Straits Times Car of the Year 2016

VOLVO S90

A Straits Times Car of the Year has to be exceptional. It has to raise the bar, change the game, push the envelope.

It has to feel extraordinary and accessible all at once. And it has to stand out from its peers, and ahead of the pack in general. The 2016 winner is all that and more.

In fact, the new Volvo S90 made a strong impression the moment it was unveiled in December 2015. It came across as a regal sedan – understated and yet full of presence. When the team drove it, we were bowled over by the car’s fine build quality, exquisite interior and intoxicating performance.

The S90 exceeded expectations in the ride and handling department, too. It was a joy to behold at the wheel – something which can be said for very few big saloons. But a car which leaves a deep, positive impression may not necessarily do well when each of its attributes is weighed against those of its peers. When the numbers were crunched, the S90 emerged the winner by a mile. It garnered 309 points – a whopping 41 points ahead of the BMW M2, the runnerup. This is a stark contrast to results of recent years, where only a few points separated the top car and the second best.

The S90 is the first Volvo to have clinched ST Car of the Year since the XC90, a groundbreaking seven-seat SUV, landed the inaugural award back in 2003. It is also the first saloon in six years to win the accolade, with the last one being the Jaguar XJ in 2010.

While the XJ broke the mold of a luxury saloon by being revolutionary in its design, the S90 is a winner when you consider the sum of its parts.

Take a bow, Volvo!

“THE S90 IS NOT A CAR YOU WOULD EXPECT TO HAVE A ‘WOW’ FACTOR, BUT IT HAS JUST THAT – AND MORE TO SPARE. IT PUTS A COUPLE OF ESTABLISHED LUXURY SALOONS TO SHAME.” Christopher Tan

“I CANNOT THINK OF A MORE COMPLETE 2-LITRE LUXURY SALOON THAN THE S90. IT OFFERS A SWEDE COMBINATION OF MOTORING COMFORT, DRIVING PERFORMANCE, USER-FRIENDLINESS AND DESIGNER FLAIR THAT NO SIMILARLY PRICED GERMAN, BRITISH OR JAPANESE RIVAL CAN MATCH AT THIS JUNCTURE.” David Ting

“BOLD, COOL AND ACHINGLY STYLISH INSIDE AND OUT, THE S90 HAS EASILY THE MOST SHOWROOM APPEAL IN ITS CLASS. ITS 4-POT ENGINE MAY HOLD IT BACK AGAINST RANGETOPPING 6-CYLINDER RIVALS, BUT IT CLAWS BACK GROUND WITH ITS ROOMINESS, LUXURY AND SHEER FEEL-GOOD FACTOR.” Edric Pan

“THE S90 IS NOTHING SHORT OF A SWEDE SUCCESS THAT TRUMPS ITS PEERS IN KEY ASPECTS. AS A DESIGN JUNKIE, WHAT REALLY DOES IT FOR ME IS THE S90’S STYLING, WHICH EPITOMISES SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN – SIMPLE, PURE, SUBTLE – AND BRINGS TO MIND THE WORKS OF FINNISH ARCHITECT, ALVAR AALTO. IT LOOKS LUXURIOUS WITHOUT BEING OSTENTATIOUS.” Lynn Tan

ST-TORQUE AWARDS 2016 SCOREBOARD

309 points VOLVO S90

268 points BMW M2 COUPE

264 points LEXUS GS F

263 points AUDI RS3 SPORTBACK

255 points HONDA CIVIC

237 points HONDA LEGEND

234 points MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS

231 points TOYOTA PRIUS

225 points OPEL ASTRA

214 points FORD MUSTANG

2010 Jaguar XJ