The Volvo S90 sedan is still in production – but only in China – and only with a long wheelbase. In May 2025, the S90 got an update, with a redesigned grille, headlights, and bumpers. Earlier this month, I went to a Volvo dealer in Beijing to check it out.
Volvo Asia Pacific
Volvo is a Swedish-Chinese automaker. Or perhaps, these days, it’s more like Chinese-Swedish. The Geely Group is Volvo’s owner. The manufacturer is Volvo Asia Pacific (沃尔沃亚太, Wò’ērwò Yàtài). This is a special Geely subsidiary that makes Volvo cars in China for the Chinese and other Asian markets.
The Volvo S90 in China
Production of the Volvo S90 in China started in 2019. Volvo extended the wheelbase by 12 centimeters to cater to Chinese tastes for large sedans with extra legroom. Volvo Asia Pacific never produced the standard-wheelbase S90. Initially, the S90 was meant only for China, but later on, Volvo also exported it to the US and some European markets.
In 2020, the S90 received its first update. The second, more extensive, update followed in 2025. Production of the Volvo S90 in China will probably continue for another 3 years, until about 2028. The 2025 facelift included a new grille, new headlights, new taillights, new bumpers, and a completely reworked interior.
The interior
This is where Volvo Asia Pacific made the biggest update. What a sweet interior this is! Everything is new, basically. The leather looks luxurious, it has wood and aluminium trim, and shiploads of space.
The tech looks like 2025 indeed, with a 12.3-inch driver’s display and an 11,3-inch tacked-on driver-focused touch screen. There’s one wireless charger and a typical Volvo-design center tunnel with a beautifully-designed gear lever.
The extra wheelbase makes for a limousine-like experience in the back. The S90 is furthermore equipped with a panoramic sunroof and a 19-speaker 1410-watt Bowers & Wilkins audio system.
Specifications
More changes here: the license plate moved from the bumper to the redesigned trunk lid, and it has much more chrome in the bumper now. Bling is back in China, and Volvo has joined the party.
In 2025, Volvo offered two versions of the updated Volvo S90:
- S90 T8 PHEV AWD (pictured): 2.0 turbo with one electric motor on the rear axle. The system output is 335 kW and 709 Nm. The gearbox is an 8-speed automatic. Like in any Volvo, the top speed is limited to 180 km/h, and 0-100 takes 4.9 seconds, which is seriously fast. The 18.8 kWh battery comes from CATL and makes for an electric-only range of 80 kilometers. The PHEV is an NEV and thus qualified for subsidies, and it gets the cool green license plates. Fuel consumption is 6.2L/100 km.
- S90 B5 FWD MHEV. 2.0 turbo + 48V. The output is 184 kW and 360 Nm. The gearbox is the same 8-speed auto. 0-100 takes 7.2 seconds. The fuel consumption is 6.46L/100 km.
Sadly, Volvo cancelled the T8 version in early 2026, so now, Chinese consumers can only get the B5 variant.
Volvo S90 B5
A factory fresh B5 at the same dealer lot, painted in the same Onyx Black color scheme as the T8. Volvo offers seven colors, but all the updated S90 sedans that I have seen in China were black.
The S90 T8 sold for 499,900 yuan in 2025, about $69,4K. Volvo also offered an ultra luxurious four-seat version for 613,900 yuan ($85K). Insanely expensive, and I don’t think Volvo ever sold a single one.
The Volvo S90 T5 is still on the market today. It costs between 406.900 and 505.900 yuan ($60K-$74K). However, that’s the list price. Volvo dealers offer huge discounts to get ‘m moving. Currently, the dealer price range runs from 60.900 to 330.900 yuan, and that is $38K to $48.6K. That’s quite a good value for the last large luxury Volvo sedan.