Test Driving the Volvo S90 D4

Sometimes the building blocks of logic are hard to come by. There is even lesser chance of finding the sense that keeps them held together. Now you know why you have crossover-sedan-four-door-notchback coupés. The lines have been blurred and manufacturers are being reduced to creating cars that don't know what they are, for people who don't know what they want.

The Volvo S90 is none of those deplorable things. It's a stylish luxury saloon that packs all the latest comfort and convenience features, not to mention safety. It has its target audience clearly marked and it sets out to make a difference. Thankfully, this one still has a nicely balanced four-cylinder engine that feels more refined than ever.

The Thor's Hammer LED headlamps, suave front grille and bold Iron-mark leading the way for the long bonnet into the eyes of bystanders work extremely well and never failed to turn heads. Day or night, they exude an aura. The S90, overall, has a commanding road presence and has found a way to look modern while embracing old-school classic designing techniques.

Interior is top-notch quality And Adaptive ‘Thor's Hammer' LED lighting look ultra-modern. Pics/Sanjay Raikar

The proportions don't lie and the inside has got a lot roomier. The seat backs, as in the XC90, have been thinned out, making them lighter and freeing up more knee-room for the rear-seat occupants. The S90 will be more of a chauffeur-driven car. Its posh quotient has turned up, and its desirability quotient turned up several times more. Trust the Swedes to do that well. After our first drive, we knew the Germans would have a new rival closing in on them. The gap has closed, and the S90 passes some with aplomb.

The first clue is the completely built up unit coming from Norseland. At R53.50 lakh, it's priced slightly higher than its German rivals but boasts of more equipment. And it undercuts its British rival by a considerable margin.

Even with the 2.0-litre single-turbo diesel engine with 190 PS and 400 Nm, it doesn't really "lack" in any department. The S90, for a near-1.9-tonne luxury diesel saloon, trounced the 0-100 km/h dash in 9.29 seconds. It will do 230 km/h if set free on roads. Even at highway speeds, it feels calm and collected and the seats hold you extremely well. The auto-climate can get loud, but that's only until you realise it's the rear air dispensers that need to be told off.

In literal silence - Volvo has worked hard on cabin insulation - we took in the ease of driving the S90. The steering is just right and the response is impeccable, quite direct and has good feedback. Entering the corners is no big deal either and the S90 holds its line well. Surprisingly, some sharp bends did have us experience a hint of body-roll.

In the stop-and-go city traffic - this is where we really missed Volvo's Adaptive Cruise Control - it returned a reasonable 11 km/litre. Let it stretch itself out on the highway and it will deliver 15 km/l. More, perhaps, given more civilised traffic conditions. Volvo claims over 22 km/litre.

Braking is another key parameter. During the 80-km/h-to-standstill test, it slowed and came to a stop in 2.25 seconds. The 100-0 time wasn't much different with 0.4 seconds more and another couple of car lengths. Needless to say, the brakes did a fantastic job.

The boot, at 500 litres, makes for enough luggage space for the whole family for a week out of town. It has all the goods, and it knows how to deliver them in the best manner possible. It's a fusion of form and function in the finest way, a worthy contender for R60 lakh or so of your rupees on the road.