European auto manufacturers are almost singlehandedly keeping the station wagon dream alive here in the west, and the Volvo V90 Cross Country is among the best currently offered. The vehicle returns for the 2024 model year virtually unchanged since the last refresh three years ago.
Despite a 60-millimeter taller ride height and black cladding applied under the bumpers, side sills and over the fender arches, our Ultimate-trim press loaner still looked as sleek as ever thanks to a low greenhouse, curvy body and streamlined vertical-slatted grille. The silver front skidplate, optional 21-inch 7-Open Spoke Diamond-cut wheels (+ $1,475) and Thor’s Hammer T-shaped signature daytime running lights provided icing on the cake.
Is it even possible for Volvo to make a bad interior? The Nappa leather upholstery is buttery soft and the beautiful hits of natural open-pore wood around the space feel great to the touch. And though I’ve previously seen the Swedish Orrefors crystal gear shifter many times, the piece is still a stunner.
Some other highlights are the intricate brushed alloy speaker covers, two-tone heated leather steering wheel, big panoramic sunroof and polished knurled dials and knobs. Legroom is plentiful in both the first and second rows, and a child seat is easily accommodated. The 714 litres of space in the cargo area was enough to fit several pieces of check-in and carry-on luggage, and folding the back bench expands the total storage capacity to 1,526 litres.
The nine-inch portrait-oriented tablet display is similar to the units found in related products under the Volvo and Polestar umbrella and is powered by Google Built-in infotainment, so apps like Google Maps are natively installed without needing a connected smartphone to run. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto continue to be supported as well. An impressive 12.3-inch screen ahead of the driver serves as a fully digital instrument cluster replacing traditional analog gauges.
Boasting a robust suite of electronic safety aids such as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control and much more, the 360-degree camera and parking sensors are especially useful for guiding the 4,958-millimetre-long vehicle into tight spots.
Propelling the wagon is a 2.0-litre turbocharged-and-supercharged four-cylinder mill, making 295 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, mated to a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission. The engine, featuring an onboard 48-volt mild hybrid system boosting fuel economy, is quiet, peppy and pretty much a perfect match for the V90. All-wheel drive is standard ensuring plenty of grip even during typical rainy Metro Vancouver weather.
Also equipped was the available Rear Air Suspension with Four-C (Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept) Active Chassis (+ $2,350) that helps keep everything level when carrying a full load. In addition, adaptive dampers are included too, which constantly reads the road and current driving conditions and adjusts the stiffness accordingly. For example, on twisty roads the handling was sharp, but then softened up while puttering around town to increase comfort.
The 2024 Volvo V90 Cross Country Ultimate starts at MSRP $77,745 and is available now.
Highlights (as tested):
MSRP: $84,625
Motor: 2.0-litre turbocharged + supercharged four cylinder
Horsepower: 295 @ 5,400 rpm
Torque (lb-ft): 310 @ 2,100 rpm
Gearbox: eight-speed manual
Layout: all-wheel drive
Fuel economy: 13.6 L/100 km