2024 Volvo S90 Recharge | Frustrating Lessons

[@waelal-zubieri5358]

WTH the car overheated because he floored it a couple of times during the fall season where temperatures are already cool. Can't even imagine this during a mountain climb in the summer.

[@savagegeese]

We always have some fault or issue with modern Volvos. This one has some coolant temp sensor problem. On basically a brand new car.

[@rosgoncharuk2403]

@@savagegeese so what's the point of any kind of extended warranty if it's going to be in the shop all the time? It's more like purchasing a pass to drive loaners)

[@fortheloveofnoise]

They are only meant to be driven in cold Sweden and slow. 😂

[@savagegeese]

@@rosgoncharuk2403 I mean, used prices are hilariously low. So you get to drive newer loaners 5 times a year to put extra miles on... Thats why I sold my XC90.

[@e5h5]

I own an S60 T8 2023, and briefly had a 2021 of the same. Kinda regret it, both have major build quality issues and both have drivetrain glitches. The 2023 cuts out entirely when driving hard and shifts to neutral. (Not made in China though, mine were built in the US)

[@billharris7235]

The engine overheating was the chef's kiss!

[@tis7963]

The dash readout says 47F. You can't expect an engine to stay cool in such extreme conditions when it's being floored for seconds at a time.

[@ianeyd5215]

​@@tis7963But i think it gives us an idea on how this car will fare long term. If it can't handle a rather spirited test drive then they have to do a lot better than that.

[@yanboa]

Classic China-built Volvo.

[@WhiteLivesMatterPL]

Imagine thermal runaway

[@pascutia]

@@tis796347 F is cool. There should be no such issues. Maybe if you’re getting close to 100F flooring it from stoplight to stoplight and then sitting in traffic.

[@scott8919]

The stitching inside the wheel rim during the test drive was driving me nuts. It's so sloppy.

[@frinkie]

Hand stitched personally by Mr. Chà bu duō.

[@bwappo]

Seriously, it was like trying listen to a colleague while a piece of food dangled from their chin. I know that's such a small detail to get concerned about, but I couldn't look away.

[@kalashnikov1343]

Made in China

[@TheAdventureAuto]

Imagine if this was on a Tesla, it would be on the front page of every newspaper.

[@konstantinaleksiev6671]

Saw this after I've made the same comment .....

[@CanadianNoName]

that temperature gauge warning is the PERFECT way to end this video.

[@simongchadwick]

Plus you got to see the speedometer blanking out above the speed limit - that's a feature only available on press review cars in Illinois.

[@AL-pu7ux]

It’s been 8 years and I feel like I’m still waiting for Volvo to get out of beta testing mode for these vehicles. Even with an improved drivetrain, the electronic gremlins are almost a guarantee across the brand. It’s a shame their whole premise is to go all-electric because the world is not ready for that.

[@bobjohnson205]

I think I'll stick with my '90 740! Pretty much all the "gremlins" have been worked out of it by now! lol 😉

[@ruvindap66]

8 years in early access.

[@deansmits006]

That feels so on point! I loved what Volvo did, but it never felt right in the end. Doesn't feel fully baked, ever.

[@faheemabbas3965]

Once the EV fad is over and the legacy carmakers have spent too much on making EVs and selling all of the ICE-making equipment, some of these carmakers are going to go bankrupt. They’ll go out of business because they won’t be able to afford going back to making ICE. Volvo will be one of these companies. Volvo is dead in 10 years sadly.

[@shooterrick1]

Designed by Swedes in Sweden. Built by Swedes in Sweden. Tell me where exactly the "Chinese" in Volvo comes from?@@Channel-gz9hm

[@KealeyOnCars]

I looked into these recently. I didn’t realize how much these are unicorns. There was 6 2024 S90 recharges in the entire US for sale last month. There are more Ferrari 296s for sale at the moment than these.

[@brianc8501]

And when it breaks, imagine the lengthy parts/service delays!

[@matusknives]

That sounds like a clear warning to me as a potential buyer ...

[@brianc8501]

@@matusknives Which is why Volvo isn't considered a mainstream company.

[@vjhicks8533]

@@brianc8501well the good thing though is all the engine components are shared across S90, S60 and the far more popular XC60 and XC90. The drivetrains in my 2022.5 S60 recharge is identical to the XC90 recharge SUV.

[@DrRDW]

​@brianc8501 this is 2023. Parts are more interchangeable than ever. That's not something you should concern yourself with at this stage.

[@intelligentdreamer]

I have a 2016 S90 D4 Inscription, no issues to date, good balance of performance and economy. It’s kept me safe all this time in all weathers. My wife won’t let me change it as it is the only car she feels comfortable it and has no issue completing long journeys without any discomfort.

[@1973TJM]

Here in the USA, we had to wait until 2017 to get the first S90. I love my 2017 T6 Inscription, as does my wife.

[@romanborky5696]

Great diesel cars overall!

[@cheapercharlie]

12:03 "Reduce speed. High engine temperature." - I would expect nothing less in my vehicles.

[@johan.mp4]

Like every Tesla...

[@Beer_Dad1975]

That's some quality Chinese engineering right there.

[@johngaudet6316]

The Swedish computer is yelling at the teenager behind the wheel and now they are governed to only 110 mph.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

@@Beer_Dad1975 This car is not engineered in China. It's Swedish engineered.

[@CarShopping101]

I bought a $10 plastic, made in China bucket from Walmart. Probably cost the Chinese $1 to make. It already has a leak in it in less than 6 months. It's only been used for cleaning around the house not damaged or used hard by me. The Chinese can't even make a simple plastic bucket that can last. Do a KZbin search for "tofu dreg" and you'll see thousands of videos about the horrendous quality of Chinese made products/buildings.

