S90/V90 [Official] Volvo S90 Official first pics

[Mick Briesgau]

Haven't got much time on my hands the next days, so a few photos must do as sort of an appetizer. This much I can say: the S90 surprised me in a positive way. Have a nice Sunday...

 

[Rolf]

Looking forward to your review @Mick Briesgau I am very impressed with the S90 what I have seen in mags and also video reviews. The car is not available in South Africa yet but what I can see with the XC90 Volvo are on a roll and this car I am sure will be hugely impressive in real life.

 

[Giannis]

@deity

I would appreciate it if you told me why you disliked my post.

 

[klier]

Haven't got much time on my hands the next days, so a few photos must do as sort of an appetizer. This much I can say: the S90 surprised me in a positive way. Have a nice Sunday...

Very nice Mick.

Zeker its jou vrouw! Maar dan wel de V90.

 

[Mick Briesgau]

Testdrive: circa 400 km. Driven mostly in the Netherlands (highway and countryroads) and German Autobahn. Almost everything on board, except for airsuspension and cooled massage seats.
Exterior
Irl the S90 is looking good; big, wide, low and for my taste very elegant and subtle. Designwise it can easily compete with the German trio. The one I drove had 20" wheels. For the looks 19" would be sufficient.
Interior
See the pictures above. I like it very much. Serene and in good quality. In some parts (doorsills and lower b pillar) use of hard plastic. But I see that in the E-klasse and even the BMW G11 7 series as well. The middle console however shows on the left and right upperside a hardplastic strip, that just doesn't belongs in this class.
The seats are very comfortable and supportive, perfect for long distances. They fitted as if they were tailormade.
Drive
The drive itself surprised me. Very comfortable and relaxed, even without the airsuspension and 20" wheels. It's a fine highway cruiser. Soundinsulation wasn't bad. It did have the soundinsulation package on board. The W213 I drove recently was more quiete, to my ears. At some revs, you can hear the 4 cylinder doing his job. Not unpleasant, but if you're used to a 6 cylinder you'll notice.
As for the steering. I tried to do some of things @Giannis asked me to do. The steering feels rather direct for a originally FWD car (mine was AWD). To me the steering felt less direct and communicative as in my own car. The turning circle is rather big as well > 12 metres. You can corner it, it reacts well, but not in a direct way. At higher speeds the steering is good, not nervous at all. So good for higher speed (160 km/h), straight line travelling. The confident feeling disappears however at a speed well above 160 km/h.
The brakes felt really good and confident.

Most of the interaction between you and the car is via touchscreen. It functions good and fast. It takes however alot of your attention off the road to operate it. After a while you get a bit used to it. Personally I don't like it. I mean, it looks good and in high resolution, but I prefer buttons and well functioning voicecontrol, like for instance the Mercedes-Benz and the BMW G11 offers. That last one is super.

B&W soundsystem is a conditio sine qua non, if you like to hear music in your car. It sounds very good and you really can hear the difference between the offered settings.

The fueltank is for my taste too small; 60 liters for a rather large and heavy AWD car is just not good enough.

ACC funtions good and in a more natural way. Not to abrupt braking and getting up to pre set speed rather quickly.
Verdict
An absolute great car, well done Volvo. In my eyes it can compete easily with the Germans. It's well build, good and tastefully designed and clever engineered. There's only one thing: this S90 deserves a fine 6 cylinder engine...

 

[Rainer271]

Thanks a lot Mick for sharing your impressions.

I must say till this day I have my problem with the rear design. It don't hit my taste.
Therefore I would prefer the V90 although normally I prefer sedans.

Referred to the touchscreen: it's a good solution when the car system offers different kinds of use: controller, touchpad/touchscreen, gesture.
Todays gesture controls are still in the early stage of development.
So every driver/passenger can choose his personal preference.
A pure touchscreen is not my personal love. Not in a car.

 

[Mick Briesgau]

It was my pleasure, Rainer. The reardesign is something I think you like or you hate. I like it and think it gives the car character imo. Another nice design aspect is the horizontal line that starts at the frontlights and 'travels' all the way to the rearlights. It visually stretches the car and gives it a certain elegance. I'd go for the sedan if I would buy one.

 

[Centurion]

Cheers Mike. Do you feel the engine is good enough for the car?

