Volvo->ke188 first introduced the S90->ke4932 name in 1996, when it renamed the 960 for certain markets. With Volvo discontinuing the 900 Series midsize in 1998, the 2014 Volvo S80 we know of today rolled in as the replacement for the S90. The S90 also marked the end of an era for Volvo, being the last rear-wheel-drive car wearing the Swedish company's badge. The S80->ke394 continued the S90's luxurious legacy over the course of two generations. The first series lived between 1998 and 2006, while the second-gen model will be discontinued after nearly a decade on the market. With 2016 just around the corner, Volvo revived the S90 nameplate for a redesigned, more upscale replacement of its range-topping sedan.

Besides taking duties from the S80, the S90 is also set to revolutionize the midsize luxury segment, much like the second-generation XC90->ke3145 did in the SUV->ke145 market. The sedan received the hauler's design language, along with an interior packed with the latest technology->ke1701 and luxury items developed by the Swedes. The overhauled sedan->ke142 will hit dealerships in the second half of 2016 with an array of gasoline and diesel four-cylinder engines, as well as a hybrid drivetrain.->ke147 Find our more about it below.

Updated 03/24/2016: Volvo announced U.S. prices for the new S90 which is now available for order at Volvo retailers nationwide. The company also launched the new "Volvo Concierge" - a personalized online experience that allows customers to purchase the new S90 online. Check the "Prices" section for more details.

Continue Reading to read more about the upcoming Volvo S90.

2017 Volvo S90

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2017 Volvo S90
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 254
  • Torque: 258
  • Transmission: six-speed manual
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

I knew that the S90 will be a gorgeous sedan as soon as those Chinese diecast modelcars surfaced the Interwebz, but the real deal looks even better. A radical departure from its predecessor, the S90 uses the same design language as the XC90, which includes both the brand-new grille and the "Thor's Hammer" LED daytime running lights. Although as slim as the XC90's, the headlamps sport a simpler shape toward the fenders, giving the sedan a more consistent look. Down below, it gained a sporty bumper with a wide intake and a protruding splitter-like element.

Moving onto the sides, the S90 showcases a sleeker profile due to the coupe-like roofline, notchback style trunk lid and longer rear windows. The sedan kept its predecessor's high waistline, but received a significantly longer wheelbase. Around back, only the bumper section bears some resemblance to the S80, with everything else being brand-new to the nameplate, including the C-shaped taillights, the clean trunk lid (the license plate recess was moved into the bumper), and the larger "Volvo" lettering between the taillights. Unlike the S80, the S90 has no chrome trim.

As far as dimensions go, the new sedan is a tad larger than its forerunner. The S90 is 4.3 inches longer, 1.1 inches wider, and has a 4.1-inch longer wheelbase. With almost all the extra inches added to the wheelbase, it's no surprise that the S90 looks sleeker and more upscale than the model it replaces. Needless to say, Volvo's new mid-size is one hot sedan!

Exterior Dimensions

Length

4,963 MM (195.39 Inches)

Width (door mouldings)

1,890 MM (74.40 Inches)

Width (Incl mirrors, outher edge)

2,019 MM (79.48 Inches)

Height (including shark fin)

1,443 MM (56.81 Inches)

Wheelbase

2,941 MM (115.78 Inches)


Interior

If you fell in love with the XC90's luxurious cabin then you'll definitely adore the S90's. The sedan looks pretty much the same on the inside, with mild revisions made to the dashboard and door panels. The dashboard is a bit slimmer and features larger wood inserts and taller A/C vents on the center stack, but everything else remained unchanged. It also includes the Sensus Connect touchscreen that debuted in the XC90, as well as the clutter-free stack with minimal dashboard buttons.

The center console, the seats, the steering wheel, and the instrument cluster appear to be identical to the XC90's. More changes are visible on the door panels, but the overall feel remains unchanged from the SUV. And, I'm not saying that the S90 feels like an SUV on the inside, it only looks as cool and luxurious.

Though there aren't many specs available, the S90 should be roomier than the S80, especially thanks to its longer wheelbase, which will mostly benefit rear-seat passengers. The craftsmanship is remarkable and on par (if not slightly better) with what you can get from Mercedes-Benz and BMW sedans nowadays. Details are scant, but you should be able to pick between a range of Nappa leather, Alcantara, and wood offerings.

