2024 Volvo S90 Recharge | Frustrating Lessons
Summary
TLDRThe video script discusses the evolution of the Volvo S90 C, highlighting its timeless design, impressive interior, and the brand's shift towards electrification. The reviewer praises the car's luxury features, such as the Bowers and Wilkins audio system and massage seats, but criticizes the outdated technology and high price point. They note the improvements in the car's hybrid system and drivetrain calibration, but express concern about the car's future as Volvo moves towards fully electric vehicles. The reviewer suggests that while the S90 is a good lease option, its longevity and relevance in the market are questionable due to the rapid changes in automotive technology.
Takeaways
- 🚗 The Volvo S90 C has a timeless and conservative design that has aged well.
- 🔋 The car's evolution includes improvements in hybridization and electric vehicle technology.
- 💰 The fully loaded S90 is priced at around $73,000, which may not be competitive in the current market.
- 🔧 The interior design and material choices are impressive, maintaining a modern and luxurious feel.
- 📱 The technology, particularly the screen quality and Android Automotive system, is outdated and not up to par with the car's luxury status.
- 🔌 The car's plug-in hybrid system has seen significant improvements, including a larger electric motor and battery pack.
- 🔄 The transition between gasoline engine and electric motor has been refined for a smoother driving experience.
- 🔋 The updated S90 has an estimated electric range of about 38 miles, enhancing its usability.
- 🔧 The car's suspension calibration has been improved for a quieter and more refined ride.
- 📉 Volvo is moving towards full electrification, which may affect the long-term value and support for the S90 C.
- 🚫 The reviewer suggests leasing rather than purchasing the S90 C due to its age and the brand's shift towards electric vehicles.
Q & A
What significant changes did Volvo make to their cars in 2015?
-In 2015, Volvo launched their new cars with groundbreaking work, rebranding their products as 'recharge' and making major improvements to the drivetrain, engine tuning, and overall performance.
How has the Volvo S90 evolved since its launch?
-The Volvo S90 has evolved with changes such as an inverted Grill on the front and some bumper modifications. The interior remains timeless, but the technology has been updated to Android Automotive. Mechanically, the car has seen improvements in engine calibration and electric motor power.
What are the main differences between the first and updated versions of the Volvo S90?
-The first version had a supercharged turbocharged engine and a smaller electric motor, while the updated version has a turbocharged engine only, a larger electric motor, and a bigger battery pack, resulting in improved performance and range.
Why does the narrator have reservations about recommending first-generation plug-in hybrids or EVs?
-The narrator is concerned about the long-term ownership issues, such as calibration problems and electrical issues that were prevalent in the first generation, leading to frequent visits to the dealership for updates and check engine lights.
What is the narrator's opinion on the Volvo S90's interior design?
-The narrator praises the interior design as a remarkable feat, with excellent material choice, layout, and physicality, maintaining a modern and upscale feel despite the outdated technology.
How does the narrator feel about the Volvo S90's price and value?
-The narrator believes the S90 is not worth the high price of around $73,000, given the competition and the sedan market. However, they acknowledge the car's improvements and consider it a good option if leased.
What is the narrator's stance on the future of the Volvo S90?
-The narrator suggests that the S90 is likely to be replaced by fully electric vehicles, making it a less attractive option for long-term ownership.
How has the manufacturing location of the Volvo S90 changed?
-The S90 is now made in China, which may be a concern for some buyers, but the narrator notes that the quality is not noticeably different from the Swedish-made version.
What are the narrator's final thoughts on the Volvo S90?
-The narrator appreciates the improvements made to the S90 but ultimately feels that it's an outdated vehicle, especially with the advent of newer electric vehicles. They recommend not being stuck with it for more than three years.
What other cars does the narrator consider as alternatives to the Volvo S90?
-The narrator suggests the BMW 5 series and the Genesis G80, including its EV version, as alternatives that are more relevant and competitive in the current market.
Outlines
🚗 Volvo S90 Review Introduction
The script begins with the narrator's return to a Volvo S90, reflecting on the brand's journey and the evolution of its cars. The narrator discusses the car's conservative design, the subtle changes made over its life cycle, and the brand's focus on hybridization and electrification. The interior is praised for its timeless design and material choice, while the technology is criticized for being outdated. The narrator also touches on Volvo's shift towards full electrification and the challenges faced by early adopters of plug-in hybrids.
