Car review: Volvo V90 Cross Country

A soft-roading estate car that isn't all about posing

Standing proud: the Volvo V90 makes a good case for itself (Volvo)

One of the many joys of writing about cars is that the world’s great motor manufacturers invite you to launches of their new models in the most sumptuous locations, darling. I was, then, a little bemused to find myself based in Car Park Number 2 at Birmingham International Airport to celebrate the arrival of a clutch of posh new Volvos.

Extending their impressive 90 series, Volvo are now bringing us new “R Design” – sporty – versions of the S90 saloon and V90 estate, plus a Cross Country V90 estate, with four wheel drive. It’s the Cross Country version that I shall write about here, and I have to say that I was pleased to find myself in the middle of the English Midlands – for some of the loveliest countryside and prettiest villages in Europe lie within a short distance of Brum. Yes, we’re talking Cannock Chase, here.

I am ashamed to say that I’d not spent much time in Cannock Chase before, and I’d not realised how uplifting a place it is. The forest is some of the last remaining substantial stretches of the woodland that once covered virtually the whole of England, that is until the 16th century and the navy’s demands for timber for its vessels began to deplete the landscape.

The industrial revolution and population explosion finished England's deforestation within another couple of hundred years. In Cannock you commune with an older England, if that doesn't sound a bit too “Tolkien”.

So Cannock Chase survives, defiantly, and this Forestry Commission land is an ideal place to indulge in a little “soft roading” (with permission). In my V90 Cross Country I could penetrate the woodland with comparative ease, and can report to you that this soft roader is indeed fit for purpose.


 Soft roader: The Cross Country V90 is fit for purpose 
 (Volvo)

Once off the road you adjust the settings at the touch of a screen, and it's ready to tackle moderately challenging terrain. It is, in fact, so sophisticated that you hardly need to apply any of the usual sorts of four-wheel drive techniques to get yourself over hills, though deep ruts, and ford lakes of mud. It has a hill descent control, for example, which means it brakes for you, a feature once only available on Land Rovers and Range Rovers and the engine attunes itself to the particular demands of off-roading – such as holding the car in first gear at below 28mph. Most usefully, in fact, the V90 has a marginally raised ride height – 60 mm taller than the regular V90 versions – and this is sufficient to make all the difference and to prevent the car from “grounding”.

The spec

Volvo V90 D4 AWD Cross Country
Price: £32,541
Engine capacity: 2 litre diesel; 8-sp auto gearbox
Power output (hp @ rpm): 190@4,250
Top speed (mph): 130
0-62 mph (seconds): 8.8
Fuel economy (mpg): 54.3
CO2 emissions (g/km): 138

It also has some subtle cladding, to help protect it from scratches and dents, which can now be specified either in body colour or in contrasting grey plastic, emphasising the car’s rugged appeal. There’s a choice of two fairly refined and gutsy four-cylinder diesel engines, both with automatic boxes only, their low-down torque well suited to the task of lugging the Volvo about. Thoughtfully, they’ve even fitted larger mirrors to help you. More cosmetically, the V90’s interior features matt black walnut trim, in fashionable Scandi style

In common with the rest of the 90 series – saloons and the XC90 “proper” SUV – the cabin is a relaxing and comforting place to be, and every bit as “premium” as well-known rivals such as the Audi A6 Allroad, the new Mercedes-Benz E 220d 4MATIC or Subaru Outback, for example. The big touchscreen and piano black fittings are tastefully done, though I found the touchscreen a little too sensitive, compared to an iPad, say.

There’s Bowers & Wilkins sound systems as options too – 18 speakers and 1,400 watts apparently. On the road the V90 Cross Country performs as well as any of its 90-series siblings, which is to say it cruises, semi-autonomously if need be, and is equipped with the usual array of safety features as standard. Petrol-engined versions, by the way, may arrive later.


 The driver’s seat is comfortable with a touchscreen to help you 
 (Volvo)

Now, the Volvo V90, and its ilk, is also about posing. A few years ago the whole rural thing grew so absurd that people were rumoured to be buying theatrical mud to splatter on their Range Rovers, to enhance their full-on rural credentials when they drove their Chelsea tractors around town. Yet for most purposes, for most of the year, most families will never feel any need for four-wheel drive, let’s face it.

You might, more realistically, appreciate some extra ground clearance, but there are many “crossover” options there, from the Nissan Juke upwards, with two-wheel drive or switchable two/four wheel drive. So what I am saying is that you should really be quite certain you actually need all this very sophisticated technology and permanent all-wheel drive, and/or the desire to pose to justify the extra purchase cost, higher fuel bills and increased emissions (all about 10 per cent worse than the front wheel drive V90 equivalent).

If you do, then the V90 Cross Country is an excellent choice. You should know also, by the way, that the “Haldex” four-wheel drive system it uses, from Borg-Warner, is also fitted to VW group cars, so it is not really a point of differentiation with the various Audi Allroad or Skoda Scout alternatives. The Volvo is, though, as it has been for most of the 20 years they’ve been making these rugged variants of their celebrated estate cars, quite an individual and stylish choice.

It isn’t being different and moving away from the usual German badges for the sake of it ether; the Volvo makes a good case for itself on its own terms. The brand deserves to thrive. Just like Cannock Chase and Birmingham International Airport.