[@COMMANDERFOX31]

Back in Europe my parents had a 1999 Volvo S70. That thing was a tank, it survived the most brutal winters and drove 200K+ KMs until we sold it with no issues at all. I don't think these new Volvos can even make it past warranty. It breaks my heart to see that Volvo is now a much less reliable brand. I hope they will change in the future but I highly doubt so. In the meantime, I'll stick to the Japanese sedans, mine have been bulletproof so far.

[@fortheloveofnoise]

That's what selling out to China gets you.

[@Beer_Dad1975]

They got bought out by Geely quite a while ago, and more and more of their manufacturing, and now even assembly is done in China now.

[@Dr23rippa]

Always Mazda or Lexus 👀

[@Dr23rippa]

​@@Beer_Dad1975just because it's made in china does not mean the quality is bad. Most Sony products Apple probably every single toy from Nurf guns to scooters are China...

[@Beer_Dad1975]

@@Dr23rippaAgreed - but it's fun to tease Volvo fans that they bought a Chinese car not the European car they thought they were getting. Aside from that though, Volvo is 100% owned by Geely, and Geely is 100% owned by Li Shufu, who is a very, very bad man. For that reason alone purchasing a Volvo is a bad decision.

[@FastRedPonyCar]

Mark, after your XC 90 recharge video we were a bit apprehensive on the idea of getting one, but after my wife’s XC 60 was totaled, we found a great deal on a 2023 XC 90 recharge T8 ultimate. It was originally purchased as a executive company vehicle and driven from Canada to California and then the company went under and was sold to the dealer we bought it from. Only 1500 miles and $12,000 off MSRP. We’ve had it for almost a year now and it’s been absolutely flawless and we are averaging around 1500 miles of driving between fuel stops as my wife’s daily commute is only about 25 miles. The transition from electric to the gasoline engine is really smooth, and although the ride quality isn’t the most supple experience vs the German offerings, it’s still extremely comfortable on longer trips and my wife enjoys the fact that it’s a decently luxurious experience without being outwardly flashy as a luxury vehicle. It’s a nice understated luxury.

[@zaremol2779]

9:53 The rock hitting the side window had me rolling

[@Spoolingturbski]

Mark just nailed this video. Volvo yes, has had a very rough past 5 years. And yes they are owned by Geely (Chinese company) but Volvo engineers everything and they are still very much centered in Sweden. I still have hope for Volvo and their future.

[@imnotsqiddy]

He literally mentioned that this was made in China. Whether engineering ideas are in Sweden doesn't matter it's actually engineered in China.

[@cornkopp2985]

@@imnotsqiddy there are plenty of chinese brands putting out good reliable cars, and good reliable EVs even, so theres really no excuse if volvo isn't doing that

[@tmajec]

Oh please take your anti-Chinese bias and throw it into the trash 🗑️. You’ve been using many products you love and wouldn’t know it was Chinese made.

[@mark8270]

@@imnotsqiddy I believe that it is only the long wheel base S90 that is made in China, for the Chinese market, and also imported to the US. The short wheel base S90 is made in Sweden, with the V90.

[@Spoolingturbski]

@@imnotsqiddy Do some research before commenting… Volvo has many plants, for instance the S60 is made in America at the Alabama plant, XC made in Sweden, Belgium etc. The S90 is made in China because of the lack of sales in Americas and higher volume in china

[@ahome8089]

Leased a 2023 S90 Ultimate after my V90 lease came to maturation. Scored a great deal with a demo. For all of its quirks, this is still a fantastic car. Love it’s rarity, bowers and Wilkins, massaging seats, soft napping leather, and just high quality beautiful interior.

[@F40-c4i]

Nobody buys new Volvos, they only lease them. Junk luxury.

[@ahome8089]

Feel better?

[@benohanlon]

@@F40-c4iwhat's good then?

[@2004cyrus]

@@F40-c4ilike Maserati

[@aaaaaa-ru3tv]

As if German cars are known for longevity. People toss them out every 3 years. Volvos usually last much longer. Might as well lease a Volvo still. BMW fanboys are just frustrated because it won’t leap at the slightest flex of their toes. It’s a posh car not an adrenaline junky sports car

[@benjamindoyle668]

I love these cars. I know they're not perfect, and I know the S90's days are probably numbered. But I still want an S90 T8. I've driven regular S90s and always loved them, and if you're a Volvo nut like me, they're the best you can get.

[@konstantinaleksiev6671]

When you see that stitching on the rear of the steering wheel ......

[@frinkie]

I miss Saab.

[@bobjohnson205]

Ahh, another Saab story! 😉

[@upshifter5316]

Swede dude, me too! (Not GM Saab).

[@Playstationguy1999]

Saab died a hero, and Volvo lived long enough to see itself become the villain. Well, technically Saab kinda suffered in GM era too but they made interesting cars. Def not nearly as good as Volvo in the Ford era tho.

[@bobjohnson205]

@@Playstationguy1999 Personally, I'd rather be a live villain than a dead hero! 😉

[@shanet7511]

You're one of a dozen

[@blackburd]

Someone should make a short documentary on the people that buy the 2024 Volvo S90's, because I'm fascinated by whoever that might be and what their daily life is like.

[@ultragigachader]

2022.5 S90 T8 ( updated drivetrain 455hp model ) owner. I am a chad programmer. Bought it cause I like it and it's a tax deduction on wheels. Packs a punch of power and drinks 8L/100km on longer trips. Daily use I refuel every 2-3 months thanks to the extended battery range in the Recharge model. Very happy, no issues so far. These cars are super rare, didn't see another S90 T8 yet, only a T6 and Bsomething. Feels good and exclusive.

