Stylish high tech

elegance from Volvo

Volvo S90, front
Volvo S90, front
Volvo S90, front
Volvo S90, front
Volvo S90, front
Volvo S90, rear
Volvo S90, rear
Volvo S90, front
Volvo S90, rear
Volvo S90, interior
Volvo S90, boot
Volvo S90, rear seats

ASelegant range topping cars go, the stylish Volvo S90 is right up there with the latest tech and sumptuous luxury all part of the service.

As befits a Volvo, safety is the most advanced possible and those sleek, sophisticated lines can stand up to scrutiny with any competitor.

Add the fact that Volvo's interiors are now absolutely beautiful and as functional as anything on the market, you have a flagship deserving of the name in every sense.

All come with tremendous built-in safety that adds to the car's dynamic safety out on the road.

Coming under the company's Intellisafe label, S90s all have stability and traction control, lane keeping assist, cross traffic alert, blind spot alert, road sign information, speed sign assistance, and collision avoidance.

But they also have adaptive cruise control with Pilot Assist. No, they're not talking about take off here, more the latest in autonomous driving.

Using the system, the car can take control of the accelerator, steering and brakes, meaning all you have to do is keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.

It will slow down and speed up in traffic jams and maintain a constant speed on the motorway or dual carriageway, following traffic ahead at a safe distance while monitoring its position in the lane.

It also monitors the position of other traffic and constantly makes adjustments to the brakes and accelerator.

This is a very good system, gently slowing the car as it approaches other traffic and rarely reacting sharply by braking too hard.

I drove the T5 front wheel drive petrol in Inscription Plus trim which boasts 250bhp and an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

The combination gives smooth refined performance enough for just about anyone. The engine is all but inaudible and the main sound is from the huge tyres, but even that is subdued compared to some others.

The gearbox kicks down swiftly in normal Comfort mode and although there are also Eco and Dynamic modes, I found the ride marvellous in Comfort, giving very relaxed cruising.

This is a car that owners are rarely going to push hard through the corners but should they do so, they can be assured that the road-holding is excellent with huge grip and good steering feel, all adding to the car's superb overall safety.

The equipment that comes as standard looks like an extras list, with beautiful electric, heated and ventilated leather seats, a digital binnacle with head up display for speed and speed limit, sat nav and a top quality sound system, electric boot lid, keyless entry and starting and an automatic electric parking brake that holds the car every time it stops and releases as soon as the accelerator is touched again - a great idea in today's traffic.

It has a multi-function leather covered steering wheel that can be heated for an extra £200 - the height of luxury - parking sensors front and rear and a rear parking camera.

And for an extra £1,800, you get the Xenium pack, with Park Assist automatic parking either on the street or in a car park. It can take a few seconds to set itself up but works well when it has.

The vertical centre screen includes controls for the stereo, phone, sat nav, car functions and climate control, and some of the buttons are difficult to hit on the move.

But the voice control system is excellent and most can be easily sorted using it.

The screen also includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Spotify, the nearest parking and even a driver performance button - whatever that is?

There is huge rear legroom - this car is five metres long - plus a gargantuan boot big enough for four people's luggage with ease.

FAST FACTS

Price:£44,700

Mechanical: 246bhp, 1,969cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 8-speed automatic gearbox

Max Speed:140mph

0-62mph:6.8 seconds

Combined MPG: 37

Insurance Group: 37

C02 emissions: 154g/km

Bik rating:34%

Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles

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