2019 Volvo V90 Cross Country Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

by the zzdcar Experts

　　

What's new

Updated functionality for the Intellisafe systemNew Harman Kardon audio system optionMore standard features included on all-wheel-drive T5 trim levelPart of the second V90 generation introduced for 2017

　　A luxury wagon with modest off-road capability isn't likely to top most buyers' lists. Not when there are SUVs that can do the same trick better, anyway. Yet here we have the 2019 Volvo V90 Cross Country. It's high-end utility for the SUV-averse.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Volvo V90 Cross Country T5 4dr Wagon AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$181/mo  for V90 Cross Country T5

　　V90 Cross Country T5

　　T5 4dr Wagon AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $52,550 MSRPT6 4dr Wagon AWD (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger 8A) - $56,350 MSRPT6 Volvo Ocean Race 4dr Wagon AWD (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger 8A) - $60,500 MSRP

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　It helps that the Cross Country offers plenty to like. In addition to its sharp looks and modern design, it offers a serene interior, exceptionally comfortable seats, an array of tech features and Volvo's legendary driver safety aids. As a vessel for the daily shuffle of family activities, the Cross Country is a standout.

　　That said, we've dinged the Volvo Cross Country for a harsher ride and louder cabin than we'd expect at this price point. And despite the name and taller ride height, the Cross Country doesn't offer much more capability off-road than the standard V90 wagon. The all-wheel-drive system makes it functional enough, but there is no unique hardware to help the car cope with primitive conditions.

　　For supreme luxury off-roading, an SUV such as the Land Rover Discovery likely makes more sense. But if your travels mainly occur on pavement, with only occasional detours down a dirt road, the Cross Country is a solid choice.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.6 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Volvo V90 Cross Country T6 AWD (twin-charged 2.0L inline-4 | 8-speed automatic | AWD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.6 / 10
Driving	7.5
Comfort	8.0
Interior	8.0
Utility	8.0
Technology	7.5

　　

Driving

7.5

　　The V90 provides ample oomph for the daily commute along with predictable and confident stopping power. A soft ride makes for somewhat floaty handling, but you'd only notice it if you're trying to set a lap record. This smooth-operating luxury wagon delivers the driving experience you'd expect.

　　

Acceleration

7.5

　　A turbo- and supercharged four-cylinder sounds complicated, but Volvo's runs effortlessly on the road. It reacts quickly when you hit the gas and delivers strong power at low engine speeds. The V90 has no problem merging onto the freeway or making a pass. In our testing, the Cross Country covered 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds.

　　

Braking

8.0

　　The brake pedal reacts predictably, and the articulation of its short travel and light effort allows you to come to a stop without jerking back. During repeat simulated 60-0 mph emergency stops, this large, heavy and tall wagon had a little bit of nosedive but stayed stable and confident.

　　

Steering

7.5

　　It's easy to keep the wheel straight at freeway speeds. Although there isn't much feedback, the wheel feels direct and accurate. Steering effort is light in Comfort mode and much heavier in Dynamic.

　　

Handling

6.5

　　The V90 generally falls on the floaty side of the handling spectrum, but good turn-in response occasionally makes it seem nimble. It's taller than a typical wagon, but it only exhibits mild body roll and feels stable once the suspension takes a set. The tires loudly protest when pushed hard.

　　

Drivability

7.5

　　You might get an occasional clunky gear change, but the V90 operates just as smoothly as you'd expect from a luxury car. Its stop-start system is generally smooth but can hesitate if you need to move quickly. At a more relaxed pace, the upshifts are so well-executed that they're nearly imperceptible.

　　

Off-road

6.5

　　A bit more ground clearance and all-wheel drive mean the V90 Cross Country fares better on unpaved and slippery roads than do standard V90s. But don't expect to be able to tackle truly perilous terrain. A low-speed off-road setting adjusts throttle, brake and steering response along with power distribution.

　　

Comfort

8.0

　　The feel of the interior matches the chic design, provided you tick the right options. We recommend premium leather, powerful seat massage and air suspension. But skip the 20-inch wheels if you prioritize ride quality over style.

