Volvo S90 Recharge T8 hybrid interior, dashboard & comfort

Volvo has spent a great deal of time and effort perfecting its interiors, and this is one area where the brand definitely steals a march on its rivals. The S90’s interior is so beguiling, you could opt for the Volvo ahead of its competitors on the strength of its cabin alone.

The seats are supremely comfortable, the surroundings have a light and airy feels and the ambient lighting makes the S90 a pleasant place in which to while away the hours on a long journey. The Recharge T8 even has the 'party piece' of a genuine crystal transmission lever.

An early 2020 model upgrade introduced the option of man-made leather or wool-blend trim on the seats, along with an air-quality monitoring system, a pair of USB-C points in the rear seats and the option of wireless phone charging an an upgraded Bowers & Wilkins stereo.

Volvo S90 Recharge T8 hybrid dashboard

The dashboard in the S90 Recharge T8 is a thing of beauty and the antithesis of the cluttered and fussy designs you find elsewhere. Volvo has used superb materials and high-quality workmanship to create one of the best dashboards of any car, regardless of price.

Unlock the car, and the infotainment system and dashboard wake up to welcome you inside, which is dominated by the nine-inch display. There’s a single row of buttons, controlling the audio volume, the hazard warning lights and windscreen demisting.

Equipment, options and accessories

The S90 Recharge T8 is available in two trim levels – Plus and Ultimate – and these days the T8 hybrid setup is the car's only engine option, the purely petrol and diesel versions having been discontinued. At the heart of the interior is a gorgeous Orrefors crystal gearlever, which adds an extra touch of class to an already exquisite cabin. The T8 also benefits from laminated windows, two USB ports and a subwoofer.

The Plus model comes with cruise control, LED headlights, auto-folding heated door mirrors, front and rear parking assistance, a rear parking camera, a powered bootlid with hands-free opening and closing, 19-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, leather-faced upholstery, power-adjustable driver and passenger seats, a powered rear sunblind and a heated steering wheel.

Upgrading to Ultimate adds active bending headlights with their own cleaning system, a different 10-spoke alloy-wheel design, a head-up display, dark-tinted windows and a powered tilt-and-slide sunroof.

Infotainment, apps & sat nav

The majority of functions are controlled from a tablet-style nine-inch touchscreen, which is integrated into the dashboard between the air vents. The portrait layout makes a welcome change from the letterbox or landscape systems favoured by many rivals. Models up to 2021 used an excellent Volvo-based interface but later cars use an Android-based system, the first of its kind to use built-in apps such as Google Maps.

If you’re familiar with a smartphone, the infotainment system will be a doddle to use, although the climate-control settings and some of the secondary functions can be a bit tricky. On the plus side, the S90’s voice recognition is one of the best in its class, enabling you to adjust the temperature, change the volume and control the sat nav without lifting your hands from the wheel.

The central touchscreen is complemented by a 12.3-inch display in place of the traditional dials behind the steering wheel. This can show details specific to the hybrid system, including remaining battery capacity, drive mode and how much electric range is left. The excellent Sensus Connect with Premium Sound by Bowers & Wilkins is a costly option, but it’s one of the best in the business and worth every penny.

Volvo’s On Call system provides 24-hour access to emergency assistance and comes with a mobile app that provides a car locator, remote dashboard and a lock-your-car facility. The app also shows battery and charge status, as well as allowing you to remotely schedule the battery charging using a timer function.