LOOKS

The V90 Cross Country is a long vehicle with a semi-rugged look, and inside you’ll find it roomy in both rows from all angles. There’s a large amount of storage space (though slightly less than some rival wagons), and the rear seats fold down to increase capacity. It comes equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires.

The interior confirms why Volvos are considered luxury vehicles, with a super-classy setup look and feel and nothing cheap-looking to be found.

While not the first high-end brand most people think of, Volvo is most definitely a luxury brand and its latest batch of vehicles confirms that. The V90 Cross Country features high-quality, comfortable leather throughout the interior, as well as:

• A sharp panoramic moonroof with power sunshade
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel 
• Attractive dark walnut wood inlays
• Dual integrated tailpipes
• Heated front seats 
• Keyless entry, turn-knob start 

For adventurers, the low roof allows for simple loading of bikes or kayaks. A higher ground clearance (8.3 inches) allows you to go places other wagons can’t, and there is body cladding and skid plates to keep the vehicle protected.

What you end up with here is a unique combination: An exterior design that is bold and aggressive, and an interior that is posh and inviting and roomy. 

HOW’S THE RIDE?

Without a proper ride quality, all the great looks and design won’t be enough to sway buyers. Luckily for Volvo, what they have under the hood here is powerful and offers a more-than-capable drive quality.

My test vehicle, a V90 Cross Country T6 model, featured a 2.0-liter supercharged and turbocharged four-cylinder engine, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission with start-stop technology. The numbers here are an impressive 316 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque, more than you’ll get out of most SUVs, which are often underpowered.

It’s a powerful ride that is also comfortable and great in the corners.

There is also a more basic engine offered: A different four-cylinder option that is turbocharged, and features 250 hp and 258 lb.-ft. Obviously this one would be less powerful, but you can also save several thousand dollars on the vehicle by going this route.

The V90 Cross Country, like all Volvos, features multiple drive modes, including: Eco, Comfort, Individual, Dynamic and Off-road. Use what fits your scenario best, but Dynamic provides the most responsive and fun driving experience, while Comfort is best for everyday.

The vehicle features all-wheel drive with instant traction, and a premium air suspension is offered in the rear to boost ride quality. Off-Road mode adjusts how the car will respond to help improve the overall quality of off-road driving.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY
The V90’s infotainment system is unique in its tall 9-inch design, but also wonky at times. The voice commands sometimes work properly, but at other times it didn’t understand me well — particularly with navigation. It’s also a bit surprising that the infotainment system is sometimes slow to boot up when you start the vehicle. 

Phone integration is a strong point, as the vehicle is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for mirroring purposes. Bluetooth allows you to stream Pandora and other music apps from your phone to the vehicle.

A Wi-Fi hotspot is offered, and included are AM/FM/HD radio/3 months free of Sirius XM satellite, 2 USB ports and a 330-watt, 10-speaker audio system.

In front of the driver’s eyes is a 12.3-inch digital driver display with the navigation map embedded, a wise move to key the driver’s eyes on the road.

Keeping with the Volvo tradition of safety excellence, the V90 Cross Country comes through with an impressive array of safety features. It offers features such as adaptive cruise control (with a semi-autonomous drive mode), lane-keeping assist and automatic emergency braking. There is also an option for a self-parking system.

The V90 Cross Country also features: 

• Rear power child locks
• Collision Avoidance system that detects vehicles, pedestrian, cyclist, large animal 
• Whiplash protection system 
• Side impact protection 
• Supplemental airbags
• Standard LED headlights
• Rear park assist and rear camera
• Blind spot information system with cross traffic alert

An optional Advanced Package includes the following:

• Park Assist Pilot and front and rear park assist
• Active bending lights
• LED headlights with Thor's Hammer drls and auto high beam
• Headlight high pressure cleaning system
• Visual park assist and 360 surround view camera
• Head-up display

MPG
Official fuel mileage numbers on the V90 Cross Country are 20 city/30 highway/24 combined. My time in the vehicle ended with an average of 21.3 mpg, but I was not being conservative in my driving. For the class, the official numbers are among the best you’ll find.

PRICE
The 2019 Volvo V90 Cross Country T6 that I tested was a premium ride that came at a premium price — specifically $62,190. Base price for the model I tested was around $55K.
The V90 Cross Country comes with a 48-month, 50K-mile limited warranty.

There are few direct competitors in the wagon world — mainly the more-expensive E-Class wagon from Mercedes-Benz (starts about $66K) and the Audi A4 Allroad (starts about $46K). 

BOTTOM LINE

With its unique design offering families both convenience as well as some off-road capability due its ride height, the 2019 Volvo V90 Cross Country fills a unique space in the automotive world that few have entered.

The V90 Cross Country is a different type of vehicle for those who don’t want to blend in with every other driver on the road in their crossover — a high-end modern station wagon that luxury buyers owe it to themselves to test out. With the exception of the infotainment system that can be a bit wonky, it's a vehicle that is hard not to like. 

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