🔋 Electric and Hybrid Evolution
The narrator delves into the improvements made to the Volvo S90's plug-in hybrid system, highlighting the increased battery capacity and the enhanced electric motor's power. The changes in engine calibration and the removal of the supercharger-turbocharger setup are discussed, emphasizing the smoother transition between gasoline and electric power. The narrator also mentions the car's increased range and the refinements in the all-wheel-drive system, as well as the car's suspension calibration and the decision to manufacture it in China.
🏁 Final Thoughts on the S90
In the final paragraph, the narrator wraps up the review by discussing the Volvo S90's performance, particularly in full power mode, and the improvements in drivetrain calibration. The car's refinement, quietness, and power output are praised, but the narrator also acknowledges the car's age and the brand's move towards all-electric vehicles. The narrator advises potential buyers to consider leasing rather than purchasing the S90, given its impending obsolescence, and suggests alternative luxury cars as more viable options.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Volvo S90
💡Hybridization
💡Electrification
💡Interior Design
💡Technology
💡Leasing
💡Suspension Calibration
💡Made in China
💡Full Electrification
💡Drivetrain
💡Luxury Car
Highlights
The Volvo S90 C is a testament to the brand's evolution and the car's timeless design.
Volvo's groundbreaking work in 2015 with the launch of their new cars has aged well.
The S90 C's exterior changes are minimal, with the most notable being the inverted Grill and bumper changes.
The interior space of the S90 C is a remarkable design feat, showcasing high-quality materials and layout.
Volvo's technology has not aged well, with the screen quality being a notable issue.
Volvo is now focusing on pure electrification, moving away from hybrid models.
The S90 C's price point of nearly $73,000 makes it a hard sell in the current sedan market.
The Bowers and Wilkins audio system in the S90 C is a benchmark for luxury cars and EVs.
The S90 C's interior features include cooled and ventilated rear seats with adjustable vents.
The S90 C's front seats have massage functions, enhancing the luxury experience.
Volvo's first-generation plug-in hybrids and EVs have faced challenges with long-term ownership.
Volvo has made significant improvements in engine tuning and setup for their Recharge models.
The electric motor in the S90 C's Recharge models now produces 160 horsepower, a substantial increase.
The S90 C's battery pack has increased from 11 to 18 kilowatt-hours, improving range and power.
The S90 C's all-wheel-drive system has been improved for a more natural driving experience.
Volvo has addressed previous calibration and electrical issues in the updated models.
The S90 C is now made in China, which may be a concern for some buyers.
The S90 C's lease value and warranty make it an attractive option for short-term ownership.
The S90 C's improvements in drivetrain calibration and power output make it a more enjoyable vehicle to drive.
Despite its advancements, the S90 C is becoming obsolete as Volvo shifts focus to all-electric vehicles.
Transcripts
[Music]
this is my first time back in a Volvo
S90 C it feels like 10 years ago and I
wanted to cover what this brand is going
through and how this cars evolved and
how many of their cars have evolved and
why I have the philosophy I do about
hybridization and some of the electric
cars now Volvo really did some
groundbreaking work back in 2015 with
the launch of their new cars and you can
tell on this vehicle despite it looking
very conservative and lacking
personality how timeless it is as a
sedan and their SUVs carry that same
method the only changes they've really
made throughout the life cycle of this
car is the inverted Grill on the front
and some changes to Bumpers but most
people are never going to notice that
I'm going to be honest so when you look
at this car as a whole it really does
not help that they are so like boxed in
with being understated because so so
much is lost in the fact that almost
every single color they have is 20
Shades of Gray so it slips under the
radar almost to a fault the Interior
Space however is a truly remarkable
design feat because it shows what you
can do if you do it right from the start
in terms of material Choice layout the
physicality the the look and feel of the
textures and it's basically feels like a
new car even after all of this time with
the exception of the technology and I
yeah this is what I always say in every
video I feel like a broken record I'm
like that's the one thing that dates
this car despite them updating to
Android automotive it's just not good
the screen quality is bad they you can
tell they just did not put any more
money in these cars once they had it
done aside from the mechanical part
which I'll talk about um and they're
putting all their money now into pure
electrification going forward this is
the executive the full like blown fully
loaded version of the S90 which means
it's almost
$73,000 which I'm just going to say up
front nobody's buying this car for that
amount of money with given the
competition given the sedan Market it's
just definitely not worth that after all
of this time but what you do get is the
Bowers and wilin system which is a
benchmark it literally is every brand
that's going to be doing EVS going
forward or quiet cars should look at how
they did the audio system in this car
for a sedan and mirror it it is that
impressive and obviously the SUVs are
better because they're bigger they have
more space but highlight you should