　　

Seat comfort

9.0

　　Excellent front seats provide a wide range of adjustments and a powerful massage feature with multiple settings. Dialing in the right settings is easy, and drivers of all shapes and sizes will find comfort over long drives. The center rear seat is upright and firm, best for little ones.

　　

Ride comfort

7.0

　　The V90 rides smoothly over most surfaces, but you'll feel road vibrations. Big bumps jostle the interior and are accompanied by loud thunks. The optional air suspension likely helps smooth things over, but can only do so much when paired with optional 20-inch wheels. Stick with the smaller wheels.

　　

Noise & vibration

7.0

　　Moderate to heavy accelerator pedal use brings some engine noise inside, but the sound doesn't inspire excitement. Wind, road and tire noise is kept to a minimum. The body and the interior make noise over rough roads and big bumps. There is a disappointing amount of it for a luxury car.

　　

Climate control

8.5

　　While we typically don't like touchscreen controls, the V90's climate settings only need to be set once. The powerful system always keeps the interior at the right temperature — just set it and forget it. The seat ventilation makes some noise, but passengers will appreciate how well it works.

　　

Interior

8.0

　　The unique design makes a good first impression, but glossy-black plastic quickly attracts smudges. Still, this is an elegant-looking and pleasing place to sit. The environment is bolstered by easy entry and exit, intuitive controls and a commanding view of the road ahead.

　　

Ease of use

8.0

　　The V90 hosts a clean and intuitive instrument panel. The touchscreen manages most features and has an easy learning curve. The physical controls are logical. The cruise control interface will seem backward to some, changing by 5 mph increments when you tap and 1 mph increments when you hold.

　　

Getting in/getting out

7.5

　　The Cross Country is taller than a standard wagon, so you don't have to lower yourself as much while entering. The door aperture is large enough to accommodate most body sizes, though adults of average height will have to duck slightly to avoid bonking their heads against the top of the door frame.

　　

Driving position

8.0

　　The wide range of seat and steering wheel adjustments means there's no compromise between comfort and visibility. All instrumentation and controls fall in reach and view. Manual tilt-and-telescoping adjustment is unusual for a vehicle at this price, but something most people will only notice once.

　　

Roominess

8.0

　　The open cabin feels pretty spacious, a sensation backed up by the ample interior dimensions. Plenty of leg-, headroom and shoulder room means average-size adults won't have difficulty getting comfortable. A 6-foot rear passenger can comfortably fit in the back seat behind a driver of the same height.

　　

Visibility

7.5

　　The Cross Country's taller ride height gives a more commanding view of traffic versus the standard V90. Rear headrests obscure some visibility, but they can be lowered electrically by the driver. It's easy to check around before changing lanes. Blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic alert are standard.

　　

Quality

6.0

　　The interior makes a strong initial impression of quality, but our test car showed premature wear, including scuffs and discoloration on the interior door handles. Cream and white interiors can exacerbate these issues, but they shouldn't happen this early on a vehicle that costs this much.

　　

Utility

8.0

　　The V90 delivers the versatility you expect from a wagon. It has SUV-rivaling storage space and a host of clever options, such as a grocery bag holder and a steel guard that protects passengers from sliding cargo. The optional two-height rear booster seats are a novel idea. Interior storage is adequate.

　　

Small-item storage

7.0

　　Front occupants have access to a generously sized center console and cupholders. Rear passengers aren't as fortunate, with only a shallow cubby and flip-out cupholders in the center armrest. The door pockets and glovebox are adequate.

　　

Cargo space

9.0

　　The V90's cargo area matches space in most large SUVs. The rear seats fold down electrically from the cargo area, expanding it to 53.9 cubic feet. The cargo cover rises with the liftgate, making loading easier. The optional flip-up grocery bag holder cleverly ensures your eggs won't break on the drive home.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

8.0

　　The lower anchors sit behind prominent plastic covers. The somewhat narrow space between the rear seat and cargo area cover means a little squeeze when you're reaching for the seatback anchors.

　　

Towing

6.5

　　A neat, power-retractable tow hitch is optional. When equipped, the V90's tow rating is 1,650 pounds for an unbraked trailer and 3,500 pounds for a braked trailer. But you'll need to install a trailer brake controller separately.

