LOANER REVIEW: 2018 S90 AWD T5 Momentum

With Patti’s S80 in the shop for state inspection, mounting of its winter tires and wheels and a pre-winter detailing, our dealer provided us with a 2018 S90 T5 AWD Momentum as a loaner. It was painted in gorgeous Maple Brown Metallic and trimmed in amber leather upholstery. The car had about 8,500 miles on it, and I couldn’t wait to see how it compared to Patti’s 1998 S90, our first Volvo. 

All of the brand’s distinctive characteristics carried over, of course, including the well-screwed-together tightness of the structure and the super-comfortable seats. In other areas, things had only been improved—like the bright, high-intensity bending headlights—or were entirely new, like the tablet-style Sensus infotainment system and the plethora of active safety features. (Our old S90 had bright headlights, too, but this new generation is even better.) 

I was surprised when I settled into the driver’s seat that the cockpit felt cramped; my right leg was wedged against the center console dividing the driver and front passenger seats. But after a few minutes of fiddling with the adjustments, all was right; I simply needed to lower the seat a couple of inches, slide it backward a couple of inches more, and pull the telescoping steering wheel out to its maximum setting so that it was still in easy reach. Sublime. 

What I liked: 
The powertrain. The turbocharged 4-cylinder power plant had plenty of pickup for a vehicle of this size, and the 8-speed automatic gearbox was smooth. The engine’s 250 hp output It is more than adequate for everyday driving. I can only imagine that the supercharged and turbocharged version that comes with the T6 trim feels like a rocket. 

The heated steering wheel. We had this car a few weeks before I took delivery of my new XC90, and it was my introduction to heated steering wheels. My advice: Don’t try one if you’re not planning on getting one, because once you’ve experienced it, you won’t want to go back. At home, I typically get into my car in a warm garage, so having a heated steering wheel isn’t much of an issue. But in this case, getting into the S90 on a frosty December morning after the car had been sitting in the dealer’s lot overnight, I discovered just how nice it is. I can already see how those who live in cold climates, once they’ve tried this, never want to give it up. Gloves? Who needs gloves? 

What I didn’t like: 
The powertrain. Although it had plenty of oomph, the T5 power plant sounded a little noisy under acceleration. Once up to speed, it was perfectly fine. 

Five-minute verdict: 
A superb sedan, the T5 S90 is hobbled just the slightest by a noisier-than-ideal engine. But it’s hardly a deal-breaker. If you drive one and like it, and decide to buy one—and you want to stand out from the crowd—go for the Maple Brown Metallic paint. You won’t see many like yours on the road, and it really is handsome, especially paired with the amber leather interior.