The 2026 Volvo S90 Gets a Facelift, but the UK Will Not See It

Volvo has revealed a refreshed version of the S90 saloon for the 2026 model year, bringing revised styling, updated technology and improved hybrid powertrains to its long-running executive saloon. The news has attracted attention in the UK for one significant reason: the facelifted S90 will not be sold here. Volvo has confirmed that the updated car is destined primarily for China, with a small number of other markets to follow, and the UK is not among them.

What Has Changed on the 2026 S90?

The facelift is a mid-cycle update rather than a full redesign. Up front, the S90 adopts a cleaner grille design alongside sharper, more horizontal Thor's Hammer LED headlights that bring the saloon visually closer to Volvo's newer electric models. The update looks cohesive and purposeful without straying far from the understated Scandinavian character that the S90 has always carried well.

Inside, the most notable change is the adoption of the larger 11.2-inch infotainment screen already found in the XC90, replacing the smaller unit that the S90 has used since launch. It is a meaningful improvement in day-to-day usability and brings the saloon's cabin experience into line with the rest of the refreshed Volvo range.

On the powertrain side, the refreshed car receives a more capable T8 plug-in hybrid, using the same unit as the updated XC90 with a combined output of 455 bhp and an extended electric-only range of around 50 miles. A mild-hybrid petrol variant rounds out the options in markets where the car will be sold. Both are genuine improvements over the outgoing car's hybrid system.

Why Is the UK Being Passed Over?

Volvo's reasoning is direct: the company sees its fully electric models as the future of its UK saloon offering, and the ES90 is the car set to take the S90's place in this market. Rather than invest in the full homologation process and a sales launch for a combustion and hybrid update, Volvo has chosen to concentrate UK resources on the all-electric ES90, which is expected to arrive in right-hand-drive form across 2026 and 2027.

It is a pattern that is becoming familiar across the industry. Several manufacturers have stopped selling updated combustion and hybrid models in the UK when they judge the electric replacement to be close enough to justify the gap. For S90 fans, it means the window for buying a new S90 in the UK has already closed, and the facelifted version will never be part of the picture here.

The ES90: What Comes Next for UK Buyers

The Volvo ES90 is the all-electric saloon that will fill the S90's role in the UK. Built on Volvo's dedicated electric platform and expected to offer a WLTP range significantly above 400 miles, the ES90 aims to carry the S90's core qualities (long-distance comfort, a calm and beautifully finished interior, strong safety credentials) into a fully electric package. Early indicators suggest it should be a very serious proposition, especially for drivers who have been loyal to the S90 over the years.

For buyers who are not yet ready to commit to a purely electric saloon, the transition period is a genuine gap in the market. The S90 is no longer sold new in the UK, the ES90 is still arriving, and several competitors are navigating exactly the same crossover point.

Hire the Volvo S90 Diesel Hybrid in Bristol

The Avant Drive fleet includes the Volvo S90 Diesel Hybrid, available from £160 per day with delivery anywhere across the UK from our Bristol base. It is a car that has aged with real distinction: whisper-quiet at motorway speeds, genuinely spacious, and finished with the kind of understated Scandinavian quality that never demands attention but always rewards it.

If you want to experience the S90 before the nameplate gives way to the electric era, hiring on a flexible basis is one of the most practical ways to do it. Whether it is a long business drive, a quiet weekend trip or a test before committing to ownership, the S90 delivers. Browse the full Avant Drive fleet or get in touch via WhatsApp to check availability and arrange delivery to your door.