2025 Volvo V90

There’s a rare combination of talents in the V90 Cross Country. It’s luxurious and refined, with plenty of space and versatility for passengers and luggage. It can tackle dirt roads and snow better than regular cars, yet its relatively low center of gravity gives it a handling edge over most SUVs.

The Volvo wagon is one of those cars that isn’t just any old car. It represents a kind of sturdiness, the perfect transport for a family. And the V90 Cross Country takes its story into a different chapter. It’s one we’ve been reading since the 2017 model year, however. With Volvo concentrating on new all-electric SUVs, the V90 Cross Country may not be around for much longer.

Apologies for talking about something as car-nerdy as ride height so early in this review, but the V90 Cross Country has a ground clearance of 7.9 inches, only 0.8 of an inch less than that of a BMW X5 SUV. You might think you need an SUV, but a V90 Cross Country could probably do the same job.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize luxury cars, including the Volvo V90 Cross Country.

Last year’s Ultimate trim becomes the Ultra. This top trim used to have massaging front seats as standard, but they become optional this year. And Thunder Grey exterior paint is no longer available.

We recommend going for the top (and popular) Ultra version, because another $5K isn’t going to hurt too much at this level of expenditure and it opens the door to some desirable options.

These prices put the V90 Cross Country substantially below the Audi A6 Allroad and the Mercedes-Benz E 450 4Matic All-Terrain. Before buying a new V90 Cross Country luxury wagon, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Resale values are comfortably above the class average. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

Compared with its rivals, the V90 Cross Country might seem under-powered. Those 295 horses can canter from standstill to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds, which is decent enough. The 335-horsepower Audi A6 Allroad is about a second quicker, though, and the Mercedes-Benz E 450 4Matic All-Terrain puts down 375 horsepower to hit 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds.

Those Germans rivals are all well and good, but we have our own thoughts about this, understanding that some people don’t want to pay a lot extra (the V90 Cross Country is noticeably less expensive than the Audi or the Benz) for power they may not need. And they don’t want to scare the Labrador in the back anyway. As long as there’s enough punch for getting up to freeway speeds easily, and not being overworked on uphill stretches, then give us 295 horsepower and we’ll go with it.

In addition, the V90 Cross Country rides just as smoothly as its pricier rivals, with less body roll than a typical SUV. Buyers of the Ultra trim can also select the optional adaptive air suspension to gain extra comfort at one end of the spectrum and a little extra sporty poise at the other.

Fuel Economy

This aspect isn’t going to sway the buying decision one way or another. The V90 Cross Country, A6 Allroad, and E 450 4Matic All-Terrain each achieve 25 mpg in combined city/highway driving.

Ergonomics — how things are designed for effective interaction with humans. Volvo has this stuff honed to a fine art and it’s one of the joys of the V90 Cross Country’s cabin. We love the especially comfortable front seats (in common with many of our consumer reviews), excellent yet understated design, superb materials and build quality, and the beautifully smooth wood trim.

Rear legroom of 35.9 inches is acceptable, although the Audi A6 Allroad and Mercedes-Benz E 450 4Matic All-Terrain are more accommodating — they’re both a bit longer. The V90 Cross Country’s cargo space goes from 25.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats to 69 cubes when they’re folded. Compare that with the E 450 4Matic All Terrain’s 33.1/64.6 cubic feet, and the A6 Allroad’s 30/63.8 cubic feet.

Although Volvo calls the V90 Cross Country a wagon, there’s definitely the air of an SUV about it. It rides higher than the S90 midsize luxury sedan, the car on which this wagon is based. There are plastic wheel arch extensions, and a kind of skid plate at the back. The thing we like about the V90 Cross Country is how it manages to be attractive (in our eyes) and practical at the same time.

After-run parking climate
We really like this considerate standard feature. At journey’s end, if you still need to stay in the car for a short time, perhaps to catch that favorite part of a song or the rest of a weather report, the climate system remains active even though the engine is turned off.

Pilot Assist
By combining adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assistance and road sign recognition, this standard feature makes long highway stretches much less tiring. We’ve found it works exactly as it should.

Off-road ability
With ground clearance of 7.9 inches and all-wheel drive as standard, the V90 Cross Country can go pretty much where most SUVs can go (this side of a Land Rover Defender). With a set of winter tires, it will also conquer most snowy roads.

Booster seats
For those times when kids are too big for actual child seats, these optional booster cushions for the outboard rear seats could do the trick.

Digital rearview mirror
If you’re driving a wagon, chances are there’s going to be a full complement of cargo and/or people on some trips. This optional feature brings a clear rearward view without passengers’ heads or anything else getting in the way.

Bowers & Wilkins audio
The hushed cabin of a V90 Cross Country is an ideal environment to appreciate this clear and detailed 19-speaker/1,410-watt Bowers & Wilkins audio system. This is definitely one of our favorites and it’s optional in the top Ultra trim.

The V90 Cross Country employs a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that’s both turbocharged and supercharged to create a respectable 295 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. This goes to a standard all-wheel drive system through an 8-speed automatic transmission.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

Volvo provides bumper-to-bumper limited protection and powertrain protection for four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. This is typical among European luxury vehicle manufacturers. The company also includes free scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles.

Safety Ratings

Previous model years have seen the V90 Cross Country take the highest accolade of Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It also earned a top score of Good in an updated small front overlap crash test. Standard safety features include blind-spot monitoring, and a 360-degree camera system.