2022 Volvo S90

Since SUVs and crossovers started crushing the new car landscape, the midsize luxury sedan segment has increasingly become more a question of want than need. If you’re shopping for a conventional three-box sedan, chances are you’re less concerned with practical matters like cargo capacity and more interested in style and performance. Departing from the crowd is a challenge for all carmakers, but Volvo grasps a rare opportunity to distinguish itself more than most with the understated, underrated and supremely elegant S90. 

The 2022 Volvo S90 is available with two basic powertrains: a mild hybrid B6 model with a turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder engine that produces 295 horsepower, and a plug-in hybrid S90 Recharge version that makes 400 horsepower in its T8 eAWD standard version, or 455 horsepower with the T8 eAWD Extended Range. The B6 models are available in a lower-priced Momentum trim level or the next step up: Inscription or R-Design. They’re priced identically, but the former skews luxurious while the latter is visually sporty. Recharge models come in Inscription or R-Design.

In a field dominated by Germans, the S90 differentiates itself from premium midsize sedans by embracing the same low-key, high-quality traits that have made models like the XC90 runaway hits. It’s stylish, functional and innovative if quiet and subdued. Size-wise, the S90’s 200.4-inch length and huge back seat put it halfway between midsize luxury cars like the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Audi A6 and Genesis G80 and their full-size siblings, the 7 Series, S-Class, A8 and G90. On price, however, it’s far closer to the smaller machinery. 

Inside, the S90 is exactly as luxurious as expected. Leather upholstery is standard across the lineup, with softer Nappa hides and nubuck trim taking it a notch up on premium models. While the driver gets a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, infotainment duties are handled by a 9-inch portrait-style touchscreen. A generous 120.5-inch wheelbase enables excellent legroom (more than 40 inches) for rear occupants. 

Volvo’s XC90 outsells the S90 more than 22 to one, but that’s not to say their sedan is less important. Oftentimes, a brand’s flagship car leads the way with the groundbreaking luxury and tech that trickles down into other models, and the S90 is no exception in the Volvo lineup, which is going fully electrified (with battery electric or plug-in hybrids) by the 2023 model year. This year, the major updates are the additional power in the PHEV and its much more usable fully electric range (up to 38 miles), but also a major infotainment upgrade to a Google-based system.

With its singular style, excellent build quality and impressive efficiency, Volvo’s S90 makes a strong case for going against the grain established by familiar carmakers, and more recently challenged by newer contenders. It may not be the most sensational offering in the luxury sedan field, but the S90 carves a well-earned niche for itself by combining conventional luxury elements like leather and wood interiors with advanced mild and plug-in hybrid powertrains signaling that Volvo is ready for the future. 

Performance: 12/15 

Volvo was never all about performance, but the Scandinavian brand has made significant strides towards expanding beyond its familiar selling points of sensibility and safety. All-wheel drive is standard and the entry S90 B6 model draws a mellow 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque from its four-cylinder mild hybrid powertrain. This powertrain can propel the sedan to 60 mph in 6 seconds flat. 

Stepping up to the T8 eAWD offers a more competitive 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, trimming the zero-to-60 mph sprint to 4.6 seconds. The T8 Extended models offer 455 horsepower and 523 lb-ft of torque; all variants feature a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission.

Though even the gutsiest S90 can’t compete with top hot-rodded alternatives from Mercedes-Benz’s AMG division or BMW’s M, they manage to hold their own more than past Volvos. The car is a capable handler for a big sedan and always feels poised and secure, if not necessarily athletic. The closest analog is probably the Genesis G80, which is similarly subdued, but the Volvo gets much better fuel mileage than the Korean upstart.

Fuel Economy: 12/15 

All Volvo S90 models use turbocharging and supercharging to enhance flexibility and efficiency, but the standard mild hybrid B6 model achieves a respectable, but not stunning, 23 mpg city, 31 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined according to the EPA. This isn’t bad fuel economy, but it’s unremarkable compared to most four-cylinder models in the class—and none of the alternatives comes close to Lexus’ ES hybrid.

Look to the pricier plug-in hybrid T8 models for more impressive numbers. Equipped with an 11.6 kWh battery that can be fully recharged in 2.5 hours, the T8s achieve a combined EPA figure of 30 mpg, or 63 MPGe in full electric mode. EV-only range has been boosted to 38 miles with the top drivetrain, and can run up to 78 mph on pure electric power. BMW’s 530e offers similar MPGe figures, but with less power and only half the range.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 14/15

The 2022 Volvo S90 performs predictably well in government safety ratings, achieving an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ distinction with nearly top scores across the board. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not published ratings for the sedan. The S90’s body features strategic use of high-strength steel to ensure structural integrity in the event of a crash, helping it live up to Volvo’s reputation for outstanding safety.

Volvo also delivers plenty of standard driver assistance features including BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) with steering assist, designed to alert the driver to blind-spot traffic and steer the vehicle back into its lane if needed. Steering can also be altered with the Oncoming Lane Mitigation feature, which operates between speeds of 37 and 87 mph. The automaker’s adaptive cruise control system works smoothly and unobtrusively, and happily doesn’t cost extra like with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Comfort & Room: 14/15

The Volvo S90’s pleasant exterior styling hides a spacious cabin. Inside, Volvo’s seats stand out as exceptionally comfortable, upholding the Swedish manufacturer’s longstanding bragging rights as having some of the most accommodating perches anywhere. Volvo claims best-in-class rear legroom (among midsize models) with 40.3 inches of distance to the front seats, and an airy panoramic moonroof helps the cabin feel even ever roomier. 

To get that much room in any other luxury sedan means opting for a traditional full-size model like the BMW 7 Series and spending $15,000 to $50,000 more, although the Lexus ES comes close with 39.2 inches of rear legroom. Available front and rear vented and heated seats and Nappa leather surfaces round out the premium-feeling cabin.

Infotainment: 12/15

For 2022, the Volvo S90 gains an Android-operated system, though the multimedia system is still managed through a familiar, vertically oriented 9-inch touchscreen and offers similar graphics to past models—far from the advanced, multi-screen setups found in competitors like the Audi A6. New for the S90 is Google Maps and Assistant integration. As with other Volvos, the prevailing theme of minimalism requires more menu-driven features, as opposed to over-relying on hard buttons. For those who want it, Apple CarPlay has also been added to the new system.

Thankfully, a large volume knob and track advance buttons remain, enabling quick adjustments when necessary. The S90’s steering wheel multimedia controls are one area that could use improvement; they’re all-too-familiar, and could use more positive engagement, or “clickiness.” An available premium audio system from Bowers & Wilkins outfits the cabin with attractive aluminum grilles and a so-called tweeter-on-top center speaker. With 1,400 watts and 19 speakers, the sound system offers enough refinement and clarity to please most audiophiles.

Cargo Space & Storage: 12/15

The S90’s cabin is pleasingly spacious, and trunk space comes in at 13.5 cubic-feet of volume—more than the BMW 5 Series’ 10 cubic-feet, but less than the Lexus ES’ 13.9 and far less than the hatchback Audi A7 or Tesla Model S, though both of those options cost much more. 

Fold down the rear seats though and the volume possibilities open up considerably, offering 82.6 inches of distance from the back of the front seatback. Those seeking more volumetric flexibility are advised to explore the V90, Volvo’s S90 wagon counterpart, which offers better-than-SUV driving dynamics in a practical package.

Style & Design: 9/10

Though the Volvo S90’s silhouette is starting to look familiar after all these years (and the 2021 restyling was subtle in the extreme), it still comes across as an enduring design thanks to its handsome proportions and elegantly rendered touches. Built on Volvo’s so-called SPA (Scalable Product Architecture), the S90 focuses on a long wheelbase platform that lends it a regal, stately visual presence. 

Inside, well-chosen available trim finishes include natural, matte finish wood options and real aluminum trim that lends the cabin a feeling of authenticity and quality.

Is the 2022 Volvo S90 Worth It? Which S90 is the Best Value? 

The 2022 Volvo S90 starts at $53,895 in B6 AWD Momentum trim, though the $56,995 Inscription and R-Design (all prices include a $1,495 destination charge) versions are worth the extra cash thanks to their more premium-feeling interiors. While some competitors undercut those starting prices, the S90’s generous equipment list deserves credit in a segment where some manufacturers demand a premium for many options that ought to be standard. There’s also that huge back seat.

Springing for the spendier $61,095 T8 plug-in hybrid offers both a significant boost in power, and notable gains in fuel economy. Those benefits make it a counterintuitive value, especially if driving patterns rely more heavily on the 38-mile EV range. Spending an extra $2,000 for the Extended version yields moderately more performance; if value is the prime consideration, that money might best be saved as this isn’t really a sports sedan.

While newcomers like the Genesis G80 undercut Volvo with an attractive $48,250 starting price, it’s worth mentioning that the G80 is less equipped, doesn’t offer a hybrid powertrain and can’t match the S90 on space or efficiency.

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the Volvo S90?

The Volvo S90’s insurance costs are in line with its competitors. According to our data, the average 30-year-old female driver with a good record can expect an average annual premium of $3,195 for an S90 T8 PHEV. A similar BMW 540i would run $3,136, an Audi A6 Quattro Prestige $3,292, a Genesis G80 3.5T Sport $3,072 and a Lexus ES ES300h $2,637. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, see our car insurance calculator.