super- and turbocharged 2.0 liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine. Together, the combined powerplant generates 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque. The engine is mated to a smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission.
Mash your foot into the throttle and you’ll be pushed back into your seat as the all-wheel-drive S90 bolts down the road. Steering is light but accurate, giving the driver just enough feel of the road surface. Activate the vehicle’s “dynamic” mode and the S90 firms up its suspension and delivers even better throttle response.
My S90 came sitting on handsome 20-inch steel alloy wheels that just added to its overall fierce but understated look.
Inside, the cabin offers a world of intelligently designed and tasteful comforts.
The spacious interior of the S90 features just the right amount of wood and metal interior brightwork as well as some of the softest leather seats you’ll land your backside on.
In the center stack console, you’ll find an 9-inch IPad-like touchscreen that Volvo calls its Sensus Infotainment System. The screen offers cool graphics and operates just like a smartphone — accepting tap, swipe and pinch gestures.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto enhance this Nordic cockpit that also features proximity-aware keyless entry, push-button start and dual-zone climate controls.
And, yes, the S90 T8 R-Design trim comes with heated front sports seats which are also ventilated and offer a massage mode. A heated steering wheel is also part of the package. Topping it all off is a 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system that offers a variety of aural settings including “Gothenburg Concert Hall” which will make you think you have a symphony orchestra playing live in your back seat.
Built on Volvo’s XC90 sport utility vehicle wheelbase, this latest S90 is a full 4.5 inches longer than previous editions and offers unprecedented amounts of rearseat legroom.
The S90 has a low and wide stance with an aggressive R-Design grill that recalls some of the lines of Volvo’s classic and iconic P1800 sports coupe.
Driving in all-electric mode you can get about 21 miles range off a full charge which takes about seven hours. My S90 plugged easily into a 120-volt home outlet. The S90 T8 plug-in hybrid gets 33 combined city and highway mileage (71 MPGe combined).
While the 2020 model has yet to be tested by the National Highway Traffic Administration or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the 2019 version scored an IHS Top Safety Pick rating.
Other S90 safety features include adaptive pivoting headlights, a rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, automatic high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward and rear collision warning alarms, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and lane-keeping assist. My tester also came with a head-up display and hands-free parking assistance.
Admittedly, the S90 doesn’t have the greatest amount of trunk space at 13.5 square feet but it does have a wide-opening lid for ease of access.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for my S90, as trimmed out, is $73,840.
The S90 T8 competes with some fine automobiles, including the Audi A6, the BMW 5 Series, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the Hyundai Genesis G80. It seems that all you see these days are upscale German sedans, coupes and SUVs. Don’t get me wrong — I admire most of the German fleet. After all, engineering and design from Deutschland is hard to beat. That said, there are fewer Volvos out there and the S90 offers some subtle “Breath of Fresh Air” looks that you don’t see very often.
My guess is that once you test drive the S90 your decision will become clear.
My recommendation: I may be biased given my history with Volvos, but if you’re in the market for an upscale sports sedan that’s different and cool, buy the S90 T8 R-Design. You won’t be sorry.
Jeff MItchell is a South Bay automotive writer. Reach him at j.edward.mitchell@gmail.com