by Aiden Eksteen
Luxury midsize sedans are a dime a dozen in the USA, although with a drive towards SUVs, this may soon change. However, with the advent of electrification, hybrid and all-electric family cars are stepping into the spotlight, reinventing themselves for the modern era. The Volvo S90 Recharge plug-in hybrid is the Swedish brand's flagship sedan, vying for attention in a segment against established competitors like the BMW 5 Series Hybrid. Going up against the vehicle that arguably founded the segment decades ago is no mean feat, so the Volvo S90 Recharge wades into battle wielding a turbo- and supercharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood, augmented by electric motors to produce 400 horsepower and 472 lb-ft of torque in its standard configuration. An extended-range option pushes those figures up to 455 hp and 523 lb-ft and yields even better gas mileage figures and up to 38 miles of electric range. An eAWD system helps the Recharge to sprint from 0-60 mph in the low-to mid-four-second range, but Volvo is a brand that cares about more than just performance. Loaded with luxury, the S90 is plush, refined, spacious, and loaded with advanced safety features, making it the answer to just about any question that could be asked of it.
The biggest news for the 2022 model year is that the S90 Recharge gets a new Android Automotive-based infotainment system with Google built in. Along with this, the system's USB-A ports are replaced with USB-C ports. The sensors for the driver-assistance features are also upgraded for the new year. A few standard features are also deleted, most notably the compass, headlight washers, HD Radio, and Wi-Fi hotspot.
Mechanically, the S90 Recharge lineup also gets access to an extended-range option that includes a larger 18.8 kWh battery and a more powerful rear electric motor. This pushes outputs up to 455 hp and 523 lb-ft, while increasing fuel economy substantially too. Lastly, the features in the optional packages are also shuffled around a bit.
See trim levels and configurations:
Trim | Engine | Transmission | Drivetrain | Price (MSRP) |
---|---|---|---|---|
T8 R-Design Plug-In Hybrid |
2.0L Twincharged Inline-4 Plug-in Hybrid
|
8-Speed Automatic
|
All-Wheel Drive
|
$61,050 |
T8 Inscription Plug-In Hybrid |
2.0L Twincharged Inline-4 Plug-in Hybrid
|
8-Speed Automatic
|
All-Wheel Drive
|
$61,050 |
T8 Inscription Extended Range Plug-In Hybrid |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Plug-in Hybrid
|
8-Speed Automatic
|
All-Wheel Drive
|
$62,050 |
T8 R-Design Extended Range Plug-In Hybrid |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Plug-in Hybrid
|
8-Speed Automatic
|
All-Wheel Drive
|
$62,050 |
The S90 Recharge is quick; with a 4.6-second run from 0 to 60 mph, it beats the BMW 530e by more than a second. Still, it's no braggart, with top speed limited to 112 mph and a driving style that's designed for comfort over performance. As a comfort-biased PHEV, its weight can be felt through corners at speed, and the lack of steering feel does it no favors. However, if your aim is simply to drive the family around in complete luxury, then the S90 Recharge, especially with the optional rear air suspension, is sublime. The interior is gorgeous, decked out in high-quality materials, with heated seats that can adjust expansively and provide incredible levels of support. The on-board tech is generous, too, with a slew of collision-avoidance measures and Pilot Assist - Volvo's semi-autonomous driving assistant - present to make even long-distance journeys a breeze.
Numbers matter, however, especially when it comes to hybrids. The S90 plug-in manages EPA estimates of 63 MPGe, or combined gas mileage figures of 30 mpg and the short 21-mile all-electric range isn't too great with the standard battery setup. However, opting for the new extended-range model will see those figures improve to 66 MPGe and 38 miles of pure electric driving. Volvo finds itself in an odd position with the S90 Recharge, giving hybrid buyers more performance than they're accustomed to, but with a price tag in the same ballpark as less-powerful rivals. Provided you're not expecting M5 levels of handling or Tesla levels of acceleration, the S90 Recharge is a solid bet, especially in Extended Range guise.
Both the R-Design and the Inscription retail at an MSRP of $62,095 for 2022, and if you want the benefit of the Extended Range powertrain, you'll need to tack on an additional $1,000 to the sticker price.
These prices exclude a destination charge of $1,045 as well as any US tax, registration, and licensing fees. The T8 powertrain may qualify for federal tax credits, too.
The most popular competitors of 2022 Volvo S90 Recharge: