Volvo V90 review

The V90 has a stately quality that you’ll want to lean into – though you’ll constantly forget how big the thing actually is because it disguises its length and heft well with a smooth ride and perky steering. It oozes over speed bumps and smothers the fractured tarmac on UK roads with aplomb, and its all-wheel-drive setup will make reassuring progress all year round – Volvo still has to make cars that Swedes are happy to drive, remember.

Can I only get a PHEV version? 

Sadly just the PHEV powertrains available on V90s these days – those low CO2 ratings are like catnip to company car drivers thanks to the lower tax bills. The T6 Plus model offers 345bhp/258lb ft and the top-spec T8 Ultra comes with 449bhp/295lb ft.

The 2.0-litre turbo petrol (the T8 adds a supercharger for an extra slug of power) operates the front wheels while the 143bhp e-motor looks after the back. 

Is the V90 fast?

If you want to cut loose then the T8 version will manage 0–62mph in 4.8s, and the lesser powered T6 version is no slouch itself with a 5.5-second run, and both are of course limited to Volvo’s customary 112mph.

Will you want to go fast very often? Let’s say no – the V90 gives you no particular indication that it would like to go screaming down B-roads, but it would be delighted to offer a surge of torque to effect a precision overtake on the motorway. The integration between e-motor and petrol engine can occasionally get flummoxed, too, and the engine sounds thrashy and uncouth at full revs. There’s plenty of grip on offer if you do sling this plush estate into a corner, but there is also a prodigious amount of lean. So you won't.

The likes of the Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series put more emphasis on their dynamic drive with a trade off against comfort, so the Volvo’s up against the Mercedes E-Class in terms of smooth ride. And it holds its own nicely as long as you dial it all back a bit. 

How much will it cost to run?

As with all plug-in hybrids, you get out what you put in. The best case scenario is to have a plug at home with one of those deals for cheaper overnight charging. Combine that with a life that never involves anything longer than a 20-mile round trip and you’ll never need to spend a penny on petrol. But then you might as well get a cheap little EV with a small range.

Volvo’s official WLTP figures show both versions of the V90 achieving 256.5mpg and around 20g/km of CO2. Helpful for your company car tax bill but less so in practice. Starting with a full tank and a 75 per cent full battery we averaged 38.6mpg over 350 miles. The 14.7kWh battery (which will charge in five hours off your wall box) is rated at up to 52 miles of range, but we reckon that’s more like 40 miles in real world driving, which represents reasonable economy for a two-tonne PHEV.

What about the safety tech?

The V90 is a safe car, no doubt. The full five stars from Euro NCAP, with especially good scores for protecting adult occupants and its active safety and driver assistance systems. There are entirely too many to list, but rest assured Volvo takes this kind of thing very seriously.