　　

Technology

7.5

　　The digital displays are clear and legible, and phone integration is as simple as plugging in a cable. The high-end optional stereo system is among the finest we've sampled. Most advanced driver aids function well, but we had trouble with lane keeping assist and the auto parking system.

　　

Audio & navigation

8.5

　　The tall center touchscreen is attractive and easy to read, and it boasts a largely intuitive layout. It's generally quick and responsive but takes too long to switch to the backup camera after starting. The optional Bowers & Wilkins sound system is phenomenal and worth the upgrade.

　　

Smartphone integration

8.5

　　Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard. Their displays occupy the touchscreen's lower half, which makes switching audio sources easier, so you can use your preferred navigation app while still listening to the radio. There are only two USB ports up front, however.

　　

Driver aids

7.0

　　The adaptive cruise control works great, but lane keeping assist has the car bouncing around within the lane. Auto parking system has trouble differentiating between parallel and perpendicular parking but works great when it gets it right. The top-view camera is optional and lets you select views independently while parking.

　　

Voice control

7.5

　　The system doesn't understand natural language, so you have to learn certain prefixes to make it work. After topping the learning curve, the system understood most of our commands without issue. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay voice commands work perfectly.

　　

Which V90 Cross Country does zzdcar recommend?

　　The T6 is our choice because of its smooth, strong engine and handful of extra features. The optional air suspension is worth adding. It can help smooth out the ride, which remains one of the V90's weaknesses. The Luxury package is also worth considering since it adds massaging seats with extra adjustments and several interior trim upgrades.

　　

2019 Volvo V90 Cross Country models

　　The 2019 Volvo V90 is an all-wheel-drive station wagon with seating for five. It's available in three trim levels, starting with the well-equipped but less powerful T5, moving up to the more powerful T6 and topping out at the specialized T6 Volvo Ocean Race.

　　Two engines are available. The T5 comes standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the T6 and Ocean Race trims are equipped with a turbocharged and supercharged engine making 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. All trim levels come standard with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

　　Standard equipment on the V90 Cross Country T5 includes LED headlights with automatic high beams, 18-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof, automatic wipers and heated washer nozzles, rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, a hands-free liftgate, and proximity entry with push-button start.

　　Inside, the T5 comes with power-adjustable heated front seats, leather upholstery, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone climate control, and a 12.3-inch customizable digital gauge cluster. Infotainment duties fall to a 9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, navigation, two USB inputs, and a 10-speaker sound system with satellite radio.

　　Standard safety features and driver aids (Volvo's Intellisafe) for all trims include blind-spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, a drowsy driver warning system, and an adaptive cruise control system that forms the basis of Pilot Assist, Volvo's name for its self-steering, semi-automated driving system.

　　The T6 upgrades include 19-inch alloy wheels, noise-insulating laminated side windows and a heated steering wheel.

　　The T6 Volvo Ocean Race trim adds a score of visual tweaks including 20-inch wheels, white paint and orange accents, unique interior trim with orange piping, a body-colored roof box, front parking sensors, waterproof floor mats, an air suspension, four-zone climate control, a Harman Kardon premium audio system, and extra USB ports for the rear seats.

　　The T5 can be further upgraded with optional heated rear seats and heated steering wheel, as well as features from the optional Advanced package, which includes a parallel and perpendicular self-parking system, adaptive LED headlights, high-pressure headlight washers, a surround-view camera, and a head-up display.

　　The optional Luxury package, available only for the T6, includes upgraded leather upholstery, ventilated and massaging front seats with thigh cushion extensions, front-seat position memory, heated rear seats, four-zone climate control, ambient cabin lighting and rear sunshades.

　　Adaptive LED headlights, 20-inch wheels, the surround-view camera, and heated rear seats are also available as stand-alone options, along with other notable single options including premium Bowers & Wilkins and Harman Kardon sound systems, integrated rear booster seats, and an air suspension.

　　

2019 V90 Cross Country Highlights

Trim: T5T6T6 Volvo Ocean RaceT5

　　

Base MSRP	$52,550
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$181/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	33.9 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles