• Ample space for passengers, with generous rear legroom
• Boot space lags behind rivals
• Simple flap in the boot floor is an effective loadspace divider

How much space is there?

Once upon a time, owning a big Volvo estate was like having an additional spare bedroom. So it’s disappointing to discover that the load-lugging practicality of the Volvo V90 has been compromised by its styling.

However, if you are more interested in carrying passengers than raiding Ikea, the V90 has plenty of room for people; four adults will be very comfortable, five will tolerate even relatively lengthy journeys. Rear legroom is particularly impressive, comfortably beating the BMW 5 Series Touring and Mercedes E-Class Estate.

Boot space and storage

The V90’s sloping rear end may look sleeker than the Swedish bricks of yore, but with only 560 litres of boot space, it lags behind the Audi A6 Avant, 5 Series Touring and E-Class Estate. This figure is unchanged if you opt for a plug-in hybrid, something that isn’t the case for the BMW and Mercedes.

With the rear seats lowered, space expands to 1,526 litres. Not small, by any means, but far from class-leading. Still, it does have a simple-yet-clever pop-up section of the boot floor to use as a divider that prevents things sliding around too much.

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A powered tailgate takes the strain out of accessing the load space, and a good selection of cubby holes and reasonably sized door pockets take care of oddment storage around the cabin.

How easy is it to park?

This is a big car with a low seating position, but visibility is fine front and rear, and we didn’t find it particularly difficult to park.

Helping make life even easier, the V90 is available with all-round parking sensors and a 360-degree camera system. Furthermore, it has an automated braking system that will prevent you from accidentally reversing into things a low speed. This can be disconcerting when it activates if you aren’t expecting it…

Safety

• One of the safest cars tested by Euro NCAP
• Years of safety research encompassed in the V90
• Additional safety tech optionally available

When tested in 2017, the Volvo V90 was commended for one of the highest scores yet attained in its Euro NCAP crash test. The safety body’s methodology has changed since then, but this should still prove a very safe car. Hardly a surprise given that the Swedish marque has long been at the forefront of this field. Standard safety equipment includes a voice-control system, run-off-road protection (which automatically tightens the front seatbelts if the car leaves the road), and the City Safety suite. This gets you pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection and front collision warning with autonomous emergency braking.

You also get Pilot Assist, which takes care of steering, throttle and brakes from traffic jam to motorway cruising speed. Volvo is keen to point out this is not a completely autonomous driving system – you still have to keep a hand on the wheel. It works well at low speeds, taking the monotony out of creeping around in traffic, but it needs increased steering input at speed. We also found it had a tendency to make the car sit much further left in the lane than we felt comfortable with.

In 2020, Volvo took things even further by introducing a 112mph limited top speed on all its models, regardless of how powerful they are. This apparently improves the effectiveness of its crash protection systems. Volvos built prior to 2020 don’t have this restriction.

Watch the Volvo S90/V90 Euro NCAP crash test video