Volvo S90 saloon - Interior & comfort (2016-2023)

Volvo often draws acclaim for the comfort of its seats – it’s an area where the company invests a lot of money – and the new S90 is no exception. The standard leather-upholstered seats offer fantastic support and comfort which, combined with the S90’s impressive ride, makes for a very relaxing driving experience.

Volvo S90 dashboard

As with the XC90, the S90 uses some superb materials and boasts high-quality workmanship, while everything is laid out intuitively, too. The nine-inch, portrait-orientated touchscreen not only looks fantastic, but is also easy to use, with just about every function operated from the screen. There’s just one row of buttons, which controls the stereo, hazard warning lights and windscreen demisting.

Operating the infotainment system is pretty easy, too. It may take you a little while to work it out, but once you have – after 15 minutes or so – it’ll become second nature. The graphics are sharp and the screen responsive, so it feels more like you’re operating a tablet computer than a car’s infotainment system.

The dials are easy to read, too, while the steering wheel is wonderfully tactile as well. While the design approach for an executive car of adding wood and leather to everything is very well-trodden ground, the S90 manages to freshen it up somewhat. Instead of the usual dark wood that you’ll find in other cars of this sort, it uses lighter woods and is designed in a very clean, crisp way.

Equipment

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Trim levels were revised in early 2022, with the Momentum, Inscription and R-Design trims replaced by Plus and Ultimate. The S90 now starts from ‘Plus’ trim, so all models get sumptuous leather upholstery, an infotainment system with Google navigation and its voice-controlled assistant built in, Bluetooth compatibility, four-zone climate control, heated front and rear seats, LED lights all round and even wireless internet access.

Keyless engine starting and access to a variety of apps comes as standard, as do 19-inch alloy wheels and a powered bootlid. All models also get Volvo’s Pilot Assist semi-autonomous driving system, which allows the car to just about drive itself at speeds of up to 80 mph on the motorway.

Improved adaptive suspension and adaptive headlights come on the more premium Ultimate model. It also comes equipped with a head-up display in the windscreen, tinted privacy glass, and a powered tilt and slide sunroof. Plus models include a power adjustable driver seat, while Ultimate models extend this to include the passenger side, too. An upgraded Bowers and Wilkins sound system is another feature of Ultimate models, in contrast to the Harmon Kardon system included with the Plus.

Your S90 can be specified in either a ‘Bright’ or a ‘Dark’ theme. Opt for the ‘Bright’ theme and you’ll get exterior elements of the car like the grille and window surrounds finished in chrome, while ‘Dark’ themed models are finished with gloss black trim pieces.

Options

Thanks to the impressively generous standard equipment, there aren’t that many options for S90 buyers to choose from. Metallic and premium metallic paint options are available, costing £715 and £1,000 respectively, as is an even more premium Nappa leather upholstery option for an extra £1,500 on Ultimate models. Contoured sports seats can be specced at no extra cost. The tinted windows included on Ultimate models can also be added to the Plus model for £400.