option that the back seats with the
extra package that this comes with also
has cooled seats in the back you have
ventilation in the back that you can
control and vents so it is a very good
place to be along with moving the front
passenger seat forward if you're the
right rear passenger so there's a lot of
thought to designing this to be more of
a a luxury car other than that the front
seat has massage the front seats have
massage which work great and the overall
look and feel of this cabin is very very
upscale it feels very modern again with
the exception of the tech but now it's
time to go in the the shop I'm going to
talk about the changes of this car and
what's happened to the brand and why I
feel the way I feel about
it okay this is probably the last time
I'm going to be under an S90 of this
generation before Volvo goes to full
electrification and I'm just going to
kind of go over the sticking points of
how this car has evolved and why I have
the philosophy of the way that I do when
I first saw this car was in 2017 with
Scott and we looked at it it's still a
drive shaft to a mechanical differential
in the back it had a supercharger a
Turbocharger and it wasn't all that
great so we fast forward to the updated
version of all of the Volvo products
which they've rebranded as recharge and
there's been some major improvements now
the sad part is and why I have a really
difficult time recommending any of these
first generation plug-in hybrids or
tanabe EVS is because if you bought this
car five years ago and you were stuck
with the pre- refresh version nobody's
going to want that car nobody's going to
want to be stuck or saddled with the
last generation which isn't really a
last generation of the smaller battery
pack the smaller electric motor the
engine that's over complicated so what
they've tried to do in the course of 5
years not only Rebrand but it makes some
major improvements one engine tuning and
engine setup Volvo wanted one 4cylinder
a 2 L for all their cars and SUVs Noble
idea because it cuts down cost
complication all you have to do is kind
of recalibrate the car but they made the
mistake of having a supercharger
turbocharger and than an electric motor
it's like the worst possible scenario
for long-term ownership so they stri
that out now you have a turbocharged
engine only that they can re-calibrate
change boost levels change tuning based
on the car and you have an electric
motor as the Hybrid part of it and the
electric motor in the back of these cars
are much bigger they now make 160
horsepower which is a massive amount
more than the previous generation and
that's thanks to having a much larger
battery pack at 18 kilowatt hours or
thereabouts up from about 11 before so
not only do you have the power of the
pack to to supply the power to the
electric motor you have a longer range
so when you plug this thing in which
doesn't take a long time to charge it
you get about 38 mes range on this guy
and that makes it a far more usable
vehicle one because they've improved the
tuning of the engine and the
transmission it feels far more natural
and the electric motor in the back
because of its size they have a lot more
room to play with how the all-wheel
drive system behaves it's no longer kind
of feeling like two different cars like
the old ones did it doesn't feel as
broken as it did before and there's
going to be far less calibration issues
and electrical issues that they had in
the previous cars where they were always
in the shop for check engine lights they
were constantly being reflashed and
updated at the dealership so this is
kind of where they're at now of fully
realizing their original Vision only the
previous owners are stuck with something
that wasn't fully sorted out and that
goes back to my philosophy of why I
don't really recommend a lot of these
cars despite this being very good for
what it is it's going to be replaced
Volvo's dumping this in favor of all
electric cars so what are you going to
be stuck with this Middle Ground vehicle
clearly you don't want to own it you're
going to lease it and I think Volvo
knows that and there are some benefits
the leasing these cars as well the other
thing they've changed is suspension
calibration has changed quite a bit uh
these are quieter cars than when they
started they're more refined I think
they've figured out some more of that
the air ride option on this car is like
$1,200 don't get it it's only in the
back it's mostly for load leveling it
also helps with dive and squat because
it can kind of control the back of the
car under harder Maneuvers or braking
Maneuvers but really it's there for
loading up the back with passengers it
kind of levels it out that $1,200
doesn't seem like a lot but it's going
to it's going to be a lot more when you
go to replace it when the minimum cost
is like $3,000 to fix it so buy in's
cheap but the longterm sucks and
honestly the coil spring stuff in the
back you're not going to notice that
much of a difference in terms of
drivability if you're really interested
in this and then the major change from
the one we drove originally to now is
this is made in China uh and that's
going to be a problem for some people
the people that probably know about cars
but for a majority of the public I I can
promise you one thing with the amount of
people that are on Tik Tok that are on a
Chinese platform the amount of new
Chinese electric cars when they're
flashed with the idea having a cheap
electric car that's all good on the
interior with good tech people are not
going to care where it's made so if
you're one of those people that has no
concept of you know do you want a
Chinese Volvo uh this probably won't
