The return of the Volvo V90

What’s new?

In truth, not an awful lot has changed. The V90 follows a tried-and-tested layout which brings plenty of interior space and a large boot big enough to accommodate luggage, dogs or sporting equipment. In typical Volvo fashion, it’s all finished off in a Scandinavian level of stripped-back style, with this car’s biggest reliance being upon its ergonomics and accessibility.

One thing which hasn’t returned to the V90 range, however, is diesel power. No, instead, you’ll only find petrol or hybrid offerings – something which ties in with Volvo’s electrification strategy – which is somewhat of a shame, as we always found diesel to be the ideal accompaniment to the V90 experience. Of course, you can still find diesel V90 models on the used market.

What’s under the bonnet?

The V90 we’re driving is the punchiest of the lot, the range-topping T8. It’s a plug-in hybrid, combining a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol with a 14.7kWh battery and an electric motor. Blended together, you end up 407bhp, resulting in a 0-60mph time of 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 112mph. Its acceleration will match many performance cars, making it rather eyebrow-raising in this spacious estate.

Despite this performance, you could manage up to 52 miles on electric-only power, though during our time with the car, we saw around 42 miles from a full charge which will take around four hours via a conventional 7kWh home wallbox. Keep it topped up and you’ll rarely have to trouble the petrol engine if you’re doing local driving.

What’s it like to drive?

Thanks to that decent level of electric range, you can pootle the V90 around town on electric power for a good amount of time and, when doing so, the electric motor is responsive and gives the car a very easy-going attitude. Refinement is good, too, and the V90 shrugs off potholes and lumps in the road without bother.

Step on the throttle and the V90 casts off its more traditional character and hurtles ahead. Though the four-cylinder engine can sound strained when accelerating hard, it’s not too noticeable. The whole experience is at its best when you’ve got a decent amount of charge; once that battery is depleted the V90 feels a little lacklustre and fuel consumption increases by quite a measure. You really need to make sure you’re regularly charging this plug-in hybrid to maintain its edge.

How does it look?

The classic estate car silhouette is one which has been a common sight on our roads for decades. However, you can’t argue with current demand – SUVs and crossovers are in vogue and load-luggers like the V90 take up a minority stake in car sales each year. But if practicality is what you’re after, then this is a design which remains hard to beat.

The V90 is available in a series of understated colours, too, with the dark blue exterior colour of our test car looking very smart when contrasting with the cream-coloured leather draped across the interior.

What’s it like inside?

Space is the name of the game with the V90 and it’s why you’ll find a decent level of rear-seat legroom, despite the car’s decent 551-litre boot. Fold down the rear seats and that boot area expands to 1,517 litres, while the low height of the V90 means that loading heavier items into the back of the car is simple.

There’s a great level of build quality inside, too. Everything feels solidly made and reassuringly ‘Volvo’. As you might expect, the V90 is equipped with all manner of safety systems and a good suite of airbags.

What’s the spec like?

Prices for the V90 T8 start from £70,780. There’s no way of getting around it – that’s a lot for a more ‘regular’ car. However, it isn’t outside the remit of the wider market, though Skoda’s Superb vastly undercuts the V90 and offers more boot space, too.

Standard equipment is good – though it should be, given the price – with all models getting two-zone climate control, automatic LED headlights and 19-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels. There’s a nine-inch central display and while it might be far smaller than the current trend, it still gets all of the features you need. However, both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can’t be accessed wirelessly, so you’ll need a USB cable to hand in order to mirror your phone on the car’s screen.

Verdict

Volvo’s decision to return its estate cars to its product range was a good one. After all, these practical models are central to this brand’s history and, without them, the Swedish firm looked a little lost. It’s unlikely that the V90 and V60 will be big sellers given how popular Volvo’s SUVs are, but returning them feels as though things are back to normal.

The V90 does everything you want an estate car to do. It’s comfortable, well-specified and in T8 form, comes with a whole lot more performance than you might expect. It’s expensive, yes, but if you need a car that’ll do it all – and keep doing it for years to come – then the V90 is the kind of car to see you through.

Facts at a glance

Model as tested: Volvo V90 T8

Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with electric motor

Power: 407bhp

Torque: 640Nm

Max speed: 112mph

0-60mph: 4.5 seconds

MPG: 256-313

Emissions: 20-25g/km CO2