2019 Volvo S90 Trim Levels with Comparisons & Configurations.

The luxury sedan market is packed with choices this year, but the one that might stand out from among the others is the 2019 Volvo S90. It is not overly-sporty, so if you are not into sporty vehicles, you are in luck. The S90 is Scandinavian to its core with beautiful trim, luxurious leather, and wide availability of technology. Not to mention, the S90 is full-sized but priced like a mid-sized luxury sedan. In other words, you get a lot of space for the price, which is something most buyers should be able to appreciate.

The one downside is the 2.0-L four-cylinder engine, which is known as the T5. It is a little bit underpowered (250 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque) for a vehicle in its class. Of course, that is just the base engine. You can also opt for the stronger T6 (which generates 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque and is both turbo- and super-charged) or the plug-in hybrid T8 (which mates the T6 with an 87-hp electric motor to get a grand total of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque).

The S90 comes in two different trim levels: the base Momentum trim and the line-topping Inscription. Choosing between them might be somewhat easier said than done since both of these trim levels are packed with all sorts of desirable features. Sifting through their different standard and optional features can be a bit time-consuming, so we are going to simplify the process for you. We will compare the two 2019 Volvo S90 trim levels then explain why one of them presents you with a better overall deal than the other. That way, by the end of this comparison review, you should have a pretty clear concept of which - if any - S90 trim level best fits your unique needs.

Compare the 2019 Volvo S90 Momentum vs Inscription Trims. What is the difference?

As already mentioned, the 2019 Volvo S90's base trim is known as the Momentum. When you think of base trims, you probably imagine that they are all kind of bare-bones minimalistic when it comes to standard features. In the case of the S90, however, you would be gravely mistaken. Volvo does a thorough job of decking their base trims out in the latest and greatest tech and safety features.

The Momentum trim level can, like the Inscription, be bought with a T5, T6, or T8 engine equipped. You can also choose between front- and all-wheel drive on the S90's two trim levels. You can optionally equip a premium air suspension in the rear that comes with a FOUR-C active chassis for an extra $1,200. An 8-speed Geartronic automatic transmission comes as standard equipment on all trims.

The Momentum rides atop standard 18-inch 5-double-spoke silver alloy wheels, but for $800 extra, you can upgrade your wheels to 19-inch 5-triple spokes in matte tech black diamond cut alloy. Other standard features on the Momentum's body include dual integrated tailpipes, illuminated door handles, a special Momentum-style front grille, a panoramic sunroof, and power-folding side mirrors.

The Inscription trim level ups the ante a bit with standard 19-inch 10-spoke silver diamond cut alloy wheels with the option of swapping them out in favor of a 20-inch 8-spoke version. The windows have bright chrome surrounds, and there is glossy chrome sill molding with the Inscription logo embossed on it. You also get a high-pressure headlight cleaning system and a front grille that is designed with the Inscription logo.

On the inside, the Momentum and Inscription trim levels share a lot of the same features. Some of these shared features include a 3-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel with a deco inlay, a leather gear shift knob, folding rear seats, a front arm rest that opens up into a storage bin, a 224-watt high performance sound system, a power-adjustable driver seat with memory functions, a power-adjustable passenger seat, power lumbar support for the front seats, and multiple controls mounted onto the steering wheel. The Momentum trim has options for equipping a 4-zone climate control system, a 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system, a charcoal headliner, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Inscription adds standard linear walnut wooden inlays, the 4-zone climate control system, heated front seats, Inscription styling throughout the cabin, sill molding that is illuminated, high-level interior illumination, leather upgrades on all four door panels and along the dash, power seat cushion extenders and side support for both front seats, and sunshades for the rear windows. Options include ventilated rear seats, grab handles and sun visors that are wrapped in leather, and nubuck textile for the roof pillars and headliner.

As you can probably imagine, Volvo includes all of the most up-to-date technological features on their vehicles. Even the Momentum is pretty well-equipped with standard tech features. Such features include an 8-inch driver display, automatically-dimming outside mirrors, keyless entry, keyless drive, a rearview camera, a navigation system, park assist for the rear, a power parking brake, power windows for the front and rear, a central locking system that is remote-controlled, a Sensus Connect trial subscription with a 3GB data or 6-month time limit, and smartphone app integration via Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Optional features include a power-operated trunk, Park Assist Pilot with Front Park Assist, a graphical head-up display, a compass mounted onto the rearview mirror, a 360-degree surround-view camera, a 12-volt power outlet, and a 12.3-inch digital driver display. On the Inscription, you get almost everything that comes on the Momentum and then some. The Inscription trim adds the 12.3-inch digital driver display as standard. It otherwise keeps the Momentum's optional and package features as add-ons.

If you so much as glimpse at the list of safety features that can come on the Volvo S90's two trim levels, your eyes will be dazzled by just how long of a list it is. Standard safety features on both trim levels include automatic braking after a collision, a blind spot monitoring system with cross traffic alert and steer assist, a brake pedal release, city safety collision avoidance technology, driver alert, illuminated door handles, an interior built to absorb energy, an inflatable curtain, hill start assist, lane keep assist, LED headlights with active high beam and daytime running lights, LED fog lights, Pilot Assist (which includes adaptive cruise control), private locking for the glove bog and luggage compartment, run off mitigation, a traffic sign reader, a side impact protection system, Volvo On Call, a tire pressure monitoring system, a whiplash protection system, and a welcome and home safe light. The Inscription comes with all of the same standard and optional safety features.

Now, we have got to talk about packages since the chances are that you will want to equip at least one of them. If you go for the Momentum trim, you can equip a T5, T6, or T8 Momentum Plus package. This includes features like the 4-zone climate control system, high pressure headlight cleaning, and the Thor's Hammer daytime running lights and active high beams. On the Inscription, you can choose to get a Luxury package, which gives you the added bonuses of massaging backrests on the front seats, heated rear seats, a deluxe rear seat armrest, the nubuck headliner, the leather-wrapped grab handles and sun visors, and ventilation for the rear seats.

On both of the S90's trim levels, you can opt for heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, the Convenience package, prepaid maintenance plans, and Volvo service contracts. Out of all these options, the Convenience package is probably going to be the most appealing. That is due to the fact that it gives you park pilot assist with front park assist, the rearview mirror-mounted compass, the HomeLink universal garage door opener, a 12-volt power outlet, the 360-degree surround view camera, the heated washer nozzles, and the power-operated trunk lid. This is essentially everything you could want to add on to the S90 that does not come standard. For the price ($2,550, to be exact), this is actually a pretty good deal.

Final Thoughts

Now that you have gotten a feel for both of the 2019 Volvo S90's trim levels, you should know that, while the Inscription is a nice trim level, the Momentum is the way to go. It is quite reasonably priced with a starting MSRP of $47,350 for the T5 Momentum with front-wheel drive. Of course, adding all-wheel drive and/or equipping the T6 or T8 engine will make the vehicle go up in price.

The ideal Momentum for many people will be the T6 Momentum with all-wheel drive. Having an AWD system can be extremely beneficial for those of us who live in climates where inclement weather is common, and the T6 engine delivers plenty of power to all of the wheels. You will take a hit on fuel efficiency with this configuration, but it is honestly not that much of a dip. It gives you a combined total of 25, as it gets 22 mpg in the city and 31 highway mpg. One of the things you should like about this trim is that it is not a gas guzzler. Of course, if fuel efficiency is a top priority for you, the T8 Momentum with all-wheel drive is gives you a good deal. Just equip the Convenience package, and you will be ready to roll.