[@derbagger22]

I've got my brother's old 2018 and he has a '23 B6. These are fantastic cars and people absolutely love the ride of these things. Fairly reliable with relatively low cost of ownership.

[@PaulTC777]

I know a chinese man who owns a chinese restaurant and drives this car

[@neilsnyder7915]

Drove Genesis G80 electric. Poor range and so short on interior space. 2023 540 or 540i has no back seat, range is sub par and info systems are in the dark ages. The volvo s90 recharge is only plug in hybrid with a real world 42 miles, amazingly fast, unnoticeable transition from electric to gas, had a genuine back seat with plenty of legroom, and the interior design is both elegant and functional. body roll simply doesn't exist. I would compare this to a Mercedes S580 for half the price. Drove BMW's for 30 years. In that time BMW bought back 3 cars from me under California's Lemon Law.

[@ku569]

I own this car and it beat my audi, merc and bmw in comfort, acceleration and audio.

[@erikbuiten14]

What? the people that know about cars care about it being made in china and not the other way around? Really? The people that know about cars also know that volvos made in china is far superior in quality compared to those made in south carolina or europe for that matter. It is only those that DONT know about cars that write this of as "chinese junk", when in reality the chinese factory is volvos best in terms of quality.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

People have their well, ignorant, outdated bias that something from China as complex as an automobile can't be made well. But, they're wrong. China is now as good as anyone at quality control and build solidity. Even Japan. Not all Chinese cars are built well. But many of them are. And Volvo is a Swedish car with some plants in China.

[@seanhrivers]

I have the 2019 S90 T8(Recharge), and I will say I had issues when I first got it with the computer, and now, with over 80k miles on it, I have not had an issue since. It drives like a dream, the inside is still one of the best places to sit, it is very large and roomy, and it gets 43 MPG as long as I plug it into my standard outlet nightly. I wish it had a bigger battery, I wish it had more storage, but I love it so far. Thinking I will get an EX-90 in the next two years.

[@ruleslawyer]

I wish some of the other luxury brands had interiors half as nice as the mid-upper Volvos. Every time I get in a new BMW I can't help thinking how cheap and plastic they feel these days. I think a lot of the competition thinks complication = luxury.

[@Beer_Dad1975]

Finest Chinese quality right there.

[@IsitReallyrealreally]

@@Beer_Dad1975 ok man. we heard

[@Beer_Dad1975]

@@IsitReallyrealreally I'm having too much fun to stop...

[@benjaminsmith2287]

@@Beer_Dad1975 You're boring.

[@ajdeange]

I owned a 2020 s90 momemtum a 2024 x3.. the Volvo was better in my opinion.. workmanship of the x3 and the plastic. Better engine and transmission yes. But that’s it.

[@rhekman]

How the h*** do car designers still think piano-black plastics are an option for interior finishes?

[@barbecuetechtips6024]

If you get the t6 or prestige trim you get matt wood instead of gloss black thankfully! Aluminum trim for the r design trim level 😂 Ocean race edition gets carbon fiber.

[@JakeDrives1]

@@barbecuetechtips6024there’s no way to get rid of all of the gloss black in Volvo. I’m on my 2nd XC60. It’s everywhere and it’s a PITA.

[@AXXeYY]

work at a volvo dealer and this particular thing with the turbo compressor is not a big problem on the old Phev cars with us. of course, the new phev with 18.8 battery is much better, but I think you are exaggerating that you wouldn't be able to own a phev volvo because they will only sell ev in 2030

[@andrewhillman9632]

I truly appreciate the candid and objective reviews from SG! Thank you for being honest.

[@kcscouler]

Excepting the bored, monotone presentation style.

[@gambiting]

They seem to have a huge bias against Volvo products, no doubt coloured by Mark's own poor experience of XC90 ownership - they are entertaining but I wouldn't call them objective.

[@DrRDW]

​@@gambitingthank you!! Im glad I wasn't the only one who noticed how biased this video seemed.

[@darkduck856]

meh, I have yet to see a single SG volvo video where they do not bash it throughout.

[@yomama5785]

@@darkduck856 Yah and he personally bought the Lexus LC. That car is a rolly-polly turd of a GT - pretty looks and sounds nice, but the joy ends there. Its beyond me why anyone under 70 would buy that car.

[@rchatte100]

Had the petrol version on a very cheap lease. Lovely looks and quality interior. Prices went up hugely with electrification.

[@qwerty69600]

I'm pretty sure the whole "you're gonna lease this car instead of buy it" brigade never actually do a full cost of ownership calculation on a car, and seem to assume that the car they bought in year 0 is literally worth $0 in year 3/4/5 when they'd be due to sell it. It's such terrible financial advice.

[@hoderharris]

Bought a car two months ago. In the end it was between a 2022 Volvo s60 with 30k miles ( CPO vehicle) and a 2020 Lexus 350 es 30k (CPO vehicle) i really wanted to like the volvo better. In the end however it felt considerably less composed on road than 350, louder than 350 and felt cheaper on inside than Lexus. Plus the CPO warranty was much better coverage than the Volvo. I bought the Lexus. Although the review in vid is for S90,the S60 share almost identical interior and driving dynamics. Volvo is making a decent vehicle right now but imo trails its competitors by a considerable margin.

[@barbecuetechtips6024]

Not surprised honestly. The v6 has more power, less nvh, and better ride.