Drivetrain

Not surprisingly, the S90 borrows its drivetrains from the XC90 SUV, which debuted many new technologies. Although Volvo has yet to release output figures, it did say that the sedan will become available with the T6 and T5 gasoline engines, the D4 and D5 diesel mills, and the T8 hybrid, all built around 2.0-liter four-cylinder units.

In the U.S., only the T5, T6, and T8 will be offered, while European buyers will get to choose between the D4, D5, T6, and T8.

In the XC90, the turbocharged T5 cranks out 254 horsepower and 258 pound-feet, while the T6, which uses both a turbocharger and a supercharger, generates 316 horses and 295 pound-feet. Moving over to diesels, the D4 is rated at 190 horsepower and 295 pound-feet, while the D5 churns 225 horses and 346 pound-feet. Finally, the T8 hybrid, which pairs a 2.0-liter, turbocharged and supercharged four-banger and a 60-kW (80-horsepower) electric motor connected to the rear axle, is good for 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque, while the all-electric range is rated at 25 miles.

As of January 2016, Volvo only confirmed that the T8 hybrid will pump 410 horsepower in the S90, which accounts for ten extra horses when compared to the XC90 SUV.

Transmission choices include a six-speed manual and an eight-speed automatic. The former gets optimized gear sets and final drives for improved fuel economy, while the latter promises to help deliver best-in-class efficiency. The eight-speed gearbox also comes with start-stop technology.

Safety

Volvos have always been among the safest cars on the road and the new S90 is no exception. The Swedes even went as far as to claim that the S90 is another step toward its Vision 2020, which states that no one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo by the year 2020.

Besides the usual airbags for both the driver and front/rear passengers, the sedan comes with numerous safety features as standard. These include Lane Keeping Aid, Driver Alert Control, Road Sign Information, Run-off Road Mitigation, Run-off Road Protection, and the City Safety package. The latter is able to detect vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and large animals and it's always active above 4 km/h (2.5 mph).

Options include Blind Spot Information, Rear Collision Warning, Cross Traffic Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control, Pilot Assist, Distance Alert, Park Assist Pilot and 360-degree camera.

The second-generation Pilot Assist is by far the most interesting feature as it turns the S90 into a semi-autonomous vehicle. When activated, the Pilot Assist system controls acceleration, braking and steering in order to help the driver follow the traffic flow within the current lane. The system reduces driver strain in tedious situations and increases safety, while also delivering enhanced speed and distance keeping in the lane. The system now offers steering assistance functionality up to 130 km/h (80.7 mph).

Prices

Pricing for the Volvo S90 starts from $46,950, which is a $4,895 premium over the previous S80. For this amount, you'll get to take home the T5 Momentum model. For the S90 T6 AWD Momentum with the more powerful T6 engine and all-wheel drive, the sticker is set at $52,950.

With the S90, Volvo has also introduced the Volvo Concierge, a program that allows buyers to purchase the S90 online. The Volvo Concierge will provide "an unprecedented level of online service and comfort throughout the purchase process, with a designated Volvo representative ensuring that customers know about all of the S90’s available options. He will also stay in contact with future S90 owners, notifying them of when the car has been shipped from Sweden and when it is expected to arrive in the U.S.

Volvo S90 - U.K. Prices

S90

Trim level

HP

Nm

Combined fuel economy (mpg)

CO2 (g/km)

BIK 2016-17 (%)

On-the-road price

P11D value

D4

Momentum

190

400

64.2

116

23

£32,555.00

£32,500.00

D4

Inscription

190

400

64.2

116

23

£35,555.00

£35,500.00

D5 AWD

Momentum

235

480

58.9

127

25

£39,555.00

£39,500.00

D5 AWD

Inscription

235

480

58.9

127

25

£42,055.00

£42,000.00


Competitors

2014 BMW 5 Series

The sixth-generation 5 Series,->ke317 one of the best-selling sedans of the midsize->ke1695 segment, received its mid-cycle refresh for the 2014 model year. A redesigned model is scheduled to arrive in 2016, but until official details surface, we'll stick with the version you can find at a dealership near you. Four guises are available in the U.S., starting with the 528i. Powered by a 2.0-liter four-banger, the entry-level sedan comes with 240 horsepower on tap. The lineup continues with the 535i, which benefits from 300 ponies coming from a 3.0-liter inline-six. Next up is the 535d. The oil-burner features a 3.0-liter, inline-six, TwinPower turbodiesel under the hood that cranks out 255 horses while returning 38 mpg on the highway. Finally, the range-topping 550i comes with a 4.4-liter V-8 that churns 445 horsepower. Pricing for the 5 Series begins at $49,750.

Read more about the BMW 5 Series here.

2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The second German sedan Volvo wants to tackle with the S90 is the E-Class.->ke373 Just like the BMW 5 Series, the Merc->ke187 is available in five trims. At the base of the lineup sits the E250 BlueTEC Clean Diesel and its 2.1-liter, four-cylinder oil burner. The mill delivers 195 horsepower and the EPA rates it at 42 mpg on the highway. The second model you can buy is the E350, a sedan that gets its 302 horses from a larger, 3.5-liter V-6. The same V-6 unit also motivates the E400 Hybrid, but the eco-friendlier model also features an electric motor. The combo generates a total of 329 ponies. The E550 4MATIC tops the lineup. The all-wheel-drive sedan hides a biturbo, 4.6-liter V-8 under its hood that sends 402 horsepower to all four corners. The E-Class is a bit pricier than the 5 Series, with a sticker set at $51,400.

Find out more about the Mercedes-Benz E-Class here.

Conclusion

Although many details are still under wraps, the S90 is the luxury sedan we've been waiting for and the mid-size Volvo needed to better compete with the Germans. It has everything that makes the XC90 a luxurious, safe, and desirable vehicle, but with the allure and sportiness that come with a sedan. Given the immense success it had with the SUV, Volvo will reach new heights once the S90 arrive in showrooms and give the folks over at Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi one more reason to worry about.

Rendering

Update history:

Updated 03/16/2016: Volvo announced U.K. prices for the new S90 - where the car is already available for order. There's a catch though: for now we only have prices for the diesel versions, aka D4 and D5. Check them out in the "Prices" section.

Updated 01/06/2016: Volvo announced that the new S90 luxury sedan will be offered with semi-autonomous Pilot Assist software as standard feature. This new feature can be applied to speeds of up to 80 mph and will make the S90 the first car in the United States to offer semi-autonomous technology as standard.

Updated 12/29/2015: Volvo dropped a new video in which it highlights the interior of its new S90 luxury sedan. Hit "play" to watch it.

Updated 12/02/2015: Volvo dropped the official details on the new S90 luxury sedan, with just a few weeks before its official debut at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show.

Updated 11/20/2015: Volvo dropped two teaser images for the upcoming S90 luxury sedan and confirmed an official debut will take place at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show.

Updated 10/12/2015: While the Volvo S90 is still months away, we pretty much know how the future luxury sedan will look like. The guys over carnewschina.com came across a new 1:43 scale model and offer us the best look so far on the next S90.

Updated 09/09/2015: Our spy photographers caught the upcoming S90 testing in Spain. As you can see the car is still heavily camouflaged, but we do know the next S90 will take inspiration from the recently launched XC90. It is also reported the car you see in these photos is powered by basic diesel engine D4 delivering some 190 horsepower.

Updated 08/31/2015: A series of images of a 1:43 scale model revealed the design of the upcoming Volvo S90. As you can see the new luxury sedan was heavily influenced by the Concept Coupe unveiled by the company in 2013 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. (teknikensvarld)

Updated 08/24/2015: Our spy photographers came across a heavily camouflaged 2017 Volvo S90 prototype and managed to take three shots of the model. As you can see, the car is still covered in camouflage plastic parts, but it is expected to feature a similar design language as the 2016 Volvo XC90.

Updated 06/29/2019: While all we have so far on the upcoming S90 is pure speculation, we decided to create a rendering to give you an idea of what the car will look like. More details below.

Spy Shots

November 20, 2015 - Volvo drops first teaser images

September 9, 2015 - Volvo S90 testing in the sunny Spain

Scale model