Test Car Specifications
Model: 2022 Volvo V90 Recharge Ultimate T6 AWD
Price: V90 Recharge from £62,280
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol and electric motor
Transmission: eight-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
Battery: 18.8kWh
Power: 350hp
Torque: 350Nm (petrol engine) and 309Nm (electric motor)
Emissions: 18-25g/km
Economy: 213.8-294.0mpg
Range: 46-55 miles
0-62mph: 5.5 seconds
Top speed: 112mph
Boot space: 551-1,517 litres
Styling
From the outside, the latest-generation V90 looks much like any other, but then it doesn't need to look very different. The original V90s still look modern today, despite being more than six years old, and the brand new cars don't need much in the way of accoutrements to remain easy on the eye. It's clean and classy and a masterclass of modern design. This must be one of the best-looking estate cars on the market.
Interior
Design-wise, the V90’s cabin looks much as it ever did, with a clean Scandi image that suits the exterior design. A digital instrument cluster lurks behind the wheel, while there’s a big portrait-orientated touchscreen in the centre of the dash. Pretty much everything is controlled from there, and to help out, Volvo has fitted a new operating system that uses Google technology to make it sharper and more intuitive. It works very well, and the Google Maps navigation system is a godsend, but there are still issues, including the climate control system. It’s fiddly and awkward, and you can’t help but think a row of physical buttons would have been better. And the same goes for the controls for the hybrid system, which are hidden in a sub-menu when they should be immediately accessible. All that said, the Volvo offers very good quality – both in terms of materials and construction – and the design will win over plenty of customers. Add in the new tech, and it’s even better than before.
Practicality
Volvo estates live and die by their practicality, so it’s a good job the Volvo is every bit as big on the inside as it is on the outside. The length may make parking entertaining in some places, but there’s no arguing with the Volvo’s 551-litre boot – especially considering the all-wheel-drive, plug-in hybrid powertrain. Boot space is plentiful, then, and so too is passenger space. Four adults can sit in comfort, although we weren’t convinced by the cloth-trimmed seats in our test car. They felt a bit hard and unforgiving on longer journeys. Space-wise, however, there’s no faulting the V90.
Performance
This Recharge T6 version of the V90 uses a similar 2.0-litre petrol engine to other '60'- and '90'-series cars, but it combines that with an electric motor and a chunky 18.8kWh rechargeable battery. If you keep that battery topped up and most of your journeys are short, Volvo claims you'll get more than 200mpg, although that's probably a bit fanciful. Even so, by easily topping 30 or so miles on a charge, the V90 has the potential to be very efficient for those with a suitable lifestyle. It's also very powerful, with 350hp heading to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox, allowing a startling 0-62mph time of 5.5 seconds.
Perhaps more impressive than the V90's performance, however, is its refinement. The 90-series Volvos have been blighted by their lack of a six-cylinder engine, but Volvo has managed to get its four-cylinder units to get somewhere close. Unless you really put your foot down, you'll barely notice the engine at all, and it only sounds unpleasant if you really push it. But with plenty of performance in reserve, you rarely need to do that.
Ride & Handling
The V90 is set up for comfort, rather than handling, and that’s fine by us. As much as we love a driver’s car, there’s something relaxing about a supple, quiet, spacious car for covering long distances with ease. And that’s exactly what the V90 does. On the motorway, the engine is hushed, the ride is pliant and the cabin is quiet, allowing you to bumble along in peace and quiet – perhaps with some relaxing Radio 4 programme in the background. On winding roads, it’s less accomplished, but the steering is well weighted and that makes it pleasant enough to cruise around in. It has a degree of rough-road capability thanks to its all-wheel-drive system, but a lack of ground clearance means that’s only really there to help you get moving in slippery conditions. Still, that’s all most people need and, being Swedish, the V90 is pretty good at it.
Value
Plug-in hybrid versions of the V90 start at around £62,000, which makes them remarkably expensive, especially when the 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid 5 Series is about £7,000 cheaper. Admittedly, monthly payments matter more, but the price is still high. That said, you get plenty of standard kit, including leather upholstery and alloy wheels, as well as the new touchscreen, and the Ultimate model tested here gets some extra goodies, but the 5 Series is hardly Spartan. It's a difficult price difference to justify.
Verdict
There's no doubt the latest updates have improved the V90, which was already a very likeable car. This plug-in 'Recharge' model is smooth and comfortable and powerful, and it's probably our favourite version of the V90. But while this is a very good car, it has some astonishing rivals, including the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the BMW 5 Series. For our money, the BMW 545e Touring is still the hybrid estate to beat, but the Volvo is now closer to the Bimmer than ever before.