even bother you and frankly at least in
just surface level driving you can't
tell the difference between this old
Swedish made one and this one so I'm
going to take this R drive and I'm going
to talk you through the pros and cons of
the
[Music]
car
here we go S90 recharge full power mode
my Donuts are in the
back this thing is moving holy crap it
even uh even kind of chirped the tires
in second gear so you know I talked
about in the the shop obviously there's
some pretty serious changes that went
into this car drivetrain wise and it
it's pretty obvious right off the bat
that um calibrating this car to to make
the transition between gasoline engine
and electric and the transmission
programming is the biggest change and
the way that it reacts when you drive is
far more natural that transition from
power that electric boost that comes in
it feels a lot more Sprite
it feels quicker to respond and you know
obviously when you have more electric
power to work with more torque the the
electric motor in the back is is way
bigger than it used to be so there's
that thrust that you didn't have before
but the thing is with the older engine
you felt the the calibration of the
engine itself that handoff between
supercharger to turbocharger was always
like this mess and it always felt like
it was pulling timing or the power
output was changing with the turbo
engine it's just really smooth and the
the torque fill from the electric motor
just keeps pushing you forward and
forward and you know like I argued this
before with some of the older Volvo
products you know why would you spend 70
plus thousand on a luxury product with a
with a 2 L with a four-cylinder
essentially right and that's become more
Norm I'm not going to say that it
completely um it completely replaces a
V6 experience or a V8 experience uh but
what it does do in large part is because
it is so quick now it's much less of an
issue and because the the programming is
so much better that you don't think
about it like before when you were
driving it like oh I'm in a four shitty
four-cylinder car and that's just not
the way it is it is it it makes up for
it in
refinement and in quietness and of
course the power output of the engine
it's it's just so great um and combined
with the fact that you know you don't
have to use the gasoline engine
honestly
you can just drive in pure electric mode
so what this car is now is how it should
have been when it launched and and and
that's that's just it that's the solid
answer is it's where it should have been
all along and now that you're you're
experiencing the full realization of
what they tried to do I have a lot more
appreciation for it would I buy this
over you know the the BMW with a pure
luxury competition or Genesis especially
the G80 is such a great car um I would
say no because this is so old this feels
so old now despite it being good in so
many ways I know this is the end of the
road for this brand with this type of
technology and that's the the Killer
part you know if you're talking about
this as a used proposition clearly um
and you know you can get this thing cped
with a long ass warranty over the course
of you know 5 years and you're paying 50
or $440,000 for a sedan or even another
Volvo with this drivetrain setup like
this um I would say it's totally worth
it they've done such a good job here now
of course I'm not talking about
longevity I you know there's still
there's still issues with these things
not as much as it used to be but um I
certainly would have a hard time keeping
this out of warranty for sure but you
know I think it's time now that I'm
pounding this thing around like nobody
else would to send this into the final
thoughts
[Music]
final thoughts on the Volvo
S90 and I covered a lot of how I felt
about the interior and of course the
mechanical part of this car and this is
a very old vehicle at this point and I
know Volvo has no intention to sell a
ton of these anymore so it's a good look
get how the car started as being revered
as really Innovative the interior some
of the exterior design yes when you look
at this spec it's like worst case
scenario it has almost zero personality
the color palette is like
monochromatic but it goes to show you
how amazing it was when it came out to
have aged this well and the mechanical
improvements their dedication to
improving the overall car in terms of
drivetrain calibration learning their
mistakes of trying to be Innovative in
terms of
hybridization it's finally in a good
place and it's at the place where
they're going to kill it off so it just
it's a lesson in kind of being reserved
in terms of a buyer to understand that
we're not where we need to be that these
companies are figuring things out that
our world is trying to understand where
we're moving to next in terms of
transportation and don't just bite on
the first thing that you see because at
the end of the day while everybody's
trying to figure out what to do and how
to allocate money and energy resources
you're stuck with a giant hunk that
they're going to abandon and that's the
way I feel about this car as nice as it
is there's other options right the BMW 5
series a really good car still solid you
have the Genesis G80 and even the EV
version of the G80 that is an amazing
car from the Koreans makes this pretty
much Irrelevant in every single way
despite some of the good things that it
does so again you know if you're really
in love with this car I think they did a
great job with it if you're going to
lease it don't be stuck with it for more
than 3 years I'm going to leave it at
that thanks for watching I'll see you
next
[Music]
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