Recent Design Language: Volvo S90, S60 and XC40

The Swedish automobile company Volvo is no longer Swedish, having been taken over by Geely of China about ten years ago.  As best I can tell, styling and other product development remains in Sweden.

For many years Volvo stressed safety features and retained rather boxy, plain styling, though cars became less-boxy as time passed.  This post looks at three recent models' styling.

Volvo models dealt with here are the top-of-the-line 2017 S90 sedan, the smaller 2019 S60 sedan, and the Toyota RAV4-class crossover SUV 2018 XC40

Gallery

2017 Volvo S90

The Chinese-built S90 received good styling reviews when introduced.  Dominating the front is a variation of the traditional Volvo grille.  Below it are some of the usual clutter items found on most current cars.

Its profile is typical of sedan forms subjected to wind tunnel testing: graceful, with a hint of a fastback.  Side sculpting is restrained compared to extremes taken by some Japanese brands in particular.

Rear styling is more fussy.  The dominant features are the lazy-U shaped tail light assemblies that carry on Volvo's wraparound theme from previous years.

2019 Volvo S60

The new S60 line is assembled in the USA.  The frontal design follows current styling clichés, though the grille opening profile and the interior Volvo symbolism counteract that to some degree.

In profile, the shorter S60 is similar to the S90, as might be expected given aerodynamic requirements.  Side window profiles are similar, especially by the C-pillar.  Side sculpting is stronger, more in line with current fashions.  The result is a reduction in distinctiveness.

The S90 tail light theme is continued on the S60.  Otherwise rear styling is elaborate and its elements are not well coordinated.

2018 Volvo XC40

Winds tunnels and interior packaging requirements give most mid-size crossover SUVs largely the same exterior profiles, and the XC40 is no exception.  Sculpting is more angular than on the sedans just discussed, following styling cues of other brands.  The black top paint job is yet another cliché, though its dividing line on the C-pillar ties the window frame and rear spoiler better than seen on other SUVs.

Tail light assemblies are a variation of those found on previous Volvo SUVs and station wagons.  The rear design here is uncluttered and, aside from those tail lights, coherent.

The front is strongly Volvo, though an interesting variation is the mini-shouvelnose grille.  The upper side character line visually carries through from front to rear while actually being in three segments with varying sculpting.  I haven't make up my mind as to whether this is something that adds appropriate interest or is simply yet another instance of over-elaboration.