It's not an SUV, but it's not a conventional van either. It's a Volvo V90 Cross Country, the model that inaugurated the sub-segment of adventurous premium vans.
Before starting to write about the new Volvo V90 Cross Country, I invite you to take a brief journey through the history of the Cross Country concept.It was 1997 when Volvo introduced the V70 Cross Country, the first executive van with off-road skills – the equivalent of pairing a tuxedo with mountain boots… and it works! Today, this crossing of concepts does not surprise anyone, but 20 years ago it represented a real “rock in the pond”. The V70 Cross Country preserved all the qualities recognized by Swedish vans, but added all-wheel drive, protections throughout the body and a more adventurous look. The success was so great that currently almost all premium brands replicate the Cross Country formula inaugurated by Volvo.
Two decades later, the Volvo V90 Cross Country arrives on the national market, the heir of this mud-spattered legacy of comfort and safety.
A launch that is of special importance in Portugal because the Cross Country concept is a true success story in Portuguese lands. The percentage of sales of Cross Country versions in Portugal is higher than in most European markets.
feeling of power
It is almost unavoidable not to feel any neglect for most of the car park when we are behind the wheel of a van of this size. There are almost two tons of car (1,966 kg in running order) spread over 4.93 meters in length. It's a lot of car.
Dimensions that don't seem to weigh on Volvo's D5 engine. This engine – which belongs to the most recent engine family of the Swedish manufacturer – is presented in this version with 235 hp of power and 485 Nm of maximum torque (available as early as 1,750 rpm). Power is delivered to all four wheels via an 8-speed Geartronic gearbox.
Acceleration from 0-100 km/h is accomplished in just 7.5 seconds and the speed climb only ends when the pointer marks 230 km/h. I told you the two tons didn't weigh you...
The ease with which we reach cruising speeds above the legal limits requires extra attention to the speedometer, especially on the highway – the invaluable help of the head-up display that projects the speed in our field of vision is worth it. In the image:
absolute comfort
Good job Volvo. Like the other 90 Series models, this Volvo V90 Cross Country is also a treadmill. The SPA platform – Scalable Product Architecture – and the suspensions (overlapping triangles at the front and multilink at the rear) handle the 2 tons impressively.
Despite the superior ground height of this Cross Country version, the dynamic behavior was not compromised. It's a Volvo.
Naturally, it is not the ideal choice for those who want to attack a road in a “hurried” way (there are other models and other versions for that), but it's the right choice for those who think the trip doesn't end when the tarmac ends. As long as you don't abuse the angles on off-road (the V90 has a protective plate at the front to protect the engine), the all-wheel drive system doesn't disappoint in any situation – not even when crossing the axles.
On steeper descents we can always count on the HDC (Hill Descent Control) system, which controls the speed downhill. I almost bet no one will use it, but if need be, it's there.
Leaving the land (or snow) and returning to national roads, the Volvo V90 Cross Country transforms the "far" into "near", thanks to the speed with which it dispatches kilometers and the comfort with which it transports us, thanks to the excellent ergonomics of the seats and the great driving position – the best in the automotive industry.
Driving support systems, such as Pilot Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control, contribute greatly to this comfort and serenity at the wheel. Two systems that work together to simplify (immensely) driving when you feel like doing anything but… driving.
The Volvo V90 Cross Country accelerates, brakes and keeps us in the lane in a semi-autonomous way – just requiring our hands on the wheel – running especially efficiently on the highway.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Bowers & Wilkins.
It's worth dedicating a few more lines about the sensations on board the Volvo V90. Sensations that do not end with those that reach us through the steering wheel…
Forget the outside world, choose your favorite band and turn on the sound system developed by Bowers & Wilkins. Simply superb! Among the various modes available is one that recreates the acoustics of the Gothenburg concert hall. Volvo's Sensus system (pictured below) is compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and applications such as Spotify.
I don't know what the concert hall in Gothenburg sounds like, but if it's like the Volvo V90, yes sir! A delight for the most demanding audiophiles. Select the city of Gothenburg on the GPS system, turn on the cruise control and have a good trip…
I could devote a few more words to Swedish minimalism, refinement and the careful selection of materials for the interior of this V90, but that would be “rain in the wet”. We are talking about an executive van that in its base version costs more than 60,000 euros. Nobody expects less than that from a premium brand and in this field the V90 keeps pace with German head-to-head competition.
Defects? Not having Guilherme Costa written in the booklet.
