The Volvo S90 is an executive saloon introduced in 2016 to replace the second-generation S80 as Volvo’s flagship. Its first official pictures appeared on 2 December 2015, and the car was shown publicly at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2016.
Volvo S90 at a glance
| Introduced | pictures December 2015, public debut January 2016 |
|---|---|
| Production | from 2016, ended late 2024 with 2025 the last model year |
| Bodies | short and long wheelbase saloon; estate version is the V90 |
| Award | Production Car Design of the Year 2015 |
| Trim levels | Momentum to Inscription, R-Design package from July 2016 |
| Long wheelbase | 12 cm longer behind the B pillar, made in China |
| Engines | 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol and diesel from the VEA family |
| Mild hybrid | offered from 2020; conventional engines dropped in the US in 2023 |
| Built in | Daqing, China, plus assembly in Malaysia and India |
History of the Volvo S90
The S90 replaced the second-generation S80 as Volvo’s flagship, although it is not a direct successor to it. The design was well received and won the Production Car Design of the Year award for 2015. Trim levels ran from Momentum to Inscription, and a cosmetic R-Design package was announced in July 2016.
For the first model year, 2017, Volvo offered a short and a long wheelbase saloon as well as the V90 estate. The short version was sold in North America and Europe while the long one was mainly for China; it was stretched by 12 cm behind the B pillar and at first was not badged S90L. From the 2018 model year the long-wheelbase S90 replaced the standard car in the United States, and both wheelbases were offered in Europe and the Middle East.
Production and updates
By mid-2017 the Torslanda plant in Sweden had stopped building the S90 and production moved mainly to Daqing in China, with cars shipped to Europe by train; the model was also assembled in Malaysia and India. A first facelift was revealed in leaked photographs in February 2020, bringing sequential LED indicators and chrome garnish on the front bumper for Inscription versions. A mild hybrid was offered from 2020, and in 2023 Volvo removed conventional engines from the American range, making mild hybrids the base option. A second facelift arrived on 17 April 2025 with the front end of the 2024 XC90 facelift and an 11.2-inch infotainment screen, but it was not offered in the United States, Australia, Canada or Europe, where the car had been discontinued.
The S90 used 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines from Volvo’s Drive-E family throughout its life. Production ended in late 2024, with 2025 as the last model year, and Volvo announced an electric successor developed under the code V551.
Design and features
- Flagship design: the 2015 Production Car Design of the Year.
- Two wheelbases: a Chinese long version stretched 12 cm behind the B pillar.
- Drive-E engines: 2.0-litre four-cylinders throughout the range.
- Mild hybrid: standard direction from 2020 onwards.
- Global production: Daqing in China, with assembly in Malaysia and India.
Volvo S90 versions
- S90 short wheelbase: North America and Europe for 2017.
- S90 long wheelbase: China from 2017, United States from 2018.
- R-Design (2016): cosmetic sports package.
- S90 Recharge: T8 all-wheel-drive mild hybrid for the UK in 2022.
- 2025 facelift: new front end and 11.2-inch screen for selected markets.
The S90 replaced the Volvo S80 and shares its range with the Volvo V90 estate and the earlier S90 name. More cars are in the Volvo collection.
Sources
- Volvo S90, English Wikipedia: launch, wheelbases, trims, production, facelifts, engines
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