2022 Volvo V90 Cross Country
About 30 or so years ago, the Volvo station wagon was considered a status symbol for upwardly mobile families. The boxy wagons offered space for up to seven – including a rear-facing third row seat – and plenty of cargo space once that seat is stowed.
The children of Volvo owners will tell you stories about their experience in a 740 or 940 wagon. They are the stuff of legend.
Luckily for us, Volvo offers two station wagons for a new generation of parents. The larger V90 wagon offers the space of the older 740 and 940 models on a more modern platform and body. It might evoke some memories while new ones with your family.
The Volvo V90 is the wagon based on the larger of the common platform shared across most of the lineup. The S90 sedan and XC90 SUV are the two models associated with this V90 – and that’s a good thing.
From its solid and proven platform rises a modern wagon design. The blunt front end offers a scalloped grille in a specific Cross Country texture with staggered chrome pieces on the slats. The Thor Hammer headlamps are signature Volvo pieces that adorn the front end.
The rear end is angular; a cross between modern sedan design fused with wagon capacity. It is equally as handsome as the rest of the wagon, especially with its new boomerang taillights that began up the rear pillar and cross the tailgate.
For the Cross Country, the ground clearance was raised to 8.3 inches off the ground. Wearing 20-inch alloy wheels, the V90 Cross Country is sporty, rugged, and functional wrapped up in one nice package.
Step inside into a handsome, functional, and luxurious cabin. It is designed for driver control and customization. Controls are great to the touch and logical even without word descriptions. The newest instrument cluster is minimalist, but informative. The infotainment screen in the center stack is now powered by Google’s apps. A similar shifter found on some Volvos – a small flip switch – is both stylish and functional.
Front seat occupants are treated to large chairs that are firm, but supportive, for any length of drive. You get a solid set of adjustments, including lumbar support. Rear seat room is sizeable and comfortable. Behind the fold-flat rear seats is at least 33.9 cubic feet of cargo space. It expands to create 78.3 inches of cargo length to the back of the front seats. In all, it is a spacious cabin with room for all activities.
Our V90 Cross Country tester has the new B6 driveline. It combines a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with a supercharger and a mild hybrid system. In total, this new driveline puts out 308 horsepower of strong power at the low end. There is nominal lag from any boost source, even on passing and highway entrance maneuvers. Connected to our B6 engine is an eight-speed automatic transmission with a very solid all-wheel-drive system.
Overall, we observed a fuel consumption average of 24.5 MPG.
The V90 Cross Country offers a solid ride thanks to its higher ground clearance. Larger wheels and tires also help to deal with both highways and dirt tracks, and everything else in-between. Handling and cornering are quite decent, though there is miminal roll on harder maneuvers. Otherwise, it is quite lithe for a large wagon.
The electric steering system is very direct and offers a great turning radius and wheel response. On-center is fine with some adjustment needed. The braking system is pretty good, with solid stops in normal and panic situations. Although, we found pedal feel is bit on the softer side.
Pricing for the V90 Cross Country starts at $56,200. Our tester came with a sticker price of $61,990. This is the only V90 model available for 2022.
Because of the popularity of the SUV, wagons have become a rare sight these days for consumers. There is some choice for those looking at the Volvo V90 Cross Country, such as the Mercedes-Benz E 450 4MATIC All-Terrain Wagon and the Audi A6 allroad quattro wagon. Customers have also explored the likes of the smaller Volvo V60 Cross Country wagon and the less expensive Subaru Outback.
For those of us who remember riding in the back of a large Volvo wagon, you will enjoy sitting up front of the V90 Cross Country. With its size, versatility, and luxury, this may be the only wagon you will ever need.
Story Credits: CarSoup Editors
