If you haven’t already noticed – and why haven’t you – Volvo stopped making dull cars a long time ago. Every new model has seen the marque move its range inexorably upmarket with a greater focus on quality and style and the S90 will surely have the dominant German brands looking a little nervously over their shoulders.

The front of the car receives the same styling cues that debuted on the XC90 with a convex grille and the Hammer of Thor daytime running lights. The broad shoulders will be familiar to anyone who’s looked at a Volvo over the last decade or so and the roof flows in one seamless arc into the rear windscreen and, then, the boot.

The rear is, perhaps, the least favourable vantage point from which to judge the S90 appearing a little – and in some ways what I’m about to say is a measure of how far the Swedes have come – over designed.

It’s easy to see the XC90’s influence in the cabin. The centre console is dominated by the large, tablet-like, Sensus touchscreen display. Most of the functions that would normally require physical buttons are now controlled via swiping, pinching and prodding the screen.

It’s a system that, on the whole, works well though you do have to take your eyes off the road to perform some functions that, with physical buttons, you wouldn’t have.

Leather seats are standard and, as a whole, the fit and finish is very good. There are some areas – if you look hard enough – where some of the plastics are a little less salubrious but the surfaces and controls that you’ll interact with on a daily basis are good quality.

The S90 is larger, a lot larger, than the S80 before and, in fact, shares its wheelbase with the XC90. It is, however, significantly heavier thanks to greater use of aluminium and high-strength steel in its construction and the push towards smaller engines.

That’s the reason why you’ll find nothing but four-cylinder petrol and diesel units with varying power outputs right across the range. You can choose between two diesel-powered engines. My test car was fitted the D4 which sends 187bp to the front wheels. The D5 will give you 235hp and all-wheel-drive, but what you gain in performance, you’ll lose in efficiency.

The D4 is, unquestionably, the sweeter of the two engines. Paired to an eight-speed automatic gearbox – there’s no manual option – it emits just 116g/km of that nasty CO2 and, on paper, will return up to 64.2mpg.

As none of us actually drive on paper, however, expectations should be tempered somewhat but the 55-litre tank should be good for a good 500 miles.

Refinement doesn’t quite live up to the standards set by the class leaders. More When the engine is pressed hard there’s you’ll find a noticeable volume of diesel clatter permeating the cabin but, adopt a more laid-back approach to your driving and it’s a very different kettle of refined crude oil.

The transmission is languid – not lazy, except when it demonstrates a reluctance to kick down when called up to provide a little extra forward momentum – with a unhurried attitude towards selecting the next ratio that appears geared (pun intended) towards encouraging a more contemplative driving style.

The ride is perfectly acceptable and, it’s only when placed under closer scrutiny does it become obvious that there have been compromises made that leave the S90 languishing in a no-man’s land between motorway cruiser and sports saloon.

Consequently the chassis struggles to isolate occupants from larger bumps but the S90 still lacks poise and control through corners. It isn’t helped by steering that’s a little on the light side and doesn’t do a great job of keeping driver connected to the road. The potential is there but the average driver – and I very much include myself in that particular group – will run out of courage long before they can exploit any of it.

Passenger space, as you’d expect in a car of this size, is generous. Rear seat occupants will have no reason to be disappointed with the amount of head and legroom afforded them. The boot is a useful 500 litres. There’s also a decent amount of oddment storage capacity in the cabin with a large glovebox, a tray between the two front seats and large bottle holders in each door.

The S90 is good-looking and well-built car with a comfortable ride. The D4 diesel engine in my test car isn’t the most refined at times, and the handling isn’t the most exciting but the combination of value for money, excellent economy and genuinely low emissions plus, of course, Volvo’s deserved reputation for safety serve to make the S90 a compelling package.

Volvo S90 D4 Momentum

£33,865Price:

2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged dieselEngine:

8- speed automaticTransmission:

187bhpMax power:

400Nm @ 1,750rpmMax torque:

140mphMax speed:

7.9secAcceleration (0-62mph):

53.3mpgUrban:

72.4mpgExtra urban:

64.2mpgCombined:

116g/kmEmissions (CO2):

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