Volvo’s Daqing-made long-wheelbase S90 could well challenge German luxury dominance and proves a top-notch executive ride
Swedish marque’s flagship has longer rear doors, fine connectivity in a well-appointed cabin, and all the power you need for sedate cruising
Several doubts were raised in the car world when China’s Geely Holdings bought Volvo in 2010.
The low-cost Chinese manufacturer until a few years prior had garnered a reputation for poorly built cars with heavily inspired designs.
At the time, Chinese companies such as SAIC/Nanjing Autos had achieved little with their takeovers of western marques, such as MG Rover.
Despite some initial tension between the Chinese and Swedish sides on their future direction, Volvo was largely left to manage itself while being given a considerable shot in the arm of research and development capital.
This came to fruition in the XC90. The S90 follows on with the same design architecture and delivers on the Chinese wish for cars to tackle the German dominance of the nation’s premium sector.
A 12cm addition to the wheelbase in China is the main weapon in the armoury in a segment that demands stretched cars. Externally with its longer rear doors, it gives the long-wheelbase version of the S90 a more balanced look, and an increase in roof space allows the fitting of a panoramic sunroof.
