A Refined Luxury Wagon

Volvo has been popular for its station wagons since the 1980s. The Cross Country is a station wagon with a slightly raised ride height.

Its appeal lies in the successful blend of off-road taste. It has been one of Volvo's flagship models since the "XC70" was introduced in 2002.

Emphasizing the wheel arches gives the chassis a powerful presence. At the same time, by lowering the ride height, the long roofline creates a sense of flowing spaciousness.

The Cross Country concept, leveraging the strengths of a station wagon, has seen successful examples like Audi's Allroad Quattro and Subaru's Legacy.

Perhaps Volvo's distinctive feature is its stronger urban sensibility. Furthermore, the "V90 Cross Country" stands out in terms of prestige.

Since the "XC" series, which includes the tall SUVs like the "XC90", and the "XC60", and the "XC40", the traditional station wagon-based Cross Country has gained a more refined image.

The V90 Cross Country is, in essence, a luxury wagon that can take you into nature. Its body, composed of taut surfaces, and its high-quality interior could be described as a luxury resort hotel.

The headlights feature Volvo's signature T-shaped daytime running lights, called "Thor's Hammer." Combined with the sculpted front grille that emphasizes its contours, this design strongly conveys a sense of the new generation, which is also a key attraction.

With a length of 4,940mm, width of 1,905mm, and height of 1,545mm, the ride height is only about 55mm higher than the standard V90, but its low, long, and wide, powerful stance is captivating.

There are two engine options, both 2-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engines with different power outputs. One is the "T5" with 187kW (254ps), and the other is the "T6" which produces 235kW (320ps).

Although the body is nearly 5 meters long, Volvo's policy is not to produce engines larger than 2 liters. The difference in numbers comes from the boost (and output).

The T5 is equipped with an intercooled turbocharger, while the T6 also has a supercharger. Both deliver high output regardless of engine speed. Both are paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

To Your Preferred Driving Mode

I test drove the V90 Cross Country T6 AWD. The first thing I noticed was the torque at low RPMs. Even by the numbers, with maximum torque starting at 2,200 rpm, there's a strong sense of acceleration at low speeds.

It features a Drive Mode Selector, which can be switched using the controller on the center console. The modes are "Comfort," "Eco," "Dynamic," "Off-Road," and "Individual."

"Comfort" is the default. If no mode is selected, the vehicle will normally operate in this mode. The steering wheel is light, and the damping is set to a softer side.

"Eco" is a fuel-efficiency-focused mode where the start/stop system activates, shutting off the engine when the load is low at idle and restarting when the brake pedal is released.

"Dynamic" mode alters the shift timing to higher revs, makes the steering quicker, and stiffens the damping.

"Off-Road" mode lightens the steering and engages the 4WD system and hill descent control. However, it can only be selected at low speeds.

"Individual" mode allows you to select steering feel, shift timing, brake characteristics, and damping by operating the dashboard monitor like a tablet. You can combine preferences from approximately three levels of settings.

The full-time 4WD system is Volvo's unique system based on front-wheel drive. It's called the "Precharge Electronic AWD System" and aims for smoother starts by sending some torque to the rear wheels from a standstill.

Normally, it operates primarily as a front-wheel-drive vehicle to save fuel, but the center differential is always on standby, ready to instantly transfer up to 50% of the torque to the rear wheels when needed.

A Comfortable Car

In my opinion, the "Dynamic" mode was the most enjoyable on the highway. As indicated by the maximum torque of 400Nm starting at 2,200 rpm, the powertrain is supposed to be torquey from low RPMs, but it runs more actively when kept above 3,000 rpm.

With a heavier steering setting, the car feels more responsive, bringing the driving feel closer to the sporty appearance of the V90 Cross Country.

Overall, the impression is of a car with exceptional interior comfort. The cabin is very quiet while driving, and the soft ride in "Comfort" mode is also pleasant.

The interior, with its "Amber"-colored leather seats contrasting with the black dashboard, also exudes luxury. It's full of hospitality, which is a major appeal of the V90 Cross Country.

If you were invited to go to the beach early in the morning in this car, even in the pre-dawn darkness, opening the door and seeing the comfortable interior would surely make you feel good.

In that sense, it strongly conveys a sense of being welcomed. It's perhaps the Swedish temperament that values functionality and design in furniture and clothing. Its unique, heartwarming design is a major attraction.

V90 Cross Country T5
Body Size | Length 4,940 x Width 1,905 x Height 1,545 mm
Wheelbase | 2,940 mm
Vehicle Weight | 1,850 kg
Engine | 1,968 cc water-cooled inline 4-cylinder DOHC gasoline turbo
Max Output | 187 kW (254 ps) / 5,500 rpm
Max Torque | 350 Nm (35.7 kgm) / 1,500-4,800 rpm
Transmission | 8-speed AT
Drivetrain | AWD
Front Suspension | Double Wishbone
Rear Suspension | Multi-link
Fuel Economy (JC08 mode) | 13.1 km/ℓ
Price | From ¥6,990,000

V90 Cross Country T6
Body Size | Length 4,940 x Width 1,905 x Height 1,545 mm
Wheelbase | 2,940 mm
Vehicle Weight | 1,870 kg
Engine | 1,968 cc water-cooled inline 4-cylinder DOHC gasoline turbo
Max Output | 235 kW (320 ps) / 5,700 rpm
Max Torque | 400 Nm (40.8 kgm) / 2,200-5,400 rpm
Transmission | 8-speed AT
Drivetrain | AWD
Front Suspension | Double Wishbone
Rear Suspension | Multi-link
Fuel Economy (JC08 mode) | 11.5 km/ℓ
Price | From ¥7,690,000