Used 2018 Volvo S90 T5 Momentum Sedan Review
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2018 Volvo S90 T5 Momentum Sedan.
Most helpful consumer reviews
8 pluses, 1 minus
Catbert, Elon, NC, 08/17/2018
2018 Volvo S90 T5 Momentum 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
The S90 is a beautiful car. The proportions are perfect, and the styling is classic. The interior is the best place to be of any of the 50 plus cars I’ve owned. The aesthetics are perfect. The performance of my T5 AWD is what I expected, not a killer, for sure. I knew that going in, and if performance with a capital P was totally important, I would have sprung for the T6. My … driving is mostly highway, and 250ish HP is a OK. And now the minuses. The corporate 4 cyl. is....well, a 4 banger. It isn’t particularly smooth, and doesn’t sound that great either. It’s obviously a modern motor, but suffers from a cylinder deficiency in a large car application. Sorry Volvo, but one size really doesn’t fit all. It isn’t a horsepower issue, it’s about refinement and smoothness. Lastly, the ride...it’s not that great. Even on a smooth interstate highway, you can feel too way much road. I understand it isn’t a Rolls or Big Jag, but it isn’t an C class either. Volvo would do well to farm out the chassis tuning if they can’t do better. Bottom line the S90 is one or two cylinders and a more compliant chassis away from a World class near luxury sedan.
UPDATE. Seems a large part of the road harshness was not one, but three Pirelli P Zero tires that were not able to be balanced, or maybe not exactly round. After replacement the road noise and vibration/harmonics are hugely improved. Second ride update...after replacing the O.EM. Pirelli P Zeros with Michelin Primacy Tour A/S tires, the ride characteristics are excellent.
MY GAS MILEAGE. Now that the S90 is well broken in, I can report Interstate mileage of 32.9 MPG on my last long trip. This is at speed limit plus 4 mph, i.e. 64-74 mph. My suburban every day driving is right at 25 mpg. I am not a feather foot.
Last update: The Volvo is gone at the end of the warranty period. It was a very good experience, but not good enough to buy another or purchase an extended warranty. The T5 is just not a satisfying motor, even considering it’s the base offering. Another issue is the headlong plunge into electrification by Volvo. I applaud the effort, but I don’t want to own a ICE Volvo when the company is in a mad rush to discontinue my technology. So goodbye sweet S90, hello Lexus.
Overall LOVING my 2018 S90 Momentum
PSR, West Hollywood, CA, 04/21/2018
2018 Volvo S90 T5 Momentum 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
Silver with the blonde interior; the car looks fantastic! I love the Thor's hammer headlights and the wide stance of the vehicle with the big 19' Pirellis. I've got lots of extras on it, which are functional and work super well. But my only concern with this car is the ride...at times very hard and not as sophisticated as a car at this price point should feel. Excellent gas mileage; … great on the road feeling. LOVE LOVE LOVE the backseat legroom and the extra right passenger side buttons that control front right seat and sunroof. The car LOOKS serious, which I love. I've gotten many compliments on it. Pick up on this super well designed 4-cylinder turbo is beyond impressive. Love the stereo (standard) and the 360 camera. At times, the sensors for parking and other safety functions seem a little too sensitive but rather that than the opposite. Seat comfort is FANTASTIC, front and back. Ventilation and climate control are superb. Interior materials on all surfaces are FAR SUPERIOR to many makes of car. No rattles, squeaks or creaks throughout. I'm very happy with my S90, an upgrade from my 2016 S60 Inscription sedan. No regrets. Volvo is ROCKING the automotive world in many ways!
The S90 is Nice But The Quality Is Poor
Dallas Driver, San Antonio, TX, 03/03/2022
2018 Volvo S90 T5 Momentum 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
As soon as I drove the 2018 S90, I was in love and I received compliments on the styling from strangers. However; within a few months after purchasing the S90, water entered the car in the passenger footwell whenever it rained. I took my car in many times to resolve the issue. After 3 years, 2 tries to replicate the issue with no success and 4 attempts to fix the issue, water continued … to enter in the passenger footwell when it rained. The dealer tried many times to fix the issue, but they were unsuccessful. I engaged corporate Volvo but they sent me back to the dealer every time. No one tried to address the issue nor the fact that I was sold a defective S90.
At this point, I will never buy another Volvo again. Volvo didn't care about my issue and would not try to resolve the issue.