[@fortheloveofnoise]

Volvo in Sweden is mostly bought for corporate fleets nowadays. The company used to be a more "average person car" brand (in Sweden) but now that it has gone upscale, buyers will go to other brands for the same price and a better car. I'm not Swedish but my fiancé and her family are and that is what they told me.

[@rahulmandala4930]

I mean, Volvo is a relatively small brand that isn’t doing shabby in terms of financials, but they’re not big enough to be standing on their own yet. They traded ownership under Ford and now they’re under Geely. The premium/luxury market is where most of the dough lies. Hence they chase after that market. They now trundle the line of understated yet decently premium. I’ve seen the current generation T5s be as simple as they come, because it’s just a commonplace Turbocharged 4 cylinder mill. Europe literally offers a 6 speed manual in the S90 and wagon variants. The T6’s and up are where they get complicated IMHO.

[@gambiting]

@@rahulmandala4930 Where have you seen a T5 for sale? They all got replaced by mild-hybrid B5 variants about 2 years ago, The only car where the "T" moniker exists is the T6 and T8 PHEV. >>Europe literally offers a 6 speed manual in the S90 and wagon variants No it doesn't? I'm in Europe and there was no manual option on any of these cars for years.

[@slent5346]

​@@gambitingthey had for a short while get them while you still can

[@shammyh]

I've still got an '18 T6 XC60. It's my backup/secondary car, but I do have a sweet spot for it. It's not a PHEV, but so far I've been lucky with the super/turbo I4... The infotainment and tech does feel a bit old now, but it still looks good on the outside and remains pleasing and calming on the inside. I actually looked to replace it a little while back, but a new '23 XC60 is so dated compared to competitors... And BEV SUVs are still evolving... Thus just going to hold on to the old girl for another year or two until EV SUVs become a bit more mature. Sad cause it's a great car and served me well, but I also can't justify replacing it with a new one given how dated the SPA platform is. Great video, Mark!! I went XC60 to SQ7, roughly in the same timeline as you went XC90 to X7M, and your thoughts and experience have been invaluable... And also mirrored my own.

[@The_action_is_the_juice]

Same. My wife has a 2018 xc60 T6 r-design with air suspension. 61k miles. Zero issues. I've only changed the rear brakes. She was asking about a new one, but idk what to get her in that size. Our other suv is a 24 X7 m60i, which I'm not exactly thrilled with either. This transition period were in from mild hybrid to phev to ev sucks.

[@IsitReallyrealreally]

why replace it at all?

[@JakeDrives1]

I went from a 2021 XC60 to a 2023 .. DON’T do it. My 2021 was such a peach. I miss it.

[@jurashi4014]

@@The_action_is_the_juice 2019 s60 t6 r with polestar chip. honestly volvo 2018/19 are sweet spots for the refresh. The new ones from their interior to the removal of rear exhaust to make it more "environment friendly" takes away from what made the first iteration neat. I only wish they kept 5 and 6 cylinder engines for them but other than that my s60 is fine with no issues

[@arantala]

Good job editing out the digital speed readout when you crossed the speed limit. Maybe next time you can also edit the analog gauge right next to it. 😅

[@future62]

Volvo PHEVs actually made me consider and buy a full EV. Being able to do all my local driving and day trips on electric and having way way way way more electric power was worth it. I still have a gas van for trips where charging would suck. If you have multiple cars and can charge at home I don't see the point of a PHEV over an EV

[@tylerwilkey13]

Bring back the Alan Fowler piano outro!

[@joelbolton7252]

I picked up a 2018 S90 T5 without the Supercharger, CPO with 58K miles for $25K out the door in September 2023. I have thoroughly enjoyed this vehicle as a Volvo owner over the years. Pre-owned with all of the luxury features, safety, and the CPO warranty, these are a great option. Great build quality, comfort, and backseat space that makes having passengers and comfort for trips a cinch. These are not perfect cars, none are, but for the value pre-owned is very hard to ignore. I know the "China" aspect of Volvo's ownership really digs at people so they just ignore the prospect of owning them, which is a shame since other brands are into the same realm as we speak, but so far it's been a solid product and I hope that they only improve with time as they go full EV and focus on making that part of their business an industry leader. Great review, and I recommend a CPO version very highly.

[@CarShopping101]

They are heavily depreciated/cheap for a reason. Poorly built/engineered cars always are cheap compared to their new price. You've owned the car for a month. You have no idea what its reliability/build quality is.

[@joelbolton7252]

@@CarShopping101 thank you, I feel better now.

[@Drivethisnotthat]

This car shows Chinese quality ain't all that.

[@novaguy5073]

The S90 of any drive train is not long for this world. The price point is crazy. My sister's first new car was a 1993 940 when she started teaching. She retired early this year the car is still going strong. She considered a 4X4 SUV for the snow. However, now that she only has to drive when she absolutely has to. That decision has been out on hold.

[@ivarmarkusson382]

one thing.. the S90 is still made in sweeden, but the US market long wheelbase version is made in china, if you are shopping for one of those in europe, you get one built in sweeden.

[@erikbuiten14]

no, the s90 is completely in china now. Just the xc and v 60 and 90 series in torslanda, sweden.

[@RajSharma-uv4nx]

Give Volvo credit for successfully completing a total overhaul of their entire product range back in 2016. Since then they have produced some of best looking cars on the road. They hired the designer from Bentley to design the beautiful interiors. Now they’re transitioning from full petrol to petrol/electric to fully electric. Over the years they have won a countless list of awards and global sales are better than ever.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

Sadly, Robin Page left Volvo. They're going in a more premium, Scandi-minimalism design aesthetic now. Still good but different.