 

[Mick Briesgau]

Cheers Mike. Do you feel the engine is good enough for the car?

For the car as such it's good enough. 235 hp and 480 Nm says it all. But the moment you compare it to it's rivals (the typical German trio) and their 6 cylinder engines the engine just can't stand it's ground. The engine isn't smooth enough and in the end lacks power, compared to the 6 cylinder engines.

 

[Centurion]

For the car as such it's good enough. 235 hp and 480 Nm says it all. But the moment you compare it to it's rivals (the typical German trio) and their 6 cylinder engines the engine just can't stand it's ground. The engine isn't smooth enough and in the end lacks power, compared to the 6 cylinder engines.

I thought so. It's the one thing that has held me back from buying the XC90. I can't accept such a big car being powered by a rabbit for an engine.

 

[slicknick]

For the car as such it's good enough. 235 hp and 480 Nm says it all. But the moment you compare it to it's rivals (the typical German trio) and their 6 cylinder engines the engine just can't stand it's ground. The engine isn't smooth enough and in the end lacks power, compared to the 6 cylinder engines.

My sentiments exactly, the S90 seems to be the closest attempt ever by a non-German to challenge the Germans, just wish that the engines were worthy of the rest of the car....

 

[Giannis]

You can corner it, it reacts well, but not in a direct way.

Interesting choice of words.

Would you be expecting or prefer something different from a Volvo, if you were to buy one?

 

[Mick Briesgau]

Interesting choice of words.

Would you be expecting or prefer something different from a Volvo, if you were to buy one?

Let me put it in other words. You know what I'm driving. My car feels and steers more direct and precise than the S90. And my car isn't exactly known for it's sportiness.

I think I wouldn't really expect someting else from a Volvo. It's more or less 'foolproof' in this way and therefore safe. When you're used to it, you now you have to rotate the steering wheel a bit more in corners and it's possible there's a slight understeer effect.

I'd prefer however something different form the S90. A more direct en precise steering, just a little bit more enthusiasm (of the car itself) in taking corners, would be nice. Long distance driving on not to challenging, curvy roads (preferably highway driving) is the thing the S90 masters very well.

The main reason that would hold me back from buying the S90, if I were to buy one, isn't it's drive, but the small fueltank of 60 litres (1.900 kg, AWD car).

 

[klier]

How did the car compare with your W213 testdrive Mick? Surely the Benz is more mature, and better at everything?

 

[Mick Briesgau]

How did the car compare with your W213 testdrive Mick? Surely the Benz is more mature, and better at everything?

As I stated above, the S90 surprised me in a positive way. But you're right, the W213 felt more mature, better in almost any aspect. Which is no shame, knowing what kind of product the W213 is. What is does do very well, is comfort drive and it gives you a distinctive feeling of relaxness, security and cosiness. Everytime I got in the car, the words "Willkommen zu Hause" (welcome home) swirled through my mind. Thus the S90 gives you some sort of Benz feeling.
I think no Volvo has ever come so close to a middle class Mercedes-Benz, as this one.

 

[Rainer271]

^When I have read "Willkommen zu Hause" this advertisement video came instantly in my mind:

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[Deleted member 1071]

^When I have read "Willkommen zu Hause" this advertisement video came instantly in my mind:

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A commercial that, in its' day, was considered by more than a few as "politically incorrect".

 

[Mick Briesgau]

"politically incorrect".

Nothing against you, Jimmy, but I can't hear this expression anymore...

 

[JLBM]

This car is REALLY well priced in South Africa - starting at R675K! That's C-Class territory.

 

[KiwiRob]

As I stated above, the S90 surprised me in a positive way. But you're right, the W213 felt more mature, better in almost any aspect. Which is no shame, knowing what kind of product the W213 is. What is does do very well, is comfort drive and it gives you a distinctive feeling of relaxness, security and cosiness. Everytime I got in the car, the words "Willkommen zu Hause" (welcome home) swirled through my mind. Thus the S90 gives you some sort of Benz feeling.
I think no Volvo has ever come so close to a middle class Mercedes-Benz, as this one.

Did you drive a 4 cylinder W213, since the 4 cylinder models will be far and away the biggest selling models comparing it too the 6's isn't right. Ditto for the 5 series, most come with a 4 cylinder engine.