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Malaga (Spain) — Volvo’s latest sedan is a big gamble, and that’s not just because it’s a challenger in the big sedan segment. The S90 is the successor to the S80 sedan, which, at 10 years old, is a Methuselah in car terms, and the last remnant of the era when Volvo was owned by Ford.

Malaga (Spain) — Volvo’s latest sedan is a big gamble, and that’s not just because it’s a challenger in the big sedan segment. The S90 is the successor to the S80 sedan, which, at 10 years old, is a Methuselah in car terms, and the last remnant of the era when Volvo was owned by Ford.

In 1999, Ford snapped up Volvo amid a brand acquisition spree but in 2010, sold it to Chinese car maker Geely. Some US$11 billion (S$15 billion) later after investing in key areas (most notably modern engine and platform architecture that it never got under Ford), Volvo is finally on its way to wading knee-deep in competition with luxury German rivals.

The new XC90 sports-utility vehicle (SUV), launched in Singapore last year, was a strong version of a traditional best-seller, the car that saved Volvo. But the S90 is the new tip of the spear. Once a big sedan in the no-man’s-land between mainstream and luxury, like the Volkswagen Passat, the S90 has grown, hugely. At 47mm shy of 5m long, and with a wheelbase of 2,941mm, it’s larger and more spacious than the latest W213 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

HUGE EXPECTATIONS

While new cars growing larger is the norm, it’s rare to see a new model “graduate” to a larger or more expensive class. That leaves the S90 with far wider expectations to meet than the S80 ever had to live with, but the new car is largely up to the task.

Like the XC90, the S90 is based on the company’s new architecture for larger cars — what Volvo calls Scalable Product Architecture (SPA).

Volvo’s designers have emphasised the horizontal plane with the S90 — it’s wide, low and has the sort of eye-catching, muscular lines and confident detailing a luxury GT coupe should have. It’s light years away from the anonymity of the S80. The inside of the S90 is very much like the XC90’s, with a Scandinavian emphasis on clean lines, unfussy surfaces and lots of space. The increase in wheelbase equates to reams of legroom for all passengers, who can easily sit knees crossed, limo-like in the back.

This approach bears fruit and translates into a pleasant environment, which fortunately never delves into Ikea-like economy. Its fiddly infotainment system is like the XC90’s, akin to working a tablet that’s been embedded in the centre console.

SMOOTH OPERATOR

Singapore will most likely receive two petrol engine variants, the T5 and T6, both featuring a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four with 254bhp and 320bhp, tested here.

With optional air suspension, the T6 delivers solid luxury sedan performance. The engine delivers generous, smooth power, while the refinement and lack of wind noise at high speed is excellent. Despite being shod with massive 21-inch wheels and low-profile tyres, the ride quality is very good — surprisingly sporty but not at all harsh.

The brand calls its approach to vehicle dynamics “relaxed confidence” and it’s quite apt, as the S90 might look sporty, and with its sprightly ability tickle that side of the dynamic envelope, but its core competence remains solid, predictable performance.

It wouldn’t be a Volvo if it didn’t include safety innovations — the S90 can help prevent itself from veering off road. The autonomous braking system has expanded functionality while City Safety can now detect large animals.

Yet it’s not enough for a luxury sedan to look good, provide lounge-like ambience and drive well, it also has to pamper and cosset too. The S90 does that as well: It can be equipped with ventilated massage seats and, with the Pilot Assist function that helps the driver maintain a chosen speed or distance from the car in front.

Volvo has always occupied the nebulous region between mainstream and luxury in a European car. The S90 is a solid statement that the Swedish brand can do the latter, not just competently, but with aplomb.

Volvo S90 T6 AWD

Engine: 1,969cc, in-line four, turbocharged, 320hp, 400Nm

Performance: 250kmh, 0-100kmh: 6.1s, 7.4L/100km, 169g/km CO2

Price: TBC

On Sale: Q4 2016

PROS: Design, performance, refinement

CONS: Potentially divisive styling cues

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