Volvo V90 estate – Engines, drive & performance

Let’s get one thing out of the way: you won’t have as much fun behind the wheel of the Volvo V90 as you would in the BMW 5 Series Touring. That car has been set up to reflect BMW’s ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’ tagline, while the V90 is aimed at those after a more relaxed driving experience. If you’re moving over from an Audi A6 Avant, though, you’ll likely be more than happy with how the Volvo feels from behind the wheel, and if you use the clever semi-autonomous driving systems, then you’ll find the V90 is a very relaxing car to drive indeed.

While it isn’t especially agile on a challenging B-road, the V90 is far from useless in corners – it’s just not quite as planted as the BMW. It leans into bends far more than the BMW, while its steering is lighter and lacks sufficient feel. Away from corners and at cruising speeds – on the motorway, for example – the Volvo is excellent, with a very comfortable ride and little intrusion from wind or tyre roar. All V90s come fitted with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, which makes a great contribution to the relaxed nature of the car, shuffling quickly and almost imperceptibly through the gears.

With its lower, stiffer suspension, the now-discontinued R-Design feels a little more wieldy, but has a rather less comfortable ride than the other models. Also available is an optional adaptive air suspension system which is standard on Ultimate models. Once you put it into 'Comfort' mode it gets a bit wallowy and rolly, but firm things up and you're more aware of any bumps in the road. It's never uncomfortable, it's just not quite as excellent as rivals like the 5 Series Touring.

Volvo V90 hybrid engines

The Volvo V90 is now only available with a plug-in hybrid engine, called either T6 or T8. Both combine a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine, an electric motor and a battery pack. When petrol and electric power work together, the T8 is the fastest-accelerating model in the range, hitting 0-62mph in just 4.8 seconds. With 449bhp, it’s seriously quick, but we think the T6 is more than fast enough for most car buyers. Its hybrid system puts out a combined 345bhp – enough to launch it from 0-62mph in a hot hatchback-rivalling 5.5 seconds.

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Volvo V90 diesel engines

The B4 diesel engine produces 194bhp, enabling the V90 to cover 0-62mph in 8.5 seconds. The same 2.0-litre diesel engine in B5 form in the Cross Country model produces 232bhp; it's a punchy performer, too, and is capable of 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds. It gives good acceleration through the mid-range and gets you up to motorway speeds quickly, allowing you to stay at a fast cruise without working the engine too hard. Every V90 is electronically limited to a top speed of 112mph, like all Volvo models produced from mid-2020.

Sadly, the Volvo can’t compete with the Audi for smoothness – the Volvo’s four-cylinder engine roars and rattles under hard acceleration while the Audi’s six-cylinder engine just growls enthusiastically – a more pleasant sound to be accompanied by on a long journey.

Volvo V90 petrol engines

Those who make lots of short or urban journeys will be better matched with the mild-hybrid petrol B4. It uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 194bhp, enabling a 0-62mph sprint in 7.9 seconds. A more highly tuned B5 version of this engine was then introduced; with 247bhp it gets the car from 0-62mph in just under seven seconds. A B6 petrol engine was also offered previously, with 296bhp and four-wheel-drive, which gets from 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds.