As much as we may not want to accept it, the automotive landscape steers closer and closer to the reality of complete electrification every day. For those that aren’t ready to give up their internal combustion engines just yet, seemingly there is an electrified model for every baby step you may want to take on the road to zero gas – such as this 2022 Volvo S90 Recharge Inscription.
For those just looking to save a little money on gas but feel the need for a vehicle that can effortlessly do countless miles at the drop of a hat, there are standard hybrids. For those that are on the opposite end of the spectrum that want to fully embrace the EVs and are willing to put up with the shortfalls in the transition, you can have a fully electric vehicle that doesn’t have a traditional internal combustion engine. But what about if you’re somewhere in the middle?
What if you’d like to reap the benefits of a fully electric vehicle in the day to day but are anxious of taking the plunge? Enter the 2022 Volvo S90 Recharge, a luxury plug-in hybrid sedan – that’s right, a sedan in a world dominated by crossovers. For those that want to make their commute solely on electrons, the S90 Recharge offers up to 61 kilometers of pure electric driving and has a gasoline powered generator on tap for longer jaunts.
The exterior design of the S90 is subtle, and it’s a welcome sight. While other manufacturers continue to push the boundaries, Volvo keeps it Swedish in a simple elegant design that will surely look timeless for years to come. Some highlights for this specific model are the 20-inch machine finish alloy wheels and various chrome accents. There are virtually no design cues that will help differentiate this model from the gasoline only counterpart, and that might be a good thing.
Stepping inside, the S90 shares a lot with the other Volvo models on the market, which has its pros and cons. The upside is that the interior feels quality, all connections and fitment of the interior panels is top notch, and squeaks and rattles are non-existent. Most of the materials on display here are good but there is still an abundance of easily damaged piano black trim, and harder plastics that don’t help the S90 stack up to its German counterparts.
Volvo’s Google-powered infotainment is one of the sore points of the user experience of the S90. The user interface is dated, but that’s far from the root of the issue. The system feels unfinished and is full of software bugs that make it impossible to use. Even if you do get the system to work without rebooting or the audio not cutting out, some controls feel buried too far in menus.
This is something that Volvo needs to sort out, but in the meantime, there is CarPlay and Android Auto on tap, although they’re not wireless. Our editor-in-chief’s wife owns a ‘22 V90 Cross Country with this system, and nearly a year into ownership, she still hasn’t come around to it. The native Volvo “Sensus” predecessor wasn’t exactly state of the art, but had better functionality and an easier learning curve.
Driving the S90 Recharge, you’ll notice the impressive acceleration and torque-filled power delivery. Contrary to that are the driving dynamics of the S90; there is a decent amount of body roll, and vague on-center steering makes the Volvo feel less engaging to drive than its German counterparts. The ride is fairly compliant and in daily driving the Volvo S90 you’ll notice the quiet cabin that makes the Volvo feel luxurious.
The Recharge replaces the range-topping T8 model which means it offers the most power of any S90 variant, at 455 horsepower and an impressive 523 lb-ft. of torque powering the S90 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. Because of the hybrid drivetrain, power delivery feels very linear, there is no character to the way the S90 conveys its power, however for most it will be a pleasant experience.
In terms of efficiency, due to the weight and the all-wheel drive system, the S90 Recharge on paper doesn’t have the best numbers. We were able to manage 8.0L/100km with a good mix of city and highway driving, and I think that you’ll really notice a little better efficiency with more city driving. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get close to the advertised 61 kilometers of pure electric range; the best we could do is around 20 kilometers.
The 2023 Volvo S90 Recharge starts at $77,950. Our tester adds $5,850 for the Ultimate package which adds features like the front seat ventilation and head-up display. Other packages we recommend are the $2,350 Lounge package, which adds massage seats as well as front and rear seat ventilation. Lastly, the highly recommended and segment-leading Bowers & Wilkins audio system comes in at $3,750.
Overall, we think the 2022 Volvo S90 Recharge is a smart looking well built no-nonsense sedan. Unfortunately, the overall driving dynamics and frustrating infotainment leave a lot to be desired. If you’re looking for a seriously efficient yet still luxurious commuter, the S90 may fit the bill. For those where driving engagement is of a high priority, the German competitors are worth taking a look at first.
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