By: Jason Woosey
The new S90 sedan that you see here is the next phase in Volvo's renaissance that started with the award-winning new-generation XC90 and its aim in life is to take all of that goodness and squeeze it into a stylish, classy sedan package that could hold its head up high in company like the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
The beauty of Volvo's Scalable Product Architecture, which underpins the XC90 and S90, is that it can easily be translated into different formats without compromising the vehicle's design, which is why Volvo's stylists were able to fashion such neat, three-box proportions here. The S90 looks particularly gorgeous up front with its imposing grille and 'Thor's hammer' headlights.
The S90 is due in South Africa towards the end of 2016, but we won't be getting the V90 estate version as South African buyers seem to have come down with some form of wagon allergy, but Volvo will at least consider introducing it at a later stage if enough potential buyers scream for it.
Look ma, no hands
The new sedan builds upon the XC90's already-impressive technological entourage and the most impressive gizmo is the updated Pilot Assist, which now functions at up to 130km/h (up from 50km/h) and no longer needs to follow a lead car. What this means is that given the right conditions, and clear lane markings, the S90 can pretty much drive itself, combining the autonomous pedal movements of active cruise control with steering assistance. Although you might be tempted into some “look ma, no hands” moments, Volvo warns that you should really keep your hands on the wheel and your wits about you as the steering assistance does have its limits and cannot be constantly active.
While that's the kind of feature you'd expect to find on an options list, Pilot Assist is standard on the new S90 along with other advanced safety gizmos that are products of Volvo's never-ending quest to save your life. Among these are the new Large Animal Detection system and the self-explanatory Run-Off-Road Mitigation, which can even operate on roads with no shoulder line.
Five models for SA
South Africans will eventually have five engine choices, but the initial range for late 2016 will kick off with just the T6 petrol and D5 Diesel, both fitted with Volvo's all-wheel drive system. A pair of more affordable front-wheel drive models, the T5 petrol and D4 diesel are set to join the line-up during the first half of 2017 and the potent 300kW T8 'Twin Engine' plug-in hybrid will be with us further down the line.
All engines are force-fed and displace 2-litres, with Volvo quoting outputs of 235kW and 400Nm for the T6 and 187kW/350Nm for the T5, while the D5 is rated at 173kW/480Nm and its oil-burning D4 sibling produces 140kW/400Nm. All are mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
I drove the T6 and D5 on a lengthy and varied route in Malaga Province in Southern Spain and both engines have particular appeal. The D5 debuts a relatively simple yet ingenious new solution to combat turbo lag. It's called PowerPulse and uses an electric compressor to squeeze air into a pressurised 2-litre tank, which then spools up the turbo at low rpm while the necessary exhaust pressure is still building up. As a result, it feels uncharacteristically linear for a turbo engine, delivering power smoothly across the entire rev range. However, overall performance is still more adequate than outright punchy and those willing to sacrifice some frugality for performance are likely to find a happier home in the T6.
The T6 petrol engine is fitted with a turbo and a supercharger, the latter only employed below 3500rpm to supply the low-end torque you want for take-off. Although this engine-gearbox combo is not quite as smooth in its overall operation as that in the D5, this car is delightfully brisk.
The optional air suspension system (for the rear axle only, but a steal at R17 500) did an excellent job of cushioning some of the unnervingly wavy stretches of tarmac on our route, while maintaining impressive composure in corners, although the low-profile 20-inch rubber fitted to the launch cars did transmit some unwelcome firmness over some of the smaller ripples and harsher surfaces. Volvo does offer a wide range of wheel and tyre options however, ranging from 18- to 21-inches in diameter, and I'd be inclined to go for a higher-profile tyre option. You can also individually adjust the suspension damping, along with steering force, braking feel and powertrain characteristics through the drive mode menu.
Advanced, elegant cabin
This, and practically every other infotainment function you can dream of, lives in the 22,9cm tablet-like touch-screen, which sits in the middle of the S90's elegantly-crafted dashboard. Within this command centre you'll find a glut of features, settings and apps, with Apple CarPlay functionality also available, and if you're a sound buff you'll want to tick the 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system on the options list.
The touch-screen has also absorbed most of the ventilation functions, leading to a rather minimalist dashboard design and it really looks the premium saloon part thanks also to a tasteful selection of high-end materials. Designers have made good use of the space available, and rear legroom is particularly generous.
But how much will all this style, space and practicality cost? Depending on how the rand's chess game plays out in future, the S90 is expected to start at around the mid-R600 000 mark, while top models are likely to stretch to R900 000.