Volvo S90 : Redefining ‘Practical Luxury

The influence of German cars has been a very big factor, in the Indian market. We, must agree that the German manufacturers do offer another dimension to the Indian car buyer. Brands such as Maruti Suzuki, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai etc. have always done well and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. No car is perfect and with the preferences and fancies of the Indian customer changing at a very rapid pace the Germans have garnered a very strong fan base in India.

Moving to where they are just outright dominant…………..the luxury segment! The number of Audis, BMW’s, & Mercedes-Benz cars in India is just huge!! Well, the aforementioned brands have a very big factor and for them, a lack of genuine competition. It goes without saying that BMW, Audi & Mercedes-Benz cars are made with top-notch quality and cutting edge technology that very few brands can match. None of these brands make their cars without compromising on luxury. But do these car manufacturers make their cars from a practical standpoint? That is a point which is debatable. With the Indian luxury car buyer becoming more rich and younger, he is also looking for an option which is practical and does not miss out on luxury. To be honest it is seldom that a luxury car will meet all the criteria of being a practical one as well.

Enter the Volvo S90. The newest kid on the block in the Luxury sedan segment is a car which has been very highly anticipated since a long time. The S90 comes as a direct replacement for the aging S60 sedan. The S60 was a well-rounded package, but failed to see the order book fill as it couldn’t cope up with the Germans. Volvo of late has been removing some very beautifully designed and luxury oriented practical cars. Take the Volvo XC 90 for example, a Swedish masterstroke! It is just huge! It is in every inch a commanding SUV, the design many would argue could be based on the Audi Q7, but we feel it has a different charm and aura of its own. With its fluidic arches and sheer attention to detail is a head turner where ever it goes. The Thor inspired headlamps are just the icing on the cake. Similarly the S90 follows the new design language by Volvo, and boy it is just jaw-dropping, it seems to redefine the essence of beauty in simplicity. When compared to the Volvo S60 of whom the S90 is a replacement, the wheelbase and the car as a whole has grown quite a bit. The S60 was a very elegantly designed car, but the new S90 takes that to a whole different level. The car has a very good and no-nonsense road presence. It is a car that just stands out wherever it goes. This car too gets the iconic Thor inspired headlamps. The interiors are completely redesigned and feel like a shadow of older Volvo cars. The cabin as a whole is luxurious at the same time extremely practical as well. The full touch screen interfaces for the centre console is unique at the same time something which Indian customers have not been accustomed to, which is a very good thing. A 2.0 litre diesel mill does duty on the S90, producing about 190 bhp. Though it is underpowered when compared to the competition it is more than sufficient for city as well as highway duties. Currently the S90 is only available in a diesel variant, Volvo is going to be introducing other engine options to the line-up.

The luxury sedan segment is one which has many dragons. The S90 being the newest dragon to enter the den, is priced really smartly. Another strong point S90 has going for it is being powered by a smaller engine when compared to the rest.

It may not be a performance powerhouse as a BMW or a luxurious chariot as a Mercedes-Benz, but it is as practical as a wise old man, without compromising on luxury. It is still a very long way to go for Volvo to make a dent in the Indian market especially when competing with BMW, Audi & Mercedes-Benz but it is a dark horse in what is to be a very fierce race. Volvo with the S90 could create a niche market within the luxury segment, and has truly redefined the essence of ‘Practical Luxury’.