Saying a fond farewell to our Volvo S90

Handing back the keys to our S90 long-termer last month has left me with a massive problem. I’m now obsessed with getting another Volvo.

It’s never happened to me before. Usually, the end of a spell living with a long-term car is something to look forward to. It’s an opportunity to get behind the wheel of something new and exciting.

But the loss of the S90 has sapped all my enthusiasm for change and left me looking longingly on the Volvo website and through the windows of my local showroom.

The objects of my affection are the V90 – the S90’s equally good-looking estate sibling – and the XC90, which surely has to be one of the most eye-catching SUVs on the market.

I also cast admiring glances at range-topping Inscription Pro versions of the S90 – a few grades up from our standard Momentum spec.

But, I have to say, that if I were parting with my own cash, I’d have to think very long and hard before paying around seven grand more for the few additional gizmos and slab of walnut dash the Inscription Pro offers (prices start at £33,865 for the S90 Momentum and £41,115 for the Inscription Pro).

And I’d have to think even longer and even harder before splashing an extra 15 grand on a similarly equipped and appointed XC90 Momentum, which starts at £48,665.

You see, having lived with the S90 D4 Momentum for several months, it’s hard to see how a smattering of additional tech, a bit of added space and some walnut on the dash would improve my enjoyment. Even in standard guise, the S90 is a wonderful car that’s every bit the equal of the German mainstays of its market segment.

The cabin offers outstanding comfort and is superbly well appointed and finished, using top-quality materials. The electric leather seats with memory function can be easily adjusted to find the perfect driving position and fine-tuned for maximum comfort.

Performance-wise, the S90 looks a little underpowered on paper with the 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel powerplant chucking out just 190 horses – not a lot for a big car – but in reality the car always feels like it has more to give. It feels quick off the mark, with the automatic eight-speed transmission offering an instant response, and at high speed the model feels like it could just keep going.

Despite this, it’s pretty frugal for a big car – I averaged about 45 to the gallon – and with CO2 emissions of just 116g/km it’s a great choice for company car drivers, offering everything they could possibly want while standing out from the crowd.

The onboard tech is fantastic too. The main infotainment system with really effective voice control and a massive iPad-style display works brilliantly. And, with your own apps loaded, the experience is taken to the next level.

The S90 works as a family car too. There’s acres of space for the kids in the back and the boot’s huge.

All things considered, anyone in the market for a well-appointed executive saloon should overlook the Volvo S90 at their peril.

Model: Volvo S90
Price: £38,905
Engine: Four-cylinder twin turbocharged diesel engine
Power: 187bhp
Max speed: 140mph
0-60mph: 7.9seconds
Emissions: 116g/km
MPG: 64.2mpg (combined)
Mileage to date: 7,800