Name: Volvo S90 (2016 – present) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Volvo S90
Rating: 59.0

Summary

The Volvo S90 was a large executive saloon, and the sister model to the V90 estate. It was launched in 2016 and received various light updates throughout its life, before finally being discontinued in the UK in Autumn 2023.

Originally launched with only a pair of diesel engines, the S90 was then fitted with petrol engine options and then a plug-in hybrid. Reflecting the changing tastes and requirements of buyers, the plug-in hybrid powertrain ended up being the only version available for about the last year of the car’s life.

The Volvo S90 received plenty of praise for its design, both externally and particularly inside the cabin – which even drew favourable comparisons to models from Rolls-Royce and Bentley in terms of its ambience and choice of materials. The large central touchscreen control unit was quite pioneering when the model was launched, but has now been surpassed by better units from rivals.

The driving experience was comfortable, although not as enjoyable as alternatives like a BMW 5 Series or Jaguar XF.

As of March 2026, the Volvo S90 holds a Used Car Expert Rating of C, with a score of 59%.

S90 highlights

Interior is still one of the best on sale
Exterior design is clean and understated
Comfortable ride
Good cabin and boot space

S90 lowlights

Driving experience doesn’t match best in class
Limited powertrain choice
Steep depreciation means lease payments are not cheap
Touchscreen sluggish compared to newer rivals

Key specifications

Body style: Large saloon
Engines: plug-in hybrid
Price when new: From £63,075

Launched: Summer 2016
Last updated: Summer 2019
Discontinued: Autumn 2023

Image gallery

Media reviews

Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Featured reviews

“The Volvo S90 offers the quality the targeted clientele expects and technology that is every bit as good as – and in some areas more advanced than – executive rivals from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.”

Score: 8.6 / 10

Read full review

The Car Expert

Andrew Charman

“The Volvo S90 is a decent alternative to large German execs, but a high list price may deter some buyers.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 8 / 10

Read full review

Auto Express

More reviews

Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.2 / 10
“The Volvo S90 offers something a bit different from the competition, with its emphasis on comfort, refinement and smoothness – not to mention its elegant good looks. It ticks all the boxes for an executive saloon, providing lots of equipment, stellar safety kit, generous cabin space and plentiful power.”
Read review

Business Car

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic Momentum Pro
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volvo S90 is a sophisticated and elegant car that sometimes gets overlooked in favour of its German rivals. Yes, it is slightly more expensive than most, but the amount of safety kit and modern tech on offer, plus the luxurious interior, is justification enough.”
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Car

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic D5 R-Design
Score: 8 / 10
“Dynamically, the Volvo S90 is not as good the German competition, but as a long-distance cruiser it’s a welcome alternative. The R-Design is certainly the one to choose, though, if your budget will stretch to it.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic D4 Momentum
Score: 8 / 10
“This is a comfortable, great-looking four-door executive saloon that has much going for it. The tech on offer is deeply impressive. There are few better examples of semi-autonomous tech on sale: Pilot Assist will drive for you on dual carriageways, although quite alarmingly at times.”
Read review

Car Keys

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic D4 Momentum
Score: 8 / 10
“Sedate and serene, the Volvo S90 is sure to appeal to a great many drivers with its mix of comfort, predictability and efficiency. It looks fantastic, it’s got possibly the best cabin in its segment and more high-end equipment as standard than any of its rivals.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic D4 R-Design
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volvo S90 was already a classy, practical and efficient alternative choice of large executive saloon before the R-Design trim arrived and this version shares those same strengths.”
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Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.6 / 10
“The Volvo S90 marks a stylish return to the executive saloon class, with many of the features of the XC90 SUV.”
Read review

Carwow

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volvo S90 proves you can have a fantastic executive saloon that’s not made in Germany. The big Swede is a safe and relaxing alternative to the Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5 Series and Audi A6.”
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Company Car Today

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid T8 Inscription Pro
“If the individual journey pattern numbers stack up for a plug-in hybrid and you really want a Volvo then there’s nothing wrong with the S90, but the T8 is very expensive against diesel-powered S90s and German premium plug-in rivals.”
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Daily Mail

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic D5 Inscription
“The Volvo S90 has it all, but for me only as a sideshow to distract us from the basic truth: this ‘executive saloon’ is a wannabe limo in a goddabe world. All in all, such an un-Volvo Volvo.”
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Eurekar

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid T8 Inscription AWD
“This big saloon is a plug-in hybrid that offers excellent fuel economy and low CO2 emissions, to make it an extremely attractive company car with lower BiK payments. It is also luxurious, almost decadent, with just about every creature comfort catered for, and a few other bits and pieces as well.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic T5 R-Design Plus
“The Volvo S90 T5 R-Design Plus is a car which spoils you in ways it’s hard to appreciate if you have never tried one.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic D4 R-Design Plus
“The Volvo S90 D4 is hugely economical for such a big car, which also proved a pleasure to drive with weighted direct steering and feeling surprisingly agile on bends. It swallows up five adults in comfort while the huge 500-litre boot also feels like it could swallow a couple of bodies.”
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Green Car Guide

Model reviewed: T8 Twin Engine R-Design Pro
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volvo S90 T8 Twin Engine offers an amazingly refined and comfortable motorway driving experience, with the potential of decent economy, and also excellent performance.”
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Heycar

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“With the S90, Volvo finally has a high-quality saloon that’s easily a match for the competition. With a genuine sense of luxury inside, a beautifully smooth ride and an excellent engine, the Volvo S90 is one impressive premium saloon with a distinct Scandinavian twist that many will find appealing.”
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Honest John

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“With the S90, Volvo finally has a high-quality saloon that’s easily a match for the competition. With a genuine sense of luxury inside, a beautifully smooth ride and an excellent engine, the S90 is a genuinely impressive premium car.”
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Motors

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Volvo S90 can’t quite offer the involvement that you get with rivals. That said, the S90 does such a good job of providing a relaxing, hassle-free driving experience that few will worry about less-than-bristling steering feedback once up and running.”
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Parkers

Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“Stylish saloon is packed with advanced safety kit and technology”
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The Sun

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic D5
“When you’re driving a Volvo you know you’re in the presence of greatness. No flair, no fun, just superb engineering.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Range overview
“Whatever your power preference, the Volvo S90 saloon and V90 estate are great alternatives to the ubiquitous German offerings currently pounding the motorways.”
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The Sunday Times

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic D4 Momentum
Score: 6 / 10
“Sitting in a Beemer or a Merc is like being in a well-groomed man’s washbag. It’s all leather and stripes and secret pockets for condoms and what-have-you. Sitting in a Volvo S90 is like sitting in a field. It’s probably the best interior of any mainstream car on sale today.” (Jeremy Clarkson)
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The Telegraph

Model reviewed: (range review)
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volvo S90 isn’t far off being at the top of its class. It really is that good. It’s comfortable, stylish, a pleasure to ride in and drive, and chock-full of toys. True, a Mercedes E-class gets better fuel economy and a slightly more comfortable ride, while a Jaguar XF is more fun to drive. But the Volvo’s price advantage and gorgeous interior make it a compelling alternative.”
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Goes in a different direction to the German alternatives, with convincing success.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: January 2017
Date expired: January 2024
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 95%
Child protection: 80%
Vulnerable road users: 76%
Safety assist: 93%

Notes on safety rating

The Volvo S90 was tested by Euro NCAP back in 2017 and awarded a five-star rating. However, this rating expired in January 2024 and is no longer valid as the car no longer meets the standards required for such a rating. This is normal practice, as Euro NCAP reviews its ratings on most cars annually with most ratings expiring after about six or seven years.

Although the rating has now expired, the score is still useful if you are comparing a used S90 to vehicles of similar age – whose ratings will have probably also expired.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

The Volvo S90 was not assessed by Green NCAP during its production life.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

Total claims: 17
Average repair cost: £586.60
Last updated: April 2025

Reliability score

All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims

As of April 2025 (our most recent data point), the Volvo S90 holds a better-than-average reliability score of 82%. This is based on workshop and extended warranty data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our partner, MotorEasy.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	169 g/km	D
Diesel models	157 g/km	C
Plug-in hybrid models	18 g/km	A

Battery range	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Plug-in hybrid models	55 miles	D

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	44	E

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£374	D
Year 2	£890	D
Year 3	£1,315	D
Year 4	£1,552	D
Year 5	£2,057	D
Overall	£6,188	D

The Volvo S90 saloon is entirely average when it comes to running costs, according to numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

As you can see from the tables above, the S90 scores a ‘C’ in most categories. We don’t currently have fuel consumption data, but given that the CO₂ scores for petrol and diesel models are a C, it’s entirely likely that the fuel consumption scores would be similar.

Insurance is on the expensive side, but that’s not surprising given the car’s price bracket. Servicing costs are slap-bang in the middle of our A-to-E scale. Although the plug-in hybrid looks to be very efficient on paper, scoring an A for its emissions, that’s simply a function of the rather useless EU/UK government lab tests that produce completely unrealistic results for plug-in hybrids.

On a positive note, an official battery range of more than 50 miles is very good for a plug-in hybrid, meaning that you can do most of your day-to-day running on electric power – as long as you are able to keep the battery charged on pretty much a daily basis.