[@Blark-sw5uy]

At 27, I'm at a point in my life where I'm making a list of cars I'd like to own outright for a few years to enjoy and appreciate. This is one of those. I hope to find one 5 years from now that's 20k, slap a warranty for a few k so I don't have to worry about it, and just enjoy it for however long and get rid of it. As a daily, I don't think I could accept this, with how far behind it is from the competition. But as someone looking to experience and take in a variety of vehicles, this is definitely on that list.

[@Frame16Gaming]

A V60 Recharge is a dream to me. They are just so difficult to find. Even the dealers around me in MI can't seem to order them.

[@TheDanibus]

I can get you one!

[@Rocket9944]

Make sure you get an extended warranty and a tow truck subscription.

[@TheDanibus]

@@Rocket9944 haha well Volvo has free towing for life and this is a car I'd recommend leasing anyway

[@philipparana9225]

I own one and didn't even notice the grill

[@MegaRetr]

They need to re-introduce an updated 240.

[@planb2504]

Bring me back years ago when I looked at this car and thought how beautiful it was. Anyway, Volvo should have 1.replace the turbo charge with MORE hybrid battery, making it at least 60km electric range. 2.Have an option to engine-charge the hybrid battery at desired speed. For example, lower than 40km/h use electric, faster than that use engine to charge back to battery. This way driver would never run out of hybrid battery in city mode where the engine humming can be obviously audible.

[@binhan6432]

Great review. I remember rented a S90 back in 2017 in buffalo city, and I accidentally drove it across the border to Canada (I am a Chinese without a Canadian visa😅) while the police were doing paperwork to send me back they were definitely impressed by the look of the S90, that look on their faces - i could never forget. As now I’m in China, S90 here is on great sales, when i was picking my car 2 yrs ago i just wished that Volvo would’ve a different software system, but no…. Sadly i went for a Mercedes E, which is more than doubled the price of a S90.

[@tetchuma]

They need to re-introduce an updated 240. Utilitarian, solid and built to last.

[@zloychechen5150]

Innit? All i need in a car is a turbo engine, rwd, aircon, and cruise control. I'd buy that.

[@deansmits006]

The $ from the luxury market is too powerful to resist I guess

[@derbigpr500]

Just buy the S90 without the hybrid, easy. Or better yet, one of the diesels which are indestructible. You can buy an S90 with 150hp diesel with a 6 speed manual if you want a utilitarian and incredibly efficient comfortable couch on wheels, and it's fast enough.

[@faheemabbas3965]

They won’t. Too greedy now. I hope they go out of business in 10 years.

[@georgesnyder5337]

This is the same stupid "mmmmhph just make a 4.0 jeep cherokee again" post. What exactly are you proposing? That car was RWD, barely more than 100hp, as safe as it was won't cut it today - and certainly won't pass emissions regs. Not only can they not make that, no one would buy it. What are you actually proposing here?

[@air-headedaviator1805]

What are the freakin odds, just the other day I saw a chauffeur s90 picking up a client from a Business jet, and I noted how much I loved the design of the car, it a glossy black guise. Volvo’s are cars I really want to love, but about non of them drive the way I’m looking for. So pretty tho…

[@biggeststeppa1]

When I was tech lead I would insist on absolutely minimal design, zero ornamentation and having a purely functional product. 6 years later I'm sitting here heavily regretting that decision. There's nothing worse than releasing something with no soul and personality and thinking it's the best thing in the universe simply because it does what it says on the tin. Obviously there is some styling going on with the car, it's not a literal box on wheels but it's just dead. There's nothing to enjoy about the outside of the car, contrast it to the CX-90 which has interesting swirls and fantastic color choices. It's not understated, it's boring.

[@Dowlphin]

The tail light design looks really uncommon and appealing, but the only time he showed from straight rear was on the lift, and suddenly it looked awfully like an IKEA shelf.

[@Sashazur]

I like the look actually. It’s not trying to grab attention with weird details, and it looks more upscale than other generic designs like Accord or Jetta.

[@digdah]

Are you talking about the iPhone 15?

[@biggeststeppa1]

@@Sashazur well it better look more upscale than those offerings because its pricing reflects that. besides, judging by their sales numbers very few people agree with you - people want to standout nowadays and it doesn't hurt to make a car that its owner would appreciate.

[@biggeststeppa1]

@@digdah 😂😂😂 no no i actually like the iPhone series

[@knutsandin755]

As a Swede; it’s a tragedy with the development of this brand. 10 years ago we had two loved brands (SAAB). Now we have none.

[@superkensa]

Thanks, Mark. Great video all around. The design in this generation from Volvo really is timeless. Hope they carry this on to the EV cars (although I feel pretty meh with the EX30).

[@ameeransl]

This feels very much like a goodbye video to the S90. And the video of course is wonderfully made, as always.

[@ilyamartelov6945]

It has colours that suits it. S90 would look ridiculous in bright colour. It’s the apogee of the classic Sedan. Thank you for this nice video!

[@nateavery2875]

I like how Jack didn't even show up for this thing. 😂

[@TommyPickIes]

You're advice is always phenomenal

[@Dowlphin]

*) "Your" **) "." 😜

[@derbagger22]

My R?

[@buyaka4782]

Exactly I don’t want a whole lot of buyers to hop on to this. Let people have the BMW’s and the merc’s but us enthusiasts can buy this for a cheaper price(not that cheap).

[@benbunch4159]

Everything you say is true. Until you get to the V90. There are no other options and therefore the Volvo is brilliant.

[@radudeATL]

If someone gave me this car, I’d be in heaven. It still looks classic to me. It’s a shame it just hasn’t kept up with the times.

