Volvo S90 road test: Best full-size executive car

Based on the platform architecture of the brand's second generation XC90 SUV, it aims to tempt company customers with what Volvo describes as elegant and functional appeal.

This is certainly the most credible full-sized executive saloon that Volvo has brought us to date.

The S90 has a proud yet non-aggressive face, characterised by a concave grille - apparently a homage to the Volvo P1800s home to the brand's distinctive Iron Mark logo.

The T-shaped Thor's Hammer lights are recognisable from the XC90 and deliver a powerful sense of direction that makes this car unmistakable on the road.

Because this S90 uses the same Scalable Product Architecture as its XC90 SUV stablemate, it also uses many of the same engines too.

One change though is the availability of a smaller diesel than you can get in the XC90 - the 190PS D4 unit borrowed from Volvo's smaller S60 and V60 models.

Next up is a 235PS D5 twin turbodiesel, also with 2.0-litres and four cylinders, another member of the company's efficient Drive-E engine family. D5 models come with AWD. All of the S90s come only with smooth 8-speed auto transmission.

Volvo has also developed two other powerplants for future versions of this car, a 320PS T6 petrol unit, which utilises turbo and supercharging, and a T8 Twin Engine petrol/electric plug-in hybrid model.

This delivers a combined 412PS output, with a thumping 640Nm of torque. 62mph from rest is dispatched in under 6 seconds.

Volvos V90 is a large luxury estate every bit as good as anything the German brands can bring you.

It's the most sophisticated station wagon we've yet seen from the brand. It's efficient, spacious and stylish, so if you're shopping in this segment, you need to consider it.

This V90's sophisticated underpinnings can accommodate a complete range of the brand's Drive-E engines, 2.0-litre units that are impressively efficient.

Initially, buyers are being offered the choice between two units: either the 190PS D4 powerplant borrowed from Volvo's smaller S60 and V60 models. Or the 235PS D5 twin turbodiesel, also with four cylinders, this matched with the security of AWD.

All V90s come with smooth 8-speed auto transmission.

The V90 is the Volvo's most stylish full-sized executive estate to date. Inside, you'll find basically the same interior as the S90, with beautiful finishing and plenty of leather, classy wood and glass.

At the rear, there's up to 1,526-litres of bootspace, including underfloor storage. That's a useful amount of space!

We think that many business buyers currently purchasing large, luxury SUVs would actually be more comfortable in something like this V90.