The Volvo S90 is a superbly-crafted executive saloon with enough character to rival the appeal of the big German three.

It’s a compelling machine that oozes class, both in terms of its elegant appearance and its ultra-comfortable interior.

The S90 follows on from the XC90, taking the SUV’s striking styling and making it work within a saloon format.

The 2.0-litre four-cylinder D4 is the entry point into the S90 range, but the car offers a decent turn of speed thanks to 190hp mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

The vehicle goes from a standing start to 62mph in 8.2 seconds, which is adequate but won’t provide any big thrills.

However, the thing that has a bigger impact on performance is the 400Nm of torque, which makes overtaking a very controlled and easy process. If you apply too much throttle, the eight-speed automatic box can be a little eager to change down a couple of gears as it searches for that extra forward momentum, but generally the box handles changes in a smooth manner, especially once the car is fully in its stride.

In terms of handling, the fast steering provides a feeling of agility through the tighter corners, with a genuine feeling of sharp and responsive turn-in. There is a bit of body roll to be aware of but, for the most part, the cornering feels composed, stable and trustworthy.

The chassis set-up is designed for maximum comfort and generally achieves that aim, although the bigger bumps on the sideroads show the limits of the S90’s suspension. As an executive saloon, it’s likely that this machine will be expected to eat up the motorway miles, which is where its refinement is hard to match. Indeed, the S90’s smoothness on the motorway takes all the stress out of long-distance journeys.

The S90 has one or two quirky and endearing features up its sleeve, notably the twist-and-go starter located between the front seats.

There’s nothing to criticise in the S90’s cabin. The driving position is superb, as are the broad and comfortable seats which offer plenty of adjustment. Visibility all-round is also top quality.

Passenger room in the front and rear is every bit as good if not better than its main rivals, while the leather-faced upholstery accompanied by heated front seats are conducive to relaxation.

As is typical of Volvo cars, the S90 has a reassuring solidity, suggesting a built quality that only comes about though painstaking design.

The S90 features Pilot Assist, which is Volvo’s second generation of autonomous driving systems. This technology is capable of keeping you in your lane at up to 80mph, although you still need to keep your hands on the wheel so the car knows you’re still involved in the process.

Volvo describes it as a semi-autonomous system, but it’s clearly another big step towards fully autonomous driving, which is a process that Volvo is keen to be push hard.

The nine-inch centre console touch screen is user-friendly and reactive to commands. There’s also a voice control system to make things that little bit easier. Indeed, the dash is mostly easy to fathom, with the screen easy to see and one of the easier systems to get used to. Connectivity is excellent thanks to the Sensus Connect, which allows you to access a range of web apps and browse the internet.

The S90 comes with a raft of safety kit, including City Safety featuring pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection, a world first. There’s also front collision warning with fully automatic emergency braking, including at junctions.

Meanwhile, run-off road protection automatically tightens the front seatbelts should the car leave the road,

All in all, the S90 is proud to be different and is capable of making its mark in a competitive market packed with established rivals.