The V90’s cabin remains as impressively spacious and materially sophisticated as ever. Volvo’s cool minimalist design and simplified approach to layout are by now instantly recognisable, while a choice selection of leather, aluminium and gloss-black plastic surface treatments allow the V90 to mix comfortably with Mercedes, Audis and BMWs. Volvo wants us to think of this car as a premium offering and, as far as the fit and finish and material palette of the V90’s cabin are concerned, that’s precisely what the V90 is.
There’s a lot to like from an ergonomic perspective, too. The driver sits bang in front of a pleasingly thin-rimmed steering wheel, in a sporty-looking chair that’s neither too firm nor too soft. Healthy amounts of bolstering ensure your thighs and torso remain in place and power adjustability provides plenty of scope for making minute tweaks to the seating position. Meanwhile, the infotainment system’s portrait-oriented touchscreen is within close reach and is relatively easy to interact with while you’re on the move. Volvo now possesses more brand cachet than it ever has, and it’s refreshing that this shift upmarket hasn’t come at the cost of usability.
Nor practicality, for that matter. Despite the V90 being designed to prioritise rear passenger space over outright luggage capacity, boot space is still plentiful. With a generously tapered rear window, it might not be able to swallow a chaise longue as easily as its unashamedly boxy ancestors, but a wide load bay aperture and a flat floor ensure that loading and unloading bulky items won’t be any more difficult than it needs to be. Taller passengers will find they are well catered for in terms of head and leg room in the second row, too.
Volvo V90 infotainment and sat-nav
The V90 makes use of Volvo’s 9.0in, portrait-oriented touchscreen infotainment suite, named Sensus Connect. This by now is a familiar system, and the fact that it’s wholly operated via the touchscreen won’t come as a surprise to anyone who has experience with the current crop of Volvo products.
It’s simple enough to master the ins and outs, and to Volvo’s credit the screen responds keenly to your inputs and is easy to read while on the move. The mapping graphics are a touch basic, however, and you need to pay extra to get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The optional Bowers & Wilkins sound system is suitably impressive in the hushed confines of the V90’s cabin but isn’t exceptional by wider class standards.
