Volvo V90 Cross Country AWD: A stylish, fun SUV alternative

Published 6:00 am Monday, November 4, 2024

I have long been a huge fan of the Volvo V90 Cross Country station wagon. It drives like a luxury sports sedan, has nearly as much cargo space as an SUV, and comes standard with all-wheel-drive, which is a big plus in the wet Pacific Northwest.

That’s because the V90 is based on the Volvo S90 AWD sport sedan. Like the S90, it is low and sleek, but the roofline is extended to a rear hatch for additional cargo space. That’s how wagons have traditionally been built, with some earlier versions offering a small third row of backward-facing seats behind the second row.

Although they do not offer as much ground clearance and ride height as SUVs, wagons are more fun to drive because of their lower center of gravity. The car-like handling is most apparent during cornering, where they have less body roll. That’s where the Volvo V90 Cross Country excels, although it also offers a little more ground clearance and ride height than the S90, giving it modest off-road capabilities.

The base 2025 V90 Plus starts at a little over $60,000, which is a bargain for such a premium vehicle. My top-of-the-line 2025 Ultra tester with options was priced at $72,935, which is still less than the few competitors still produced by Audi and Mercedes. It easily meets all luxury vehicle standards, including offering the most advanced automotive technologies.

Looking back on my history of (mostly used) car ownership, I’ve had a disproportionate number of wagons. They included a 1968 Datsun 510, a 1968 Buick Sport Wagon, a 1971 Pontiac Catalina Safari, 1975 Subaru DL AWD, a 1977 Plymouth Fury Sport Suburban, and a 1995 Saturn SW1. I owned the midsize Buick and full-size Pontiac and Plymouth in the 1990s when I published and distributed a local biweekly newspaper in Portland. They were large enough to haul the papers to drop sites around town, but were much better for day-to-day driving than a bigger van or SUV the rest of the time. Because I bought them used and cheap, they all eventually succumbed to poor maintenance by previous owners, but were very practical when they ran because I could only afford one vehicle at the time.

The smaller Datsun, Subaru and Saturn were all bought primary because of their economy. I didn’t realize the sedan and wagon versions of the Datsun would eventually become collectible as “poor man’s BMWs” because of their strong four-cylinder engines, manual transmissions, and independent rear suspensions. The Subaru was the first AWD wagon sold in America. Although advertised as the official vehicle of the US Winter Olympics team, it was so small that not many of the members could have fit inside. And the standard manual transmission gearing was so low, it topped out at about 65 miles an hour. But it was as tenacious as a mountain goat in the hilly terrain where I lived.

All-wheel-drive wagons have come much farther since then, with the V90 Cross Country as comfortable and fast as any luxury midsize vehicle. I last tested a 2022 model during that year’s Northwest Outdoor Activity Vehicle competition organized by the Northwest Automotive Press Association. It was the only vehicle that wasn’t an SUV or truck. Although not as off-road capable as the others, the Volvo Cross Country was the most fun to drive. It was as fast as all but the high-performance models like the over-the-top Ford Raptor pickup, but handled much better on pavement because of its sport sedan foundation.

Volvo has a long history with station wagons, including the iconic boxy ones that bolstered the company’s reputation for making safe if boring cars in the 1960s and 1970s. The new version is still safe but beautifully styled, with sleek exterior lines that flow back from the trademark grill. The interior is as luxurious as any premium car, with rich materials and tasteful appointments, including real wood trim and chrome stereo speaker door screens that could pass as works of art. It can also tow up to 3,500 pounds, which is enough for a small camper.

When the V90 was first introduced in 2016, it had one of the largest displays of any vehicle. The iPad-like swipe-and-touch screen took practice to master, however. The current version uses Volvo’s Google-based infotainment system, which is an improvement over the older Sensus Connect system. The smaller vertical 9-inch touchscreen is also easier to use and better integrated into the dash. A new USB-C port and cell phone recharging pad are also standard.

Volvo has offered a number of sophisticated and fuel-efficient engines in their vehicles in recent years. The 2025 V90 Cross Country is powered by a B6 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that is turbocharged, electrically supercharged, and includes a 48-volt hybrid system. It produces 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, which is not as much as some competitors. However, the eight-speed Geartronic automatic transmission delivers the power so smoothly to all four wheels that it feels even quicker than the zero to 60 in 6.4 seconds clocked by Car and Driver. It also averages a respectable 25 miles per gallon.

My tester version was a top-of-the-line Ultra model with a few options, including a Bowers & Wilkens premium sound system and an Active Chasis with Rear Air Suspension package. In a week of test driving, I found it consistently comfortable and fun to drive, with good acceleration and nimble handling. It was largely unchanged from the version I tested at Mudfest 2022, which I declared a “Pacific Northwest favorite.” Despite increased competition from newer SUVs, I still believe the 2025 Volvo V90 Cross Country B6 AWD should be at the top of the list for anyone looking for a sporty, practical luxury family with ample cargo space and all-wheel-drive.

2025 Volvo V90 Cross Country B6 AWD

Base price: $60,995

Price as tested: $72,935 (Ultra)

Type: Midsize station wagon

Engine: 2.0-liter turbocharged and supercharged hybrid four-cylinder (295 hp, 310 lbs-ft)

Transmission: 8-speed Geartronic automatic with AWD

EPA estimated mileage: 22/29

Overall length: 195.2 inches

Curb weight: 4213 pounds

Final assembly: Gothenburg, Sweden