Volvo S90 2016 | new car sales price

Volvo Australia has announced pricing and specification details of its new S90 sedan, ahead of its local debut in October.

It’s the second car to come from the Chinese-owned, Swedish-based car company’s new scalable product architecture (SPA) platform, after the debut of the new XC90 SUV in mid-2015.

Indeed, the two vehicles are pretty closely related, both in spec levels and under the skin.

Size-wise, the S90 is similar in dimensions to Audi’s A6, the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz’s E-Class, though Volvo has been at pains to point out that it doesn’t compare itself to the big three Germans.

As you’d expect, safety is a big deal for Volvo, and the same clever passive and active safety architectures that debuted in the XC90 – including seats that are designed to protect their occupants in the event of a run off-road crash and autonomous driving technology that can be used up to 130km/h – figure highly.

The four-car range will kick off with the front-wheel drive T5 Momentum at $79,900, powered by a 187/350Nm 2.0-litre petrol turbo engine, with the 140kW/400Nm D4 diesel version costing $82,400.

The diesel also gets an electric compressor that forces air into the exhaust side to the turbocharger – known as PowerPulse - to reduce lag times.

Both front-drivers use Volvo’s Drive-E eight-speed transmission.

Expect climate control, keyless start (but not entry), a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, electric front seats with driver-side memory, electric boot lid, LED headlights with turn, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, blind spot assist and park assist, along with 18-inch rims and leather upholstery as standard.

All-wheel-drive sets the Inscription models apart, along with stronger powerplants. The $98,900 T6 turbo and supercharged 2.0-litre petrol engine outputs a handy 235kW and 400Nm, while the $96,900 twin-turbo 2.0-litre diesel D5 gets 173kW and 480Nm of torque.

The diesel also gets an electric compressor that forces air into the exhaust side to the turbocharger – known as PowerPulse - to reduce lag times.

Trim-wise, keyless entry, walnut wood panel trims, nappa leather and 19-inch rims are also added to the Inscription.

It’s also possible – and, given our experiences with the XC90, possibly advisable – to option air suspension in the S90, while a tech pack comprising a DAB radio, 360-degree camera, heads-up display, Apple CarPlay and an extra USB port is available at a $3,000 uptick.

Interestingly, often-included elements in premium sedans like heated seats and sunroofs are option list items for Volvo, even on the top spec cars.

The high-end Inscription variants will arrive first in October, with the Momentum lobbing in November.

Volvo Australia suggests that “other variants” will bowl up in the first half of 2017; a 300kW, 640Nm T8 Twin Engine petrol/electric plug-in hybrid is the most likely candidate, along with the V90 wagon.

Given that most Volvo S90s will top $100,000 from the showroom, would you pick one over an Audi, BMW or Merc? Tell us what you think in the comments below.