[@ZephyrCorsa]

I think Id still definitely take the LS500h over this definitely...

[@joelbolton7252]

Its funny, when the V90 (wagon) variant is reviewed, its praised a lot more. As a wagon, it is quite competitive.

[@Sashazur]

Because there are only like 3 wagons you can buy?

[@JakeDrives1]

I had a 2021 XC60 T5 FWD (I live in Florida) that I replaced with a 23’ B6 Ultimate dark AWD with air suspension. Aesthetically, The 2023 is so nice overall. Way more initial quality issues then my 2021. The body control modules and computerization is totally different from 2021. It doesn’t feel like the same brand of car, in a bad way. On delivery day my salesperson had to take the car back to service and hard reset it because it wouldn’t stop crashing. I’ll walk up to the car and hear all this clicking and popping from the body control modules. Open the door and it’s clicking and popping. Sometimes I’ll start the car and the screens don’t come to life. I’ll shut it off, open the door and restart and they’re still acting all weird. I loved my 2021 but hated the FWD characteristics. The AWD B6 is so much better and it has great power. I’m pretty sure this will be my last Volvo, which is a shame because the fundamentals are so good. I drove Audi and VW for years and they’re just so much more dialed in every aspect. My 2021 felt like the older Volvos. It was just trusty and solid as a rock and never caught me off guard. The new tech in the post refresh is just horrible. Also can’t turn off the start stop. I test drove the PHEV but for the price and all issues folks were having I couldn’t see the point. Volvo is lost in the sauce with this new EV tech crap. They’ve lost sight of what they did so well for so long. BEAUTIFUL cars. I’ll be sad to see mine go. It’s a joy to look at.

[@gadeane287]

Outstanding view of this automobile. On point, as always. Still the best interior and sound system available. I can't help but think this mad dash to EV's is going to wind up as a pig in a poke. Infrastructure is still not there and American driving habits (100+ miles on a routine basis) make EV's a viable option for urban cars only. Plus, no one is going to spend whatever the cost is ($$$) for battery replacement for the powertrain. The cost to repair will exceed the value of the car. With the single turbocharged engine, Volvo would be better off building these configured cars and leaving the EV craze to Polestar.

[@michaelkovalsky4907]

Well, the avg American doesn't do 100+ on the daily. More like 20-40 at most. The infrastructure is a valid concern, and a big reason why all the major automakers went NACS is because EA and others were so bad that it was a genuine blocker for many people even if the car itself is superior to a Tesla buildquality wise.

[@andoletube]

Volvo are jumping ship too early. They'll be lucky to stay afloat by ditching hybrids before the mass adoption of EVs. Especially since their EVs are not going to be cheap.

[@deansmits006]

I can understand your reasoning. Let me ask regarding cost of replacing an EV pack: is it much different from an ice car? How many people replace the engine on their 10 or 15 year old car when it goes tits up? It's always "costs more than the value of the car" reason that comes up when a big repair appears. Then the allure of a newer car rears it's head, even though that costs 2-3x the repair. Anyway, even if a battery replacement in a 10 year old EV would cost only 5-7k dollars instead of $12-15k, people will spend more on a newer car replacement I think. Oh, and your infrastructure point is valid. Kinda wish we had legislation promoting charging infrastructure to help with that

[@faheemabbas3965]

When the EV fad is over and legacy automakers have spent all of their money on making only EVs and selling all of their ICE-making equipment, some of them will go bankrupt. This is because they won’t be able to afford going back to making ICE once all of their ICE-making equipment and skills are gone. Volvo will be one of those companies. They are dead in 10 years. Eco-crap.

[@nelsonv741]

We had a 1986 Volvo 740 GLE Wagon and boy that was a tank. Various interior plastic parts went to pieces and broke loose but the 4 cylinder just kept right on humming and got rid of it with just under 200,000 miles on it. This is not that car under any circumstances. Thanks for the review though, I watch all your videos.

[@tonyb7748]

I love my older 2018 s90L . A little bit of tuning from Hilton and some better brake pads is all I've done. 30 k mile service was expensive but I love the way it handles and drives above normally posted limits.

[@GusGus1996]

On your drive when you said the tires chirped, I noticed the steering wheel from the back angle and for a car costing that much, the steering wheel stitching was horrendous.

[@majtom5313]

The design direction Volvo went under Geely is tragic. As you touched on there was a lot of hype and excitement for the brand as the current gen models came out and had a pretty exciting and lively (although problematic) drivetrain with the SuperTurbo 4, but they just fizzled it out dumping every dollar into trying to make hybrid drivetrains that many of the other big brands will just plain do better. Then the dropping of the fun red colors and bursting blue, then after promising to do so never actually developing any performance upgrades to the R design, making a shit Polestar version of the S60, etc. they had the opportunity to appeal to a different market and kind of develop the brand into being known for making innovative, reliable and sporty cars again but they jumped the gun. Volvo under Ford was a different company than under Geely, and when you compare riding in a well kept P2 car compared to riding in one of these new ones, you see how the brand has just lost touch.

[@causeofgehenna4501]

Love at the end the warning light of high engine temp was great LOL

[@coolbreeze253]

After 34 years in the auto industry, I believe any manufacturer that goes 100% electric will regret it. Does any electric car fanboy realize that every car will require the annual average electric consumption of two average sized homes' A/C usage. (source: U.S. Department of Energy) ? So, annually putting ten million electric vehicles on the road means the equivalent twenty million home's usage. What power grid could deal with that, year after year, even if we put windmills everywhere, stuck solar panels on millions of acres of public land, built lots of unwanted nuclear plants and doubled our use of fossil fuel electric generation?

