2022 Volvo S90 Recharge Inscription Review

 

Intro

In this SUV-dominant world, buyers for an executive luxury sedan are few and far between. Still, all luxury car manufacturers still maintain at least one model. Why? Because it still represents the ultimate luxury. The S90 is Volvo’s flagship sedan. It is more of a mid-size luxury sedan compared to other manufacturer’s full-size luxury flagships, but offers more rear legroom than its mid-size luxury sedan counterparts. In terms of size, it slots between a BMW 5 series and a BMW 7 series, or a Mercedes Benz’s E class and S class. So it is a unique offering from the Swedish brand.

Thanks to Volvo Canada, I had the chance to test drive the fully loaded 2022 Volvo S90 Recharge to find out how it stacks against other executive luxury sedans. Below is my unbiased review.

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Exterior

The S90 Recharge is definitely tailored to a more mature audience. This is evident in the amount of shiny chrome trims around the car. The S90 has a sleek silhouette thanks to its long wheelbase and large alloy wheels. Otherwise, the overall design language is rather restrained.

At the front we have the waterfall grille and the “Thor’s Hammer” headlamps. The rear bumper hides the exhaust tips so the S90 would have an EV look. In reality, it is not too deceiving, as even the base S90 B6 trim is equipped with a mild hybrid system. Our Recharge tester however, comes with a PHEV drivetrain that has a 60km fully electric range. So, it is technically an EV. 

In all honesty, I prefer the look of Volvo’s V90 wagon better. I assume the S90 will find better success in Asia, where executive sedans represent success and wealth. Most of the time the car owner sits in the rear seat, and a full time driver is behind the wheel.  

Interior

The interior of the S90 Recharge is beautiful, especially with the tan leather option. Quality materials are used throughout the cabin. They include beautiful wood inlays, sculptured metal trims, crystal shift knobs, and premium leather surfaces. 

Front seat comfort is superb. The heated and vented front seat also features massage functions and fantastic lumbar support. As a flagship though, the S90 is missing an electrically adjustable center column. The XC90 experiences the same issue. 

The longer rear seat legroom would be one reason to choose the S90 over its competitions, and it is significantly. Unfortunately a huge center floor bump makes the rear cabin feel less spacious as it is. Luxury features for the rear passengers include a massive panoramic sunroof, privacy screens, dedicated climate control, air vents on the B-pillars, bag hangers, dedicated charging ports, and the ability to electrically move the front passenger seat forward. 

Infotainment

The 2022 S90 Recharge is equipped with the upgraded Android-based infotainment system. It is noticeably quicker and more straightforward to operate than the old Sensus system. However, as I have complained before, the seat and cabin climate controls don’t have dedicated physical buttons. To change the settings, you will need to tap the small icons on the touchscreen. Then select your climate settings. This is particularly annoying when you first step into the car and the screen is still loading.

The 9.1” tablet style portrait screen behaves exactly like a smartphone. Swiping left and right reveals additional menus, swiping down brings up infotainment settings, and there is a dedicated home button at the bottom of the screen. Saying “Hey Google” activates the virtual assistance of the Android Auto system. I actually had to disable the voice activation of the car because the command triggers both my phone and the car’s virtual assistance at the same time. 

The standard 12.3 digital instrument cluster is gorgeous. The entire screen can be utilized to display customized information. Our tester comes with the Advance Package which adds an excellent head-up display, 360 degree camera, Pilot Assist, and additional driver assist functions. 

The Bowers and Wilken audio system that comes with our tester sounds amazing. The beautifully crafted metallic speaker grilles also gives the interior a classy, elegant vibe. 

Safety and Driver Assistance

Safety is at the heart of the Volvo brand, and the S90 is no exception.

Standard driver-assist and active safety features include:

• Forward collision warning with pedestrian detection

• Automatic emergency braking

• Traffic sign recognition

• Rear cross-traffic alert

• Blind-spot monitoring

• Automatic high-beams

• Adaptive cruise control

Most of these features are included previously, but the 2022 model is equipped with Volvo’s latest Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) sensor platform. 

The 2022 Volvo S90 earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS.

Driving

The S90 Recharge used to be called the S90 T8. The recharge name is justified by having a larger 18.7kWh battery and an upgraded 142 hp electric motor. The electric drivetrain alone has a range of 61km. The S90 Recharge also has a gasoline engine. It is a turbocharged and supercharged inline 4-cylinder engine that produces 313 hp of power and 295 lb.ft. of torque. Together, the drivetrain delivers 455hp of total hp and 523 lb-ft of peak torque. An 8-speed automatic transmission sends the engine power to all four wheels.

Volvo’s has always paid attention to performance when it comes to its PHEVs. 

The S90 Recharge is capable of going from 0-100km/hr in under 5 seconds. However, befitting an executive sedan, the S90 accelerates in a controlled, drama free fashion. We wouldn’t want to startle the important business sitting in the rear passenger seat do we. 

The S90 Recharge handles beautifully thanks to its low center of gravity. The suspension maintains a soft but very controlled ride. Steering is precise and easy. Our Recharge tester is very fuel efficient thanks to its ability to run full electric. Other than when I was pushing the car hard, most of the time I relied on my 110V household socket to top up the S90 Recharge. 

Cargo Space & Storage

The trunk has 382L of cargo space. There is a dedicated storage bin for the charging cable and a ski passthrough for storing longer items. Under the trunk bed is a tire inflation kit. The non-PHEV models do get a spare tire though. 

In cabin storage options are below average. The glove compartment is average in size, but the center console storage bin is very shallow. The door pockets are narrow and shallow, especially for the rear passenger. 

Verdict

The best attributes of the S90 Recharge are its powerful, yet practical PHEV drivetrain and its beautiful interior. As a flagship luxury sedan, it is missing a few advanced features its competitors offer. I am also biased toward its Wagon sibling, the V90. In my opinion, the V90 offers everything S90 has, but it is better looking and much more practical. 

MSRP

$83,800 CAD as tested

Color Onyx Black