Great Car that's actually a car
JohnL, Boca Raton, FL, 12/09/2019
2018 Volvo S90 T5 Momentum 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
This is one very pleasant and very comfortable vehicle. It's large and quiet and packs enough punch needed to get around as well as easily entering any highway ramp. You get to speed very quickly and it doesn't disappoint. The touch screen is very nice and very similar to an Apple iPad. I have no complaints. My one minor gripe is I wish the rear view mirror dimming feature was more … effective. The mirror does not darken at all for night time driving. Rear headlights glare in your eyes and is very distracting. Spoke to the dealer about it and I'm told that's how it works. Other than that it's a great car and have driven it several years without any incident or hiccups other than replace wear and tear items. Expensive to maintain and gas mileage is mediocre due to its large size and weight. It's a car and does what a car should do. I don't do laps and I'm not racing it either. I need it for pleasure as well as for errands and long distance driving. It's a pleasure to drive and absorbs road imperfections with ease. The seats are first rate and have enough power adjustments to satisfy anyone regardless of weight or height. The radio is good and I'm sure the Bowers version even better. A four-cylinder motor that can easily compete with the best and the transmission is the smoothest I've ever experienced. The back seats are limousine spacious and the rear right passenger has all the window and power seat adjustments for the front seat if it is unoccupied yielding more leg room than a la-z-boy. The leather seating is top notch and probably the best out there. I originally was not in the market for a Volvo but after searching and looking at various makes and models this one was a beauty and won me over. It's "stunning" to look at and I get compliments from onlookers who can't believe it's a Volvo. Yet it is!
It's now five years of ownership and no "hiccups" just a pleasure to own and drive. I'm quite tall and wish this vehicle had a power adjustable steering column. I always need to move the steering wheel or drop the drivers seat to lowest position so I can get my knees to clear the column.
Previous cars including my 1987 Lexus had a power adjustable steering column. I miss that feature but it's my only gripe. I can live with that! I only wish that future models maintain these features and add a "much needed" feature such as the power adjustable steering column with memory features. That would be a blessing as this option would be great for us tall folks with long legs.
UPDATE: I absolutely love this car and I am amazed that a 4 cylinder engine can provide such power to such a very heavy vehicle (5,400lbs). Filled with many safety features that boggles the mind and incredibly comfortable. Back seat is so spacious it should be categorized as a limousine. Very dependable and also can be expensive to maintain. Remember this is a luxury car and the price tag is part of that equation. Gas mileage is not great but let's face it, a car this heavy needs plenty of power to move it along so it will burn gas. The T5 allows you to use either premium gas or regular. I've used both and for my needs regular is more than satisfactory and a lot less expensive than premium gasoline. The T6 model is premium only because of the supercharger on the engine. It's a true boulevard carrier and a joy to drive.
Edmunds Summary Review of the 2018 Volvo S90 T5 Momentum Sedan
Pros & Cons
- Pro:Some of the best seats in the class
- Pro:Impressive interior materials throughout the cabin
- Pro:Comes standard with a wide array of convenience and safety features
- Pro:Intuitive technology interface is one of the best systems available
- Con:Heavy steering leads to fatigue
- Con:Rough ride when equipped with optional wheels
Which S90 does Edmunds recommend?
Without having tested the T8 powertrain yet, we recommend the T6 engine for its higher output over the T5. The Momentum trim should satisfy most shoppers' appetite for luxury. Many of the Inscription's features are available as options on the Momentum, giving you more of an opportunity to pick and choose exactly what you want.
Full Edmunds Review: 2018 Volvo S90 Sedan
Driving
7.5The S90 doesn't wow you with performance, but it's plenty fast when called upon. Steering feels precise but needlessly heavy. The car's mass also makes it less snappy than its rivals in quick turns and corners. It can still hustle, but it's no sport sedan.
Comfort
8.0What the S90 lacks in heart-racing performance, it makes up for in high-class cabin comfort. Ride quality is too harsh, however, perhaps due to a poor wheel-tire combination. Smaller wheels might ease the thumping we observed.
Interior
8.0The S90 concedes nothing to its rivals in cabin design and materials. This is a first-rate interior all around, from upholstery, touch points and surfaces, and infotainment integration. However, large rear pillars and a sloping roofline create blind spots and diminish headroom.
Utility
7.5A 60/40-split folding rear seat with a long-item/ski pass-through improves flexibility for what is an otherwise average-size trunk. The optional hands-free trunklid and a 12-volt outlet in the cargo area add some errand-running and tailgating utility.
Technology
8.5We sampled only the high-end stereo system, but it sounds worth every penny. The navigation system also impressed with its precision. Wireless connectivity comes via 3G but should be 4G at this level. Autonomous driving features work well both on highway and in around-town traffic.
Edmunds Insurance Estimator
The Edmunds TCO® estimated monthly insurance payment for a 2018 Volvo S90 in Ohio is:
not availableLegal