2017 Volvo S90: A New Day, A New Flagship

The 2017 Volvo S90 is new inside and out and replaces the S80 sedan.

Not long ago, you could've convinced me that Volvo was on their way out of the U.S. market. Formally owned by Ford Motor Company, and now by Chinese company Geely, you could go months in some places and not see a new Volvo on the road. Now here we are in 2016, and the brand is on a complete turn around. Starting with the new XC90 SUV, and now the S90 flagship sedan. Both seem to embody the new spirit and design language of the Volvo brand. And if that's true, then Volvo is a brand we're going to want to keep our eyes on in the coming years!

Luxury Abounds

If you're going to compete in the luxury sedan segment, then you have to bring your A-game. Recognizing they weren't properly doing this, Volvo set out to redefine themselves in short order. In the sedan department, the S90 replaces the S80 and combines the best parts of Volvo's new products. Originally, this model was supposed to debut BEFORE the new XC90 SUV, but market conditions proved more favorable for an SUV introduction first. Both models share their powertrains and some other components, but have totally different target audiences. The S90 competes with other midsized luxury sedans such as the Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and various Cadillac models. Where it will mainly differ from these models is in its powertrain options. While its rivals offer a variety of engine options, the S90 will only offer 4-cylinder engine options, as Volvo recently stated that this is all they will offer on ANY of their cars going forward. This is very interesting, but what Volvo has been doing with their powertrains lately is also worth noting. The unique combination of supercharging AND turbocharging their engines really nearly eliminates any turbo lag at low RPMs, but also maximizes efficiency and power throughout the rest of the engine's powerband.

Like the XC90 SUV, the S90 T6 will be powered by a turbocharged and supercharged 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine paired to an 8-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. Making 316 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, it doesn't sound like anyone will be complaining about a lack of power from this engine. In addition to this powertrain, the S90 will be available with front wheel drive and a turbocharged-only version of the same 2.0 liter engine (dubbed the S90 T5), good for 240 horsepower in the smaller S60 sedan. Whether or not Americans will get the option of all-wheel drive on all models remains to be figured out. The S90 will have optional air suspension on some models, similar to how the XC90 offers air suspension as well.

Inside the Ride

Inside of the S90, you can see many of the XC90 SUV's design language at play. From the giant tablet-like touchscreen, leather and wood-wrapped interior trim, to the comprehensive safety equipment available, Volvo is more serious than ever about being a contender in the luxury car segment. This goes double in the safety arena, as the S90 offers expanded safety features over those introduced in past Volvo models. Pilot Assist, which was introduced on the XC90, is upgraded and included on the S90 as standard equipment. Pilot Steer in the S90 can maneuver the car up to 81 MPH by simply reading road lines without using the adaptive cruise control to lock onto a car ahead. Although, this feature requires that the driver keeps a hand on the wheel at all times. Additionally, Volvo's City Safety system offers autonomous braking and forward collision warning, and can sense if there are pedestrians, large animals, cyclists, and other objects in front of the car and stop accordingly to avoid an accident. This is a major step forward for this kind of technology, and Volvo aims to someday have no one injured or killed in their vehicles, and also to have fully autonomous driving vehicles in their lineup by the year 2020. While this is no excuse for drivers to get lazy, I'm all for more in-car technological advancements!

The Road Ahead

Volvo's path hasn't always been clear, but now it's safe to say it's more clear than ever. With new models like the S90 helping redefine the brand's image, it is easy to see that Volvo has a mission and is determined to reach it. Paving the way to a safer, autonomous driving future is a noble cause indeed. And while the rear of the S90 is a little more ho-hum than the rest of its design, hopefully this is just a subliminal nod to the fact that Volvo's most bland days are behind them, and a future just as striking as the rest of the car is in the not too distance future! Expect the S90 to be released early this summer and pricing to be similar to that of that of the S80 sedan it is replacing (the 2016 S80 starts at $44,390).

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