2017 2.0 D4 Momentum,
55,000 miles, £14,995
2017 2.0 D4 Inscription,
19,000 miles, £20,000
2 0 1 8 2. 0 D 5 Powe rP u l s e AW D
R-Design, 25,000 miles, £22,650
2 0 1 9 2. 0 T 8 Tw i n E n g i n e
R-Design Pro, 29,000 miles,
£36,500
Check if that early S90 you’re
looking at has the optional red key
that arrived a few months after
launch. When used, it sets the
car to its safest state – useful if a
younger driver borrows it.
Look out for cars with the
optional Xenium pack that brings apowered sunroof, 360deg surround
view system and Park Assist Pilot.
If your regular driving route
takes you past deer colonies,
you’ll be pleased to know that the
S90 has large-animal detection
as standard to spot the beasts
emerging into your path.
The S90 ranks fourth out of
22 other executive cars in the
What Car? Reliability Survey.
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environmental activist
Greta Thunberg be seen behind the
wheel of a Volvo? Perhaps if it was
a n S9 0 T8 Tw i n E n g i ne. T he plu g-i n
hybrid can travel for up to 35 miles onelectric power alone.
It’s the quickest S90 in the range,
being able to dispatch 0-62mph in
5.1sec yet, with a lighter foot and
sufficient charging, can return
108mpg, although around 40mpg is
mor e r e a l i s t ic. Ne w, it c o s t s £ 5 8, 4 0 5
but it ’s p o s si ble t o f i nd u s e d one s
from £34,000. The example we
h av e i n m i nd i s a 2 018 -r e g w it h
10, 0 0 0 m i le s. How e v e r, t h at ’s s t i l l
£6000 more than a BMW 530e
iPerformance M Sport Nav of the
same age and mileage. The BMW
i s muc h le s s p ow e r f u l (2 49bhp
compared with 385bhp) and less well
equipped but is better to drive.
Being a 5 Series, it also has a
stronger image than the S90. It’s
where the Volvo – for all its cool
Scandi styling, quality
and high equipment
levels, including some
advanced safety tech –
struggles a little. But we
don’t mind that because it
just means a regular, used S90 is
great value for money.
Prices start a shade under £14,000
for a 2 017-r e g D 4 Mome nt u m w it h
reasonable mileage. It may be theentry spec but Momentum is packed
w it h k it , s uc h a s s e m i-aut onomou s
driving functions, leather-faced seats
and a 9.0in infotainment screen with
another screen in the instrument
binnacle. There’s bags of interior
space and fit and finish are excellent.
Look beyond 100,000 miles and
you can get into a D4 Inscription, the
ne x t t r i m i n t he r a n ge , f r om £11, 5 0 0,
and that’s a car with one owner and a
full Volvo service history. Inscription
is good, too – nappa leather, a more
comprehensive binnacle screen,
ambient lighting and larger alloys.
The highlight of R-Design, the
third trim, is sports suspension. We
found a 2017-reg D4
R-Design with 35,000
miles for £16,800. All
S90s are eight-speed
automatics, by the way.
‘D 4’ r e fe r s t o t he e n g i ne ,
a 2.0-litre diesel producing
187bhp. It’s a little noisy and slow
from low revs but, through the
ge a r s , it le av e s s ome pr e m iu m r i v a l s
standing. There’s a more powerful
D5 but the D4 is more plentiful.
There are also three petrol choices:a 187bhp T4, 248bhp T5 and that
385bhp T8. A s w e l l a s b e i n g qu ic k e r
than their diesel counterparts, the T4
and T5 are lighter, which sharpens
the S90’s handling. However, they’re
rarer and the cheapest we found was
a 2 018 -r e g T4 R-D e si g n w it h 1 5 , 0 0 0
miles for £19,900.
The S90 is a reliable car and, if it’s
not too great a generalisation, they
t e nd t o h av e b e e n ow ne d f r om ne w
by the more responsible and caring
drivers among us. Add that value for
money we spoke of and it makes a
great used buy.
If you like value for money edged with Scandi cool, John Evans has some good news
N
NEED TO KNOW
ONES WE FOUND
VOLVO S 90
BMW 420i M SPORT AUTO
£967 deposit, £322 per month,
48 months, 10,000 miles per year
A seriously accomplished coupé with
engaging handling, soothing refinement
and the ability to carry four adults in
comfort. It isn’t as scalpel sharp as
the new 3 Series but it dispatches long
journeys with the ease of a GT costing
much more.
AU D I T T 4 0 T F S I S P O R T
S TRONIC
£825 deposit, £275 per month,
48 months, 10,000 miles per year
Showing its age but still great fun
to drive. Virtual dashboard is a nice
piece of high-tech theatre but it’s the
model’s ageless style, deep-rooted
quality and surprising practicality
(th e b o ot i s l a r g e) th a t i m p r e s s m o r e.
MERCEDES-BENZ C180 AMG
LINE COUPE
£1304 deposit, £435 per month,
48 months, 10,000 miles per year
It looks good on the outside but inside
is where the C-Class Coupé really
shines. It’s everything you’d expect
of the brand, effortlessly blending
sportiness with luxury. Ride and
handling are well judged, too.
NISSAN 370Z 3.7 V6
£1194 deposit, £398 per month,
48 months, 10,000 miles per year
A n o l d - s c h o o l m u s c l e c a r w i th str o n g
performance, a sonorous engine
note and attention-grabbing styling.
Other coupés are more refined
and sophisticated, and it isn’t very
economical, but it has character in
abundance and stacks of equipment.
OUR TOP SPEC
INSCRIPTION
Momentum is the sensible
one but Inscription is hard
to resist, with its 18in alloys,
nappa leather, powered
front seats and hands-
free tailgate.
D4 MOMENTUM
AUTO
The best balance
of price, power and
equipment, with prices starting as
low as £13,700 for a 2017-reg with
80,000 miles. It’s better still if you
can find one with the Apple CarPlayand 12.3in screen upgrades.
OUR
PICKT8 INSCRIPTION
PRO AWD
The T8 has a 2.0-litre
petrol engine and an
electric motor, together producing
385bhp. So it’s mightily quick but
offers electric-only travel, too.
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