The Volvo S90 is one of the most elegant luxury sedans from the Scandinavian car maker. It distinguishes itself in an ocean of German luxury vehicles like the Mercedes S-Class and Audi A8.
While its German competition has recently focused on massive power and sporty handling, the 2020 S90 instead opted for serenity and comfort. With its plush interior and immense level of comfort, the sedan is for those who just want to relax during their drive.
So, what have Volvo done for the 2021 S90 Hybrid?
For starters, the luxury sedan has a similar design language to the car maker’s other models, like the V90 and XC90. Key features include the “Thor’s Hammer” headlight design, the Volvo label on the rear, a new grille and a more refined exterior.
Inside the car, the design has taken cues from the XC90; it has new details on the instrument panel and dashboard, including new air blades which stand on either side of the user interface.
The cabin also blends various high-end materials, like finely grained plastics, brushed metal, genuine leather and open-pore wood. The 14-way power-adjustable seats fit every body shape and should be comfortable for everyone, even during long drives.
In terms of looks, the new car has a minimalist design, and it doesn’t really look that different from the 2020 model. But to be honest, this is what the target market prefers.
The car also has an upgraded Bowers & Wilkins sound system, USB-C charging ports at the back and wireless phone charging.
Nowadays, every car needs proper connectivity, and the new S90 Hybrid is no different. This car has a touchscreen interface that blends connected services, navigation and car functions. It also has in-car entertainment apps like Pandora and Spotify.
Additionally, the touchscreen lets you access a host of features and functions. You can even integrate it with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay—which, to be honest, should be standard in most cars by now.
The S90 Hybrid is powered by a T8 Twin Engine AWD petrol plug-in hybrid that can output as much as 407 hp. The car also has various 48-volt mild hybrid variants on diesel and petrol powertrains.
The Twin Engine plug-in hybrid delivers everything the environmentally conscious driver can dream of. Its carbon dioxide emissions are extremely low, it offers over 40 km of range, and it still churns out plenty of power for a car that’s not meant to go blistering-fast or conquer off-road.
Interestingly, when the hybrid version debuted last year, it could go toe-to-toe with the BMW 540i xDrive—both cars went from 0 to 60 mph in barely 4.5 seconds. The car suffered a little when driven fast—when driving over rough parts of the road, the vibrations hit you a bit harder than another car in this price range would.
Volvo cars are synonymous with safety, and the new S90 is no different. The car uses boron steel and has plenty of safety systems that have been designed to protect the driver and passengers along with people outside the car.
The car comes with Volvo’s City Safety technology as standard. This allows the car to brake automatically to prevent a collision, and also has a range of other collision avoidance systems to prevent potential accidents. According to Volvo, City Safety can detect large animals, cyclists and pedestrians.
The 2021 Volvo S90 Hybrid promises to be an improvement over the 2020 model. However, if you already own the 2020 model, you might not feel like you’re getting your money’s worth if you upgrade.
The upgrades are welcome, but drivers who will notice them more significantly will be coming from models more than a year old.
Still, the S90 Hybrid is probably the best version of the luxury sedan that Volvo has made so far.