2018 Volvo S90 T8 Twin Engine Inscription Plus Review

The 2018 Volvo S90 T8 Twin Engine Inscription Plus is positioned as an executive plug-in hybrid sedan. In Malaysia's premium sedan market, it enters with a combination of "safety + luxury + hybrid efficiency," meeting the texture needs of business users and the expectations of family users for fuel economy and space. As one of Volvo's flagship sedans, its core selling points focus on the balance of performance and efficiency provided by the plug-in hybrid system, comprehensive safety configuration across the lineup, and Nordic-style luxurious interior. The main goal of this test drive is to verify the real-world performance of the PHEV system in daily commuting and highway driving, while also evaluating whether its comfort and practicality as an executive sedan match its pricing.

From the exterior, the S90 T8 maintains Volvo's family-oriented minimalist design, featuring streamlined and smooth overall lines that align with the steady temperament of executive sedans. The iconic "Thor's Hammer" LED daytime running lights at the front have high recognition, paired with the vertical waterfall-style front grille, offering a refined yet understated look. The side of the body lacks complex character lines, with just a single simple line extending from the front fender to the rear, sculpting a streamlined appearance. The 19-inch wheels are well-proportioned to the body, avoiding any excessive exaggeration. The "Viking Axe" LED taillights at the rear are also a highlight of the family design, highly recognizable when illuminated at night. The hidden exhaust layout under the rear bumper downplays sportiness in favor of emphasizing luxury. The lighting system uses full LED sources, and features such as automatic headlights and front fog lights come standard, ensuring practicality is not a concern.

Stepping inside, the Nordic-style minimalist interior greets you without excessive decorative elements, yet showcases a sense of luxury through materials and details. The center console features a large, vertically oriented touchscreen, with most functions integrated into the screen, leaving only essential physical buttons for climate control, resulting in a simple and clear layout. The interior materials predominantly consist of soft leather and metal accents, offering a delicate touch and neat stitching craftsmanship that align with the positioning of an executive sedan. Key configurations include a fully digital instrument panel, HUD head-up display, and a 360-degree panoramic camera system, all of which come standard with user-friendly operational logic and low learning curve. The seats are wrapped in genuine leather, with the front seats supporting electric adjustments and memory function. The backrest and cushion provide excellent support to ensure comfortable long-distance driving, while the rear seats are equipped with integrated child booster seats on the outer seats, and the 60:40 split-folding functionality enhances storage flexibility, which is especially practical for families with children.

In terms of space performance, the dimensions of the S90 T8 are 4963mm × 1879mm × 1443mm, with a wheelbase of 2941mm, making these specifications mainstream among executive sedans. After adjusting the front driver's seat to a comfortable position, there is about one and two fingers’ worth of headroom remaining, and legroom is ample. The rear passenger space is a highlight, with a 175cm tall passenger enjoying over two punches of legroom and a full punch of headroom, ensuring it doesn’t feel cramped even with three rear passengers. As for storage capacity, the trunk volume is 500L, which can easily accommodate 2-3 suitcases for daily use, and the folding rear seats can further extend the storage space. Interior storage compartments are well-designed; front and rear door storage slots, the central armrest box, and others can meet daily needs, while the front row is also equipped with a 220V power outlet, convenient for business users to work on the go.

In terms of dynamic driving, the S90 T8 is equipped with a 2.0T turbocharged engine + motor plug-in hybrid system, delivering a combined maximum horsepower of 324PS, paired with an AT transmission and an all-wheel-drive system. The official 0-100km/h acceleration time is 4.7 seconds. During actual driving, the motor kicks in at the start, providing quick and smooth power response without the lag of traditional fuel vehicles. When the accelerator is pressed harder, the engine joins in, resulting in linear and continuous power output. During high-speed overtaking, a slight press on the accelerator delivers sufficient acceleration power, making it feel nothing like a business-class sedan weighing over 2 tons. The driving modes include pure electric, hybrid, and sport options. The pure electric mode is suitable for urban commuting, offering a full-charge range of about 50km (about 45km in actual urban conditions), enough to cover the daily commute for most users. The hybrid mode balances power and fuel consumption, with the engine as the primary power source during highway driving and the motor providing assistance. Overall fuel efficiency performs well, with an official figure of 2L/100km. During actual testing, in hybrid mode, the fuel consumption is approximately 3.5L/100km in urban conditions and about 5L/100km on highways, offering a significant advantage over comparable fuel-powered vehicles in the same class.

In terms of handling and chassis performance, the S90 T8 uses a front double-wishbone independent suspension, with the chassis tuned for comfort while retaining a certain level of support. During everyday driving, the suspension effectively absorbs minor road bumps, and when crossing speed bumps or uneven roads, the vehicle body exhibits minimal shaking, providing a comfortable ride. When cornering at high speeds, body roll is controlled within a reasonable range. The steering wheel is precise, with minimal play, which gives the driver ample confidence. The all-wheel-drive system performs stably on slippery surfaces, effectively enhancing grip and ensuring driving safety. In terms of braking performance, the brake pedal provides a linear feel, with responsive braking. During emergency braking, the vehicle's posture remains stable, with no noticeable nose-dive effect.

Regarding driving and riding comfort details, the S90 T8 offers excellent noise control. Wind and tire noise are not prominent at high speeds, and the noise from the engine is well suppressed, ensuring the interior remains quiet, in line with the level of an executive-class vehicle. The regenerative braking system offers selectable intensity levels. In the weak recovery mode, it provides a driving feel close to that of a fuel vehicle without evident drag. The strong recovery mode helps to extend the range, making it suitable for congested urban road conditions. The comfort of the seats has been mentioned earlier, and the rear row is equipped with independent air conditioning and sunshades, further enhancing the riding experience for rear passengers.

Overall, the 2018 Volvo S90 T8 Twin Engine Inscription Plus stands out with distinct core advantages: First, its safety features are comprehensive, with standard features like lane-keeping assist, lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking. The design includes six airbags and child seat interfaces, making it very family-friendly. Second, the efficiency of the plug-in hybrid system ensures that pure electric mode meets daily commuting needs, and hybrid mode reduces long-distance fuel consumption. Additionally, the 4.7-second acceleration performance caters to occasional spirited driving. Third, the Scandinavian luxury interior exudes quality, with solid materials and a simple layout that avoids excessive decoration while emphasizing a premium feel. Compared with peer BBA models in the same class, the S90 T8 offers more comprehensive safety features, a more efficient hybrid system, and a better value for money. However, it slightly falls short in terms of brand influence and resale value compared to its competitors.

This car is suitable for two types of users: one is users who value safety and family practicality. The rear seat is integrated with child safety cushions, comprehensive safety configurations, and spacious interior, fully meeting the daily travel needs of families. The other is business users. With its minimalist luxury interior, comfortable driving experience, and efficient plug-in hybrid system, it is suitable for daily commuting as well as business receptions.

Overall, the 2018 Volvo S90 T8 Twin Engine Inscription Plus is an "all-rounder" executive hybrid sedan. It strikes a good balance between safety, luxury, performance, and efficiency, with no obvious shortcomings. If you do not care about the brand premium for prestige and prioritize actual safety, comfort, and economy in usage, this car is worth considering.