[@jeffos8724]

This video had an old school savagegeese vibe ….nice to see the Turbowski flashback. Great job as always.

[@bimmerfan729]

Such a shame all the issues modern Volvos have. I would love a V90 in my garage but just can't pull the trigger on it.

[@extremejoy]

9:53 - I’m sold! You survived an attempt assassination so this car proof itself worthy! 😂

[@PaulHo]

If manufacturers are confident enough with a warranty, then a CPO extended warranty, they should be doing second life warranties for a second lease, especially on high risk models like this. Much more practical than subscriptions.

[@mkennisebc]

Great review. 1st video I've seen on your channel. If all the reviews are this good, you would be the best car review channel.

[@Cal94]

I tracked my 2023 V60 recharge over the summer. never overheated the engine. i wager this S90 just had a bug. Granted, my car is swedish built, and it was tracked at at TMP cayuga, where the straight pipes shoots. very winding, not very fast. my biggest worry with volvo as a company, is i've got no idea if they (or anyone else for that matter) will have a wagon I can trade into in 4-6 years. volvo's latest rollouts (EX30, EX90, polestar 3 and 4) have all been SUVs or CUVs, nothing that looks like a V60/V90 successor.

[@looncraz]

You should know that Volvo applied all the new driving behavior you're praising here to all prior T8 vehicles. You just do the software update and the car drives SO MUCH BETTER. They don't have that disconnected feeling they use to have, it's a very cohesive driving experience and it has nothing to do with the extra power of the new electric motor. As an 2019 XC90 T8 owner with about 105,000 miles on it now, I do have some concerns about longevity, but I just did a full range test and 15.3 miles on a route where it did 15.6 miles new... so I'd say we're good on that front 🙂 Margin of error stuff. Did have an issue with the main battery disconnect or whatever it's called, replaced under warranty just shy of 100,000 miles. Would have been $1,500 out of pocket, which isn't really all that bad considering the traction battery has to come out to do the job and that's a dealer price. We will drive it until the wheel fall off. Not sure how much the supercharger or turbo would cost to replace, but that'll probably be work I'll do myself if it comes to it... though I may just pay to get it done, will have to see how my health is.

[@da2ndshooter]

Screw the engine overheating, I just want to know if the disappearing speedometer is standard.

[@joelbolton7252]

Editing from Savagegeese, not a car feature

[@da2ndshooter]

@@joelbolton7252 I know. My bad for not including /s

[@pratikpramanik7782]

They need to bring back the V90 to the states with the PHEV drivetrain

[@audiwankenobi361]

You guys productions are amazing! And the commentary? Standing ovation! It's easy to understand and hear and you all rarely ever use a filler while talking.

[@Traderbear]

I had a 2018 S90, and at 60k miles, the leather dash wrap started pulling away from the dash. Cannot be repaired, 6k replacement. I was so bummed I had to get rid of the car otherwise

[@bobjohnson205]

The dash is still good on my '90 Volvo!

[@alexnutcasio936]

That’s Chinese made or managed quality for you.

[@JakeDrives1]

Where do you live? I live in Florida and use the sun shade constantly for that very reason.

[@1973TJM]

@@alexnutcasio936 I have a Made in Sweden 2017 S90 with that leather dash wrap, and mine started pulling away about 6 months ago. My dealer was able to get mine replaced for $2K USD. I have about 45K miles on it.

[@Dowlphin]

● Bowers & Wilkins - only surpassed by Powers & Vikings. 😎 ● When I hear "so old" about a car, it sounds positive to me. ● 11:48 I seem to remember that when you reviewed this engine in its previous config, I considered the Volvo engine sound quite excellent for a 4-cylinder, and while I assume it has faked one now (if not also back then), what I am hearing there sounds hot ... I mean good! Meaning, even if it is faked, this would be an example of faking it well, compared to so many unbelievably cheapass examples out there. ● Also, abandonment is a vague concept, but maybe it is a general trend? I.e. all (practically focused) cars get abandoned more quickly, as an expression of a trend? What should matter is whether in many years you will still get the support for it that you need. That's usually a manufacturer policy.

[@paulpellico3797]

this period of our lives, as far as automobiles are considered, will be the seventies that I went through. horrible production and designs of the domestics trying to fight the gas shortage, laws and regulations and the invasion of the Japanese brands. anybody who purchased a car in the past 10 years was a beta tester like those of the seventies.

[@Dowlphin]

Gas shortage - or - speculative opportunism cashing in on a mood of widespread fear. Kinda like we see in every 'crisis'.

[@natemathewson5200]

Really upset for Volvo. Such good bones absolutely sullied by poor drivetrain choices

[@adamgroszkiewicz814]

Remember when the S90 & XC90 had the Yamaha V8's in them? Yeah....I remember that.

[@IsitReallyrealreally]

s80

[@adamgroszkiewicz814]

@@IsitReallyrealreally Ah, you're right. I stand corrected.

[@karacha]

XC series is where it's at. I haven't seen anyone driving an S90 in a long time, while their SUVs seem to be very popular still.

[@deansmits006]

I've seen a few s90s. They have... Presence. You don't expect to see a sedan that wide, especially a Volvo sedan. It's understated, but stated nonetheless

[@Tinrs80]

Did that Vehicle hit you or was that a rock from that vehicles tires? LOL i saw Mark look. @ 9:50

[@savagegeese]

Rock from truck.

[@rosgoncharuk2403]

@@savagegeese I thought that was a plastic expanding from THE HEAT!

