2022 Volvo S90 Recharge

Luxury midsize sedans are a dime a dozen in the USA, although with a drive towards SUVs, this may soon change. However, with the advent of electrification, hybrid and all-electric family cars are stepping into the spotlight one more, reinventing themselves for the modern era. The Volvo S90 Recharge plug-in hybrid is the Swedish brand's flagship sedan, vying for attention in a segment against established competitors like the BMW 5 Series Hybrid. Going up against the vehicle that arguably founded the segment decades ago is no mean feat, so the Volvo S90 Recharge wades into battle wielding a turbo- and supercharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood, augmented by electric motors to produce 400 horsepower and 472 lb-ft of torque. An eAWD system enables the Recharge to sprint from 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds, but Volvo is a brand that cares about more than just performance. Loaded with luxury, the S90 is plush, refined, spacious, and loaded with advanced safety features, making it the answer to just about any question that could be asked of it.

The S90 Recharge is quick; with a 4.6-second run from 0 to 60 mph, it beats the BMW 530e by more than a second. Still, it's no braggart, with top speed limited to 112 mph and a driving style that's designed for comfort over performance. As a comfort-biased PHEV, its weight can be felt through corners at speed, and the lack of steering feel does it no favors. However, if your aim is simply to drive the family around in complete luxury, then the S90 Recharge, especially with the optional rear air suspension, is sublime. The interior is gorgeous, decked out in high-quality materials, with heated seats that can adjust expansively and provide incredible levels of support. The on-board tech is generous, too, with a slew of collision-avoidance measures and Pilot Assist - Volvo's semi-autonomous driving assistant - present to make even long-distance journeys a breeze.

Numbers matter, however, especially when it comes to hybrids. The S90 plug-in manages EPA estimates of 63 MPGe, or combined gas mileage figures of 30 mpg and the short 21-mile all-electric range isn't too great, either. Volvo finds itself in an odd position with the S90 Recharge, giving hybrid buyers more performance than they're accustomed to, but with a price tag in the same ballpark as less-powerful rivals. Provided you're not expecting M5 levels of handling or Tesla levels of acceleration, the S90 Recharge is a solid bet.

Both the R-Design and the Inscription retails at an MSRP of $60,050 for 2022, the same as last year. That price excludes a destination charge of $1,045 as well as any US tax, registration, and licensing fees.