While the Volvo S80 served as the brand's flagship sedan from the 1990s until 2016, it always came across as more of a safe and sensible sedan than an all-out luxury car. However, the arrival of the S90 in 2016 redefined what it meant to be a flagship model. Gone were the soft body lines, replaced by a sharp and chiseled look that remains minimal yet effortlessly elegant.

This week we've been testing the 2021 Volvo S90 Recharge T8 Inscription. Aside from indicating that this is the top-trim model, the lengthy name indicates that our tester has the plug-in hybrid powertrain. Despite the S90's minimalist and conservative aesthetic, the wicked powertrain makes this luxury car an excellent performer on the road.

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Subtle, Stylish, and Simple

If the Volvo S90's exterior design strikes you as quite conservative, you're not alone. However, that is exactly what makes this flagship luxury sedan appealing. Instead of trying to impress you with flared wheel arches or overstyled bodywork, the S90 has what is perhaps the most elegant aesthetic of any vehicle in its class. While you do get a sizable front grille, it remains sharp and sleek. Additionally, the LED running lights serve to sharpen-up the front end's overall aesthetic.

While our tester featured a fairly standard Platinum Grey Metallic exterior finish, it shifted considerably under various lighting scenarios. In some situations, our S90 appeared brown, while in others, it came across as a very dark gray finish. Regardless of the scenario, the finish played well with the subtle chrome accents throughout.

You get Volvo's signature boomerang-style taillights in the rear end, which we've seen in other models such as the XC90, XC60, and S60. However, given their larger size in the S90, the taillights help accentuate the trunk's design and make it slightly more dynamic. The best stylistic element by far has to be the line that cuts across the rear quarter panel and carries through to the front hood. While this may seem subtle, it gives the S90 a sharp edge that looks quite elegant.

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Plug-In Hybrid Power Leads To Massive Performance

While the 2021 Volvo S90's exterior design is certainly appealing, our tester's appeal comes largely due to its powertrain. Under the hood lives a 2.0-liter turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder engine. Mated to that is an electric motor. You get 313 hp from the standard engine and 87 hp from the electric motor for a combined 400 hp and 472 lb-ft output. While the eight-speed automatic transmission tends to delay shifts at times, the S90's performance is undeniable.

During Car and Driver's performance tests, the S90 Recharge reached 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds and completed the quarter-mile in 14.5 seconds at 98 mph. In terms of real-world driving scenarios, this powertrain feels incredibly powerful off the line. While we've driven it in the XC90 and the XC60, this engine seems happiest under the S90's hood.

While the XC90 and XC60 are also quite powerful, they can't match the Volvo S90's driving dynamics. Since the sedan is significantly lower to the ground, it provides a much more engaging driving experience that exceeded all expectations. However, when you want to cruise in comfort, the S90's suspension does an excellent job of providing a comfortable ride that doesn't feel sloppy in the slightest.

The Cabin Offers Minimalist Design That Stands The Test Of Time

If you thought the 2021 Volvo S90's exterior was elegant, wait until you step inside. While the S90's interior is indistinguishable from other Volvo products, that is a great thing. In front of the driver, you've got a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster which is highly configurable. Volvo was very clever to give the display a matte finish, so the sun's glare is absolutely not an issue.

In the center of the dash, you've got a nine-inch infotainment screen developed in collaboration with Google. While the Android-based system has a sleek aesthetic, it can be complicated to navigate and find exactly what you're looking for. This can become quite frustrating when you consider that the S90 hardly features physical buttons.

Since our tester is the Inscription trim, it features goodies such as Nappa leather, ventilated front seats, a Harman Kardon sound system, larger wheels, and a wooden dashboard inlay, to name a few. While all of these features seem small on their own, they come together to provide a very luxurious driving experience.

The only downside the Volvo S90's interior has is one that the model suffers from as a whole. If elegant yet conservative styling isn't your thing, you likely won't fall in love with the S90. However, if you aren't looking for something overly flashy, Volvo's minimalist interior remains top-notch in terms of both design and build quality.

Should You Buy One At $70,000?

The 2021 Volvo S90 is one of those cars that is really improved by the optional extras. Sure, you can have a cheaper version without the plug-in hybrid powertrain, but then you'd miss out on one of this model's greatest assets. The same goes for the Inscription trim. All of the small luxury elements help convey that you are driving an expensive luxury car.

As a result, you'll the Recharge T8 Inscription is certainly worth the extra cash. For context, the S90 has a base price of just over $60,000, while our tester carries an as-tested price of $70,640. Given this car's position in the luxury sedan segment, it remains a bit of a bargain compared to other fully-loaded competitors, even with all of the optional extras.

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