Volvo S90 review

With only one engine option and two trims to choose from, buying an S90 is not at all complicated. ‘R-Design’ is the sporty-looking one, with the big wheels and high-gloss black trim, and ‘Inscription’ is the more luxurious one with much chrome outside and wood inside. There’s only £775 between them if you buy outright - £56,025 for R-Design plays £57,050 for Inscription, only a few £/month – and little difference in terms of kit. It’s (mostly) in the details, so simply pick whichever one takes your fancy. Most go R-Design, but we’d go Inscription because it better matches the S90’s character. 

The amount of standard equipment is predictably generous, with all S90s getting everything you might want or need. Far too much to list here. On top of the standard equipment there are Seat, Lighting, Climate and Lounge option packs you can specify. Seat only gives you a power adjustable passenger-seat. Lighting adds fancy adaptive headlights, Climate gives you heated rear seats, a heated windscreen and heated steering wheel, while Lounge adds a sunroof, interior air filter and Harmon Kardon stereo. 

Individual options include a head-up display at £750, 360-degree parking cameras at £525 and the mighty Bowers & Wilkins stereo for… £3,000. Audiophiles – if you can stretch to that then by all means do, you won’t be disappointed. 

Besides buying outright or leasing/PCP’ing in the normal way, the S90 is also available through the ‘Care By Volvo’ subscription service. You’ll pay more per month than you would on a normal PCP or lease, but there’s no deposit to pay and you can hand the car back and cancel (or swap to a different one) with three months’ notice. Everything bar insurance is included, just tell Volvo how many miles you’re going to do (they’ll adjust the price accordingly) and you’re away.