Top 3 things you need to know about the Volvo S90 R-Design
Volvo’s local passenger car range is capped by the sleek and suave S90 – their only sedan (at the moment). And, while most buyers in the premium executive sedan market segment usually shop from a German brand, those who want something unique and sporty would do well to look towards the big Volvo, especially with some sporty trimmings. Let’s explore the top 3 things you need to know about the Volvo S90 R-Design.
The Swedish alternative
Available in three trim levels (Momentum, R-Design and Inscription) and with a choice of four powerplants (two diesels and two petrols), choosing the ideal S90 can be quite a job. The diesel engines produce 140 kW and 173 kW respectively, their petrol counterparts produce 187 kW or 235 kW, and they all use some version of Volvo’s 2.0-litre 4-cylinder Drive-E engine family.
Besides the nice engine selection, all models are packed with the latest in technology, excellent seats, thundering audio systems, plenty of space, brilliant LED headlights and some of the most innovative safety systems that have set benchmarks in the industry. Here are three of the most important highlights:
1. Car of the Year Awards
Back in 2018, the Volvo S90 achieved the second position in the South African Car of the Year competition, finishing second only to the Porsche Panamera. This accomplishment alone should already tell you that the Swedish option deserves a closer look. In worldwide motoring competitions, the S90 also has a multitude of accolades to its name, again making it worth serious consideration over the mainstream competition.
There’s a long list of awards in the trophy cabinet: in 2016, the Association of Finnish Traffic and Motoring Journalists also named it their Car of the Year, and it was chosen as Best Car by Auto Motor und Sport in 2019. That’s quite a pedigree to keep in mind.
Related: What is covered by the Volvo S90's manufacturer's warranty?
2. Safety
The safety systems packed into Volvo cars are world-renowned, affording the brand the reputation of being one of the safest. Euro NCAP confirms this by handing the Volvo S90 a full 5 stars in crash testing. These test parameters are divided into four groups; Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Pedestrian and Safety Assist. Of particular interest is the Child Occupant category, where the S90 achieved a score of 80%. Its ISOFIX systems worked as intended, the “6-year-old” dummy’s protection was rated as adequate/good and the “10-year-old” dummy scored maximum protection points. These are excellent attributes for such a capable family vehicle.
Under Safety Assist, the Volvo achieved a score of 93%, which was due to the standard fitment of Volvo's 'City Safety' autonomous braking system, which scored full points in performance tests at highway speeds - it was even able to complete collision avoidance in all scenarios and at all test speeds, within the system's limits. Other systems that helped its score included an 'intelligent speed assistance' system and the lane assistance systems.
The highest rating went to the Adult Occupant category, with a whopping 95%. Test dummy readings indicated good protection of the knees and femurs for both the driver and passenger, and in the full-width rigid barrier test, protection of the driver was almost entirely good, an amazing feat for this test. For the side barrier impact test, there was good protection for all critical body regions, scoring maximum points. The same happened in the harsh side pole impact test. If safety is paramount, a Volvo S90 is certainly a top choice.
Related: Everything you've ever wanted to know about Volvo and their rich heritage.
3. Stylish, refined and sporty
While the Volvo S90 is a luxury sedan aimed at captains of industry, things don’t have to be all business all the time. This is where the R-Design trim and optional extras come in. It’s sort of like the trim package for boy racers who’ve managed to climb the rungs of success and want something distinctive and plush, as well as great-looking and sporty-feeling.
The R-Design starts at R 795 352 in FWD T5 guise (with 187 kW/350 Nm), and jumps to R 966 560 for the most powerful T6 AWD Geartronic version that bumps outputs to 235 kW and 400 Nm. To keep it looking like it’s all about performance, the R-Design can be had with 20-inch matte-black diamond cut wheels, charcoal Nappa leather draped over sports seats, R-Design rear spoiler, double exhaust tailpipes, carbon fibre interior trim inlays, a multifunction, leater-covered sports steering wheel and shift lever, and a comprehensive R-Design package.
Related: Redefining Swedish sensibility - our review of the Volvo S90 D5 AWD R-Design.
Option packages add things like a Head-Up Display, a 360-degree camera, the frankly brilliant Bowers & Wilkins audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and adaptive air suspension, amongst others. The final option to complete an R-Design is the addition of the Polestar Engineered Optimisation powertrain software. This unlocks a more precise and intuitive driving experience, thanks to optimised engine performance, gearshift programming, and suspension-, steering, and throttle response settings.
All this sportiness comes at a cost though: you’re looking at close to R 1.2-million to get all of the best in R-Design trim and options. Not feeling particularly sporty? The Momentum- and Inscription trim packages offers various comfort- and luxury items and distinctive detailing to keep connoisseurs happy.
Related: 4 Volvo S90 features that stand out from the competition.
The current Volvo S90 R-Design range:
| Volvo S90 T5 R-Design | R 795 352 |
| Volvo S90 D4 R-Design | R 816 598 |
| Volvo S90 D5 AWD R-Design | R 905 416 |
| Volvo S90 T6 AWD R-Design | R 966 560 |
(Prices are listed before options and were correct at the time of writing, but may change without prior notice.)
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