• Vast amounts of passenger space
• Limo-like rear-seat space
• Boot well-shaped, but smaller than rivals

The S90 measures in at almost five metres long and that translates into a generously-proportioned interior. There’s plenty of space up front – though the S90 manages to envelope the driver and passenger thanks to a dashboard that’s close to you and a centre console that rises around you, but there’s still plenty of head and legroom.

In the back, two adults can stretch out with ease. While it’s a low car, headroom is good and legroom even better. It’s only the person in the middle seat who will struggle for space and comfort due to the high transmission tunnel and raised seat base.

Up front, you’ll find a glovebox, door pockets, and cubby hole under the armrest in the central console. The central console also houses a double cupholder large enough for a couple of standard drinks cans and a slide-away cover that hides a tray for the key and smaller items.

Rear-seat passengers can pull down the armrest for cupholders and storage.

You probably will want to check the dimensions of your garage before purchase with the S90 being nearly five metres long.

Rear parking sensors come as standard on all models, while Inscription models come with park assist– provided you’re not in a rush, waiting for the system to make its calculations.

Luggage space can’t quite match up to its rivals, though. At 500 litres, it’s smaller than the boots of the BMW 5 Series, the Audi A6 and Mercedes E-Class, however it’s accessed by a standard-fit electric bootlid, while the rear seats split and fold electrically, to allow loads of up to 1,978mm in length too. The good news is that the boot is well-shaped and square, without too many intrusions or odd shapes inside to contend with.

Volvo S90 safety

• Lots of standard safety kit
• Five-star Euro NCAP rating
• Option to add more, too

The Volvo S90 boasts a comprehensive list of standard safety equipment, with several features inherited from the larger XC90 SUV.

Volvo labels its safety and driver assistance technology IntelliSafe. Falling under this is standard-fit adaptive cruise control with Pilot Assist. This is a system whereby the car can take control of the accelerator, steering and brakes, meaning all you have to do is keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the steering wheel. The car will even slow down and speed up in traffic jams for you.

The adaptive cruise is one of the better systems we’ve tested, without reacting abruptly to traffic conditions – it can still get caught out and hit the brakes with more force than required, but it can successfully apply the brakes more gently than most as you approach slower traffic.

There’s also the option to have integrated booster cushions fitted for children to use on the outer rear seats. There’s also the usual suite of blindspot monitoring and lane-departure warning systems available, as well as self-parking systems to really let the car do everything for you.

In terms of safety, the S90 received a full five-star rating when crash tested by Euro NCAP, with an impressive 95% for adult occupant protection and 93% in the safety assist category.

Limited top speed from 2020

As part of its march towards ever-safer cars, Volvo has announced that all models built from 2020 will have an electronically governed top speed of 112mph, regardless of how powerful the engines or electric motors are. As the S90 will still be in production in 2020 it will be one of the models affected.