The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Pretty styling
- Interior finesse
- And interior space
- Strong hybrids
Dislikes
- Wagon lacks plug-in option
- Some Google infotainment quirks
- S90’s trunk is small
- Some may want more sport
Buying tip
features & specs
Volvo’s V90 and S90 offer tremendous appeal as mid-size luxury cars.
What kind of vehicle is the 2025 Volvo S90? What does it compare to?
The 90-Series models are Volvo’s top passenger cars, available as either the S90 sedan or the V90 Cross Country wagon. Compare the four-door to the BMW 5-Series and Audi A6, while the wagon squares off against the Audi A6 Allroad and, perhaps, loaded-up versions of the Subaru Outback.
Is the 2025 Volvo S90 a good car?
These are brilliant cars for cognoscenti, though they’re overshadowed by Volvo’s own SUVs. They’re pretty inside and out, and loaded with features. They’re a 7.3 on the TCC scale. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2025 Volvo S90?
Not much. The Ultimate trim level has been renamed Ultra, and massaging seats are now optional rather than standard on high-end versions.
These cars have been around since the 2017 model year, making them some of the oldest basic designs available on the market today. They’re still attractive vehicles, either in long-wheelbase S90 sedan or short-wheelbase V90 Cross Country wagon form. They’re sleek and elegant outside, with simple cabins. Volvo offers pleasing interior hues, too, though there’s not quite the level of customizability here that there once was—and rivals do better here, too.
The 295-hp turbocharged and supercharged 4-cylinder powers all four corners through an 8-speed automatic transmission in most versions. The S90 Recharge swaps in a 455-hp version of this powertrain with a bigger battery and electric motor capable of delivering around 40 miles of estimated range on a full charge. They’re fast and frugal, a marked contrast to the mere 25 mpg combined you’ll see in other versions.
These are not sporty cars, but their sedate personality makes them great in normal driving situations. They’re excellent on the highway, too, thanks largely to Volvo’s terrific limited hands-off driver-assistance tech.
Comfortable front seats and a well-contoured bench make them great for passengers, too. The curiously long S90 has a stretch-out rear seat, which makes it great as an under-the-radar chauffeur-driven vehicle. (Cough, Uber Black, cough.)
Excellent crash-test scores and a huge suite of driver-assistance tech make these big Volvos very safe choices, too. They’re among our higher-rated models, which is especially impressive when you consider just how old their basic bones are and that the NHTSA hasn’t smacked one into a wall recently.
How much does the 2025 Volvo S90 cost?
Figure around $60,000 for a base S90 sedan, though the $6,000 or so for the Ultra trim level with its head-up display, upgraded interior trim, and even more comfortable seats is worth the spend. V90 Cross Country wagons are only about $1,500 more than their sedan counterparts, though, making them an easy sell.
Where is the 2025 Volvo S90 made?
In China (S90) and Sweden (V90).
2025 Volvo S90 Styling
Volvo’s 90-Series models don’t brag about their style.
Is the Volvo S90 a good-looking car?
Yes, these are very nice-looking sedans and tall wagons. They’re rare enough sights on American roads that they haven’t become too familiar, even though the S90 and V90 have been around for most of a decade. The 2025 Volvo V90 and S90 collectively score an 8 here, with two points for their interiors and one for their exteriors.
They share most basic exterior styling themes, starting with a low front fascia and a broad concave grille surrounded by headlights with hammer-esque LED running lights. From the side, both models have a non-traditional take. The S90 has rather long rear doors, giving it something of a Town Car profile. The V90 has a squat body but it sits up on stilts. Its unpainted fender flares add a hint of ruggedness.
They’re the same inside, for the most part. They have a 9.0-inch vertical touchscreen mounted like a tablet in the dash. Few additional buttons and knobs contribute to a sparse overall look, but fine attention to detail prevents these cars from feeling even remotely low-class. Volvo is a bit stingy on interior color options, though.
2025 Volvo S90 Performance
Sedate but planted and quick, the Volvo S90 and V90 models are fantastic mile-eaters.
The 2025 Volvo V90 Cross Country and S90 sedan are not particularly sporty, but that’s no problem for us. We appreciate their composed ride and robust acceleration. Those pluses earn a 7 on the TCC scoring system.
Is the Volvo S90 4WD?
Yep, though V90 Cross Country models will be better in snow due to their higher 8.0-inch ground clearance. Big wheels with short sidewalls won’t like being pounded into rocks away from pavement, though, so tread very lightly.
How fast is the Volvo S90?
It’s pretty peppy in base form, where a 48-volt starter-generator paired with a 2.0-liter turbocharged and supercharged inline-four checks off virtually every propulsion box to deliver 295 hp. The turbo-4 is quick but not especially refined, at least compared to other small mills in BMW and Audi models. This setup does work well with the 8-speed automatic transmission, though.
The S90 Recharge packs in an upsized battery pack and electric motor that boost output considerably to 455 hp. These models provide near-instant torque for zippy throttle response. They’re exceptionally quick and also capable of doing nearly 40 miles on a full charge, so long as you don’t exploit all that power.
The optional air suspension in V90 Cross Country versions is worth the spend, particularly if you opt for the available 20-inch alloy wheels. While not quite as compliant as some of the segment’s best models, the 90-Series Volvos take big bumps in stride. They have good steering hett but a fair amount of lean, which makes them less sporty and precise than a BMW with the available M kit, for instance. But if you’re after a comfort-oriented cruiser—and, let’s face it, that’s what most of us really need—these 90-Series Volvos are exceptionally good at that role.
2025 Volvo S90 Comfort & Quality
The 2025 Volvo 90-Series models have soothing cabin decor.
Comfortable and beautifully outfitted, the 2025 Volvo S90 and V90 score a 9 out of 10 here. They get points for seating up to five passengers in high-end trappings, and the V90 gets another point for its big cargo area.
The standard front seats are comfy enough up front, with plenty of power adjustment and heating. Opt for the Ultra trim level and Volvo swaps in front seats with more adjustment and better contouring, plus a standard massage function and soft nappa leather. Massaging is optional up front.
The rear bench is well-formed. V90 models have acceptable legroom but are a bit tight on headroom. S90 models swap in gargantuan legroom: over 40 inches of stretch-out space.
The S90 has a small trunk, though, at just 13.5 cubic feet. If you would rather carry stuff than people, the V90 delivers as much as 54 cubic feet of utility, which is pretty good but not spectacular for a wagon this large. The low roofline doesn’t help.
All 90-Series Volvos have lovely trim inside, while Ultra versions have various stitched panels, softer leather, and nicer wood trim to spiff things up inside.
2025 Volvo S90 Safety
Volvo’s S90 and V90 include loads of crash-avoidance tech.
How safe is the Volvo S90?
The 2025 Volvo S90 and V90 pack great driver-assistance tech.
These are undoubtedly safe cars, even though they score just 8 out of 10. That’s because the NHTSA hasn’t evaluated them recently. The IIHS has, though, and it rates them a Top Safety Pick+. Add in great driver-assistance tech and we’re at an 8 for safety.
Standard fare includes everything you’d want: automatic emergency braking, parking sensors, blind-spot monitors with steering assistance, and active lane control, plus the automaker’s Pilot Assist system for short stints of hands-off driving on routes with well-marked roads.
Outward vision is pretty good, even though the belt line is high.
2025 Volvo S90 Features
Volvo packs a lot of features into its top-end sedan and high-riding wagon.
The 2025 Volvo S90 and V90 are pricey cars, but they’re well-equipped for the money. They include myriad features that cost extra on most rivals. We score the lineup at 9 out of 10 thanks to that standard equipment, plus plenty of options, great driver-assistance tech, and a 4-year/50,000-mile warranty with three years of free basic maintenance.
S90 sedans cost around $60,000 in base Plus trim, which is quite nice. You’ll get leather trim, power-adjustable and heated front seats, a 9.0-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, decent Google-based infotainment, and a massive sunroof, plus 19-inch alloy wheels. V90 Cross Country models are about $1,500 more, while the plug-in hybrid S90 Recharge runs another $8,000 or so. That model may qualify for various state and federal incentives to partially offset its price premium
Which Volvo S90 should I buy?
We like the V90 Cross Country, which is just so much more useful. The base trim level has few options, so we’d probably budget for the extra $6,000 for the Ultra trim, which adds nicer nappa leather upholstery, cooled front seats with more power adjustment, a head-up display, and Harman/Kardon audio.
How much is a fully loaded Volvo S90?
A top-end S90 Recharge can tickle $80,000 with a few grand worth of options like cooled rear seats, Bowers & Wilkins audio, and an air suspension. The market for such a sedan seems rather small, though.
2025 Volvo S90 Fuel Economy
The 2025 Volvo 90-Series lineup can be frugal in Recharge form.
Is the Volvo S90 good on gas?
It’s OK in mild-hybrid from but rather impressive as the S90 Recharge. If only that powertrain was offered on the more appealing V90 Cross Country, though.
We score the range at 3 out of 10 based on the S90’s 22 mpg city, 31 highway, 25 combined, which slides to 22/29/25 mpg in the high-riding V90.
The S90 Recharge offers 66 MPGe and an impressive 38-mile range on a full charge.
