Not too long ago the go-to marque for luxury and comfort was Mercedes-Benz. Well, at least for those who could not afford a Rolls or a Bently. Jaguar came … and then went. BMW later joined Merc in this exclusive club of executive luxury, followed by Audi.
And then Jaguar returned. And Toyota threw its hat in the ring with the Lexus. Nissan did the same with its Infiniti. There have been others, but none has been able to push the three Germans off the podium.
So, if the Brits (with a little help from a former colony) and the Japanese cannot upset the proverbial applecart, who can? Well, what about the Swedes (with a little help from the Orient).
Enter the new Volvo S90. Marking the company’s return to the large executive sedan segment, the new S90 offers unprecedented Swedish luxury, supreme comfort and space, modern Scandinavian design, Drive-E efficiency and semi-autonomous driving as standard on all models.
The Volvo S90 enters the South African market with two engines – the D5 and T6, both with all-wheel-drive – in Momentum or Inscription guise. Later this year, the D4 and T5 derivatives will follow, with front-wheel drive, and the range topping T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid (PHEV) will make its way to South Africa at a later date.
Volvo claims the new S90’s svelte appearance really is something to behold. Longer, wider and lower than its competitors, the sleek design is actually reminiscent of a sports coupe rather than a large sedan, and when seen on the road imparts immediate presence and commands attention.
On the inside, the new Volvo is pure luxury and comfort. Space is plentiful and the play on light which enters the cabin is the epitome of Swedish design ethos. Real textures like open-pore wood, aluminium, leather and glass abound, ensuring that no matter which elements may come into contact with occupants of the S90, they always sense absolute class and sophistication.
Like the XC90, the new S90 features minimal arrays of buttons, especially on the dashboard. The 9-inch (22cm) high definition Sensus Connect interface is responsible for most in-car functions, from entertainment and telephony to settings, climate control and navigation.
RANGE AND PRICING
- Volvo S90 D4 Geartronic Momentum
R698 500 - Volvo S90 D4 Geartronic Inscription
R742 000 - Volvo S90 D4 Geartronic R-Design
R727 500 - Volvo S90 D5 Geartronic AWD
MomentumR777 700 - Volvo S90 D5 Geartronic AWD
InscriptionR821 200 - Volvo S90 D5 Geartronic AWD R-Design
R806 700 - Volvo S90 T5 Geartronic Momentum
R675 200 - Volvo S90 T5 Geartronic Inscription
R718 700 - Volvo S90 T5 Geartronic R-Design
R704 200 - Volvo S90 T6 Geartronic AWD
MomentumR828 400 - Volvo S90 T6 Geartronic AWD
InscriptionR871 900 - Volvo S90 T6 Geartronic AWD R-Design
R857 400
All models come standard with a 5-year/ 100 000 km full vehicle warranty, full maintenance plan and roadside assistance, as well as laminated glass and Tracker Connect as standard.
