A Stunning Proposition

Volvo’s S90 gets a midlife faceliftand goes petrol-only in India. How does the “B5”-badged mild-hybrid petrol luxury saloon stack up against the growing competition?

- Jim Gorde

WHAT STIRS YOU? STIRS YOUR SOUL. STIRS YOUR BELIEFS into reawakening with a renewed vigour. is there a creation that can trigger an emotion you haven’t felt in a long time? some can evoke feelings often believed to be lost. some evolve and transcend the boundaries of convention and expression. it takes a special something to manage that. and some cars manage to do just that.

The executive segment is bustling with activity globally and there are many premium players — if not all of them in India — vying for a piece of that coveted pie. the Mercedes e-Class rules the roost here. it’s been the brand’s bestseller and, in the long-wheelbase avatar, brings a lot of cars to the table. however, its advantage is limited to its length and gadgetry. the BMW 5 series is everything a self-driven individual would ever need. and it works great as a chauffeured ride too. then there’s the Lexus es, easily the most comfortable and refined car in this category and, dare I say, even beyond. The Audi A6 and Jaguar XF also challenge in this arena and then, on a different price and performance plane, is the Maserati Ghibli. so, what’s next for the swedes? the new Volvo s90 and its mild-hybrid powertrain, that’s what.