Used 2020 Volvo V90

Few companies are making wagons these days, but the Swedes apparently still have a soft spot for them, as evidenced by the stunning 2020 Volvo V90 luxury wagon and V90 Cross Country crossover. The Cross Country is the more rugged of the two, which should appeal to the SUV crowd seeking something a bit less bulky and far more pleasing to drive.

The V90 wagon is offered in front-wheel-drive T5 form or all-wheel drive (AWD) T6, each with its own engine. With the V90 Cross Country, all-wheel drive comes standard, as do a few more inches of ground clearance and a 316-horsepower turbocharged-and-supercharged 4-cylinder engine.

So while the Cross Country isn’t in the same off-road league as a Land Rover Discovery or Jeep Grand Cherokee, it is capable of light off-road excursions. And of course, both models are loaded with the most advanced safety equipment including the latest driver assists.

Anyone familiar with the less-than-thrilling driving experience of most SUVs and crossover SUVs will find the 2020 V90 and V90 Cross Country to be a different and more engaging animal.

The Cross Country treatment entails a slight lift in ride height of 2.6 inches, compared with the regular V90 whose relationship to the road is like most sedans. This results in a somewhat raised driving position and slightly higher center of gravity, but not to the detriment of the car’s composure. Ground clearance of 8.3 inches and standard all-wheel drive are also useful when snow starts building up or there’s some uneven country to, um, cross. And the long wheelbase brings benefits to the ride quality, which is set up more for comfort than precision handling.

Power for the V90 T5 wagon comes from a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine good for 250 horsepower. This version is front-drive only. The V90 T6 wagon and Cross Country crossover pump out a healthy 316 horsepower from a turbocharged-and-supercharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. While acceleration is brisk, the automatic transmission can be slow to apply power the second you want it, a bit of an annoyance when attempting to pass or merge.

We could spend the rest of this review describing and praising the V90’s elegant and classy cabin with beautiful materials, a futuristic infotainment system (the display is set in portrait mode), and seats that would delight a grumpy chiropractor, but there’s more to it than that. For instance, rear legroom is a fairly generous 35.9 inches.

With a 6-footer in front, another 6-footer can fit behind. The rear headrests are power-folding, to optimize outward vision when not in use. The rear seats’ optional integrated child-booster cushions are a great idea. Maximum cargo space is 53.9 cubic feet.

It’s all subjective, sure, but we would venture to say that the V90 is a handsome-looking wagon, possibly more eye-pleasing than the S90 sedan from which it’s derived. It wraps its practicality in a stylish shell and there isn’t an angle where it appears awkward. A concave grille and smart lighting details match the classiness of the interior.

The V90 Cross Country sits higher on its suspension, the lower parts of the fascias at each end hint at a skidplate, and the words “Cross Country” are subtly embossed into the rear bumper. For a less obvious crossover-SUV look, the fender flares may be specified in the body color.

TURBO/SUPERCHARGED ENGINE
The Volvo V90 T6 and V90 Cross Country have a unique engine. It uses two methods of forced-air induction, those being supercharging and turbocharging. Creating 316 horsepower from a 2.0-liter engine, this twin system helps eliminate turbo lag at the low end and delivers impressive thrust once the rpm begin to climb.

SELECTABLE DRIVE MODES
To better suit the needs of its driver, the 2020 Volvo V90 Cross Country offers varying modes for varying driving conditions. With a choice of Eco, Comfort, Dynamic and Off-Road modes, the system calibrates throttle response and shift points for varying levels of performance. When off-roading, standard hill-descent control adds another level of reassurance.

The 2020 Volvo V90 R-Design T5 and T6 include 19-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, leather seating, heated 10-way-adjustable front seats, 4-zone automatic climate control, a power rear liftgate, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, heated washer nozzles, 9-inch touchscreen infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, 13-speaker Harman Kardon audio and navigation.

The V90 Inscription adds Nappa leather, ventilated front seats, different wheels, rear side window sunshades and more. Reduced to only one trim this year, the 2020 Volvo V90 Cross Country T6 comes with most of the R-Design’s features, but substitutes a 10-speaker/224-watt premium audio system for the Harman Kardon system.

Standard safety and driver-assist systems include forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitor, lane-departure warning with steer assist, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control and a semi-autonomous self-driving mode called Pilot Assist.

Options for the V90 are broken into two packages, with a few more stand-alone features sprinkled in for good measure. The Advanced Package adds active-bending LED headlights, a 360-degree surround-view camera, graphic head-up display and headlight pressure washers. The heated front seat and steering wheel package is pretty self-explanatory.

The Cross Country’s Luxury Package brings heated rear seats, passenger-seat memory, front-seat 4-way-power lumbar support, a power-operated load cover, front-seat power side and lower thigh support cushions, 4-zone climate control, massaging front seats and a choice of four perforated Nappa leather seat colors: Charcoal, Blond, Amber and Maroon.

Stand-alone options vary by model and include a park-assist system, child booster cushions, 14-speaker/800-watt Harman Kardon or 19-speaker/1,400-watt Bower & Wilkins premium audio upgrades and an adaptive air suspension.

For 2020, the Volvo V90 wagon offers a choice of two engines. In the front-drive V90 T5, power is sourced from a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder good for 250 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. In the V90 T6 AWD and Cross Country, a supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-liter engine develops 316 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque.

The T6 engine is designed to eliminate the shortcomings of each forced-induction method, with the supercharger filling the low-end rpm void experienced by turbocharging, and the turbocharger doing the same for the supercharger at the high-end rpm range.

An 8-speed automatic transmission handles gear change duties, routing power to either the front wheels or an advanced all-wheel-drive system.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (T5)
250 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
258 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500-4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/33 mpg

2.0-liter turbocharged/supercharged inline-4 (T6)
316 horsepower @ 5,700 rpm
295 lb-ft of torque @ 2,200-5,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/31 mpg (V90), 20/30 (Cross Country)