If a luxury station wagon lights your fuse, the Volvo V90 Cross Country is about as good as it gets.
Handsome as a fur felt Stetson, the V90 combines slick aerodynamics and clever engineering to deliver up to 30 mpg on the open road while providing the sort of visibility, interior volume and comfort one might associate with a midsize SUV.
Starting at $54,900, the V90 is a stout competitor to Mercedes and Audi in Europe, where fuel is much more expensive and, thus, station wagons are more desired by the more affluent bourgeoise. Priced more than 10,000 Euros less than the Audi A6 Allroad and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the V90 offers crisp performance, an elegant Scandinavian interior, most of the bells and whistles as standard gear.
One does not simply walk into a Volvo dealer and purchase a V90. Each is built to order in a factory in the same factory in Torslanda, Sweden, where Volvo used to build the esteemed S90 flagship sedan. Geely Auto, the Chinese company that bought Volvo from Ford in 2010, moved S90 production to China in 2017 but left V90 production in Torslanda.
Though station wagon sales remain brisk, like all other manufacturers, Volvo has seen customer preferences shift to SUVs. The compact SUV XC40 is the company's global sales leader, followed closely by the midsize XC60.
For those who want to be different, however, the V90 Cross Country is a lovely automobile. Based on the normal V90, the Cross Country gets a lifted suspension and all-wheel drive. One would not go rock-crawling in it, but rocky backroads are nothing to fear.
The cabin might not be as nice as a Mercedes, but it's pretty darn close. Two-tone leather, open-pore wood, flowing lines, a panoramic moon roof, and a slick tablet-style infotainment system all work to emanate a classy vibe.
Other critics fault the center tablet, but we think it manages multiple, deep-menu functions better than most. A sweep of the screen in one direction reveals climate controls. A sweep in the other reveals an array of touch-screen toggles.
Handling is firm and competent. The ride is luxurious, thanks in part to a 115-inch wheelbase. Wind, road noise, and pavement imperfections are all well damped.
Volvo has earned a reputation for great seats, and the V90 does not disappoint. Our tester came with the optional Lounge Package ($1,700), which added massaging to the well-supported seats.
A supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder puts our 316 hp, plenty for a car this size. Acceleration is smooth and prompt. We averaged right at 24 mpg in combined driving.
Volvo is also known for safety, and the V90 provides a long list of standard driver-assist features, like automated emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving.
Both the S90 and V90 have earned high marks for reliability. Volvo's warranties include four years or 50,000 miles on the powertrain and bumper-to-bumper. Maintenance is free for the first three years.
Bottom line: If you want a car that says you have arrived by marching to your beat, this is a smart choice.