This review has been a while in the making, but purely because the Volvo S90 it features was originally delivered to me in mid-November. About an hour after it arrived, I noticed it had a puncture so Volvo replaced it with an XC60 while they took it away and fixed it.

The S90 is very much an executive saloon that works well as a family car too, though perhaps not with the cream leather interior that this one had – a brave choice for those with kids, that’s for sure.

Volvo has one of the most distinctive, identifiable interiors

The cabin is a really nice place to be and is decidedly Swedish in its design. I think of all the manufacturers today, Volvo has one of the most distinctive, identifiable interiors, regardless of the actual model. Having tested both the XC60 and S90 specced at the same level, it was really interesting to see the similarities – and the differences.

Both were T8 spec, so a 300bhp petrol engine, and another 90bhp from the electric drivetrain too – that’s quite a lot of poke for a saloon that is incredibly comfortable and wafts you along in near-silence.
I would have to say that the electric element isn’t massively practical, giving around 20 miles of range fully charged, but as a boost to the petrol and for city driving, it’s worth having, just not if you want something that has a decent electric only range.

From the outside, my test cars (both had the same colour scheme) looked great in dark grey, contrasting with the interior nicely, and with imposing grills at the front – another distinctive Volvo characteristic that has evolved from the early days, but stays recognisable.

But aside from the performance and the comfort, the thing that I loved about these cars – and I appreciate this sounds a little weird – was the headlights. There are a few manufacturers that have lighting systems that feature automatically dipping main beam when a car is detected approaching, but the Volvo system goes a step further.

The lights dip around a car you’re following so as not to dazzle the driver, but maintain full illumination of the areas to the left and right of the car – effectively leaving the car ahead in a pool of darkness, while lighting up the rest of the road.

Adapting incredibly quickly and effectively

It tracks around bends, adapting incredibly quickly and effectively, and I think this is a feature that we will start to see more and more of. There are a few others on the market that deploy similar technology, but I think the Volvo is the peak.

And let’s face it, the Swedish manufacturer has a history of innovation. They were the company that patented the three-point seat belt back in 1959 and, incredibly, left the patent open so others could use it free of charge, as they recognised the importance of the system as a safety device. How many companies would act similarly now?

So to conclude: with all the models having a very similar interior and feel, it’s a question of picking the body style and size that suits you. For me, it’s the XC60, but really, once you have picked your colour scheme, the choice is yours!