[@ProbeGT2]

It was a very important cooling part for the engine that left the chat. 😅

[@joesonl1610]

Please bring back Scott Turbowski once in a while, I miss him!

[@deanchur]

Looks like someone stuck a Maserati grill on a Mondeo

[@SvenTheSveed]

The removal of the supercharger is good news.

[@805NAVE]

I love these new Volvos, they looks so nice. But I will stick to my old 960 Executive Royal, 240,000 miles and going strong!

[@derbagger22]

312k miles on my '18 S90. Catch up!

[@tman2damax]

I have absolutely no idea who would buy this car over a german offering but every time I see one it's such a pleasant surprise, really a beautifully understated design.

[@illdeletethismusic]

for the previous generation i"d understand why you"d get a V70 or S80. those were extremely comfortable cars, amazing seats, a much more relaxed experience than anything the german competitors had to offer

[@tman2damax]

@@illdeletethismusic Also a realistic price, they S90 was such a price jump with not much improvement that it didn't make any sense. The s80 was 3 series price for 5 series comfort, the s90 is now 5 series price for 3 series comfort.

[@mike9588]

I like the solo style camera angle for the drive, nice to change it up

[@joseph-ow1hf]

I miss the boxy, simple but bullet proof Volvo's of old. I drove a 240 Turbo 2 door in the early 80's and it was brilliant.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

I don't and it wasn't brilliant. The 240 was a bouncy, jouncy ride and it was just so outdated. The 700 series was better, but way too boxy. The 850 was the right direction for Volvo and was their first really good handling car even though it was FWD. Volvos started to get style in 2000 with the P2 cars and have been excellent since, in terms of style and when they work, content. Volvo just needs to work on more ride refinement, NVH in terms of road noise and handling precision. Now they have some of the best style in the industry. However, judging from initial drives of the Polestar 3, the sister car to the Volvo XC90 and Volvo's EX30, it sounds like Volvo has finally come up with supple riding cars. I have my fingers crossed.

[@putt10000]

In my opinion, Air suspension is worth and easily notice the different when you go through street bump. I got it in 2016 V90 and 2017 XC60.

[@JakeDrives1]

100%. I had one without it then bought one with it. Brought the newer one in for service and was given an S60 with steel springs. Felt like I was riding a pogo stick. Love the air ride. It could isolate better but it manages the up down motions extremely well.

[@ShaiyanHossain]

a v90 version of this with their old 5 cyl would be ideal

[@rahulmandala4930]

I don’t understand why they couldn’t keep updating their 5 and 6 cylinders to make them emissions-compliant? I don’t know why they went in the direction they did.

[@ajman174]

@@rahulmandala4930 I'm betting it's because not only is it easier to meet emissions, but also they can be sold in Asian markets without being heavily taxed. China and Japan for example tax car owners based on their engine displacement. 2 liters is a popular size because going larger results in expensive tax, making the cars less appealing to most buyers. It sucks that they stuck the rest of the markets with that same engine though. I have a T6 and T5 Volvo, and the sound alone is enough to ensure I never consider a new one. The 4 cylinder sounds worse than a RAV4 IMO.

[@keith692]

I think I did a better job stitching a new cover on my steering wheel than volvo did.

[@parkergray5346]

Volvos aren’t perfect, but at every auto show I go to, Volvos feel different when you get inside them.. the materials and ergonomics are absolutely perfect. The tech may not be great but just being in the cabin of one is special

[@DuwayneBoss]

2018 S90 T8 perfect for me. Do most daily run on electric. Fasssst beats many cars. Cheaper to run than petrol xc40. Range is shorter but buying used makes up for many saving

[@doggedlydetermined7022]

Should’ve just kept offering 5 and 6 cylinders. The whole 4 cylinder and electric thing ended Volvo

[@benjaminsmith2287]

They're selling more cars than ever. What are you talking about?

[@Affalterbach1967]

4:42 Truffels in engine compartment means luxury.

[@murraysampson2501]

In terms of design, I can’t think of a better vehicle.

[@221ddj]

I had one when they first came out...the sound system was great, everything mechanical was not so great or outright trash. Loud, clunky, unreliable, but pretty. It's the Kardashian of cars.

[@JakeDrives1]

Aisin transmission from Toyota. Sharp as a bar of soap. I’ve had two and the transmission has never met my expectations.

[@1973TJM]

I still have my 2017 S90. Nothing mechanical has gone wrong, only cosmetic issues. Did you have a 2017 or 2018 S90?

[@221ddj]

@@1973TJM I had a 2017...a lot went wrong with that damn thing. Transmission, wheel issues, infotainment issues, it randomly went into turtle mode while driving down the street. I'd never get another Volvo. My wife had one long before me (2005 S40) and had many of the same issues.

[@1973TJM]

@@221ddj Yikes. The only thing on mine that I had issues with were the OEM tires Pirelli. The Michelins are much longer lasting, and drive as good as, or better, then the Pirellis.

[@AleksanderbigbyTwo]

The newer EX30 and EX90 have great software, so switching to Google was the right decision. Now their screens are also a lot nicer. They have already listened, but their new ones aren't on the roads yet.

[@tylerbetthauser7647]

I'm really glad the American OEMs are starting to pull back on the all ahead full on EVs.

[@deansmits006]

It's been like...a week.

[@Dowlphin]

Found some more oil to steal, I guess. Probably didn't expect they could still get away with it or that Germany would be such a willing b. - benefitting energy prices in the USA.

[@JakeDrives1]

Best news I’ve heard in years

[@bme3383]

Such a cool video. Relaxing as well.

[@andoniades]

Little Mark makes that thing look like a Tahoe