Volvo V90 Cross Country – A Getaway Car For Good Reason
The Volvo V90 Cross Country is both an SUV and a sedan rolled into one.
advertisement
It’s not an SUV, it’s not a sedan: It’s a beefed up estate or station wagon – that’s how one would describe the Volvo V90 Cross Country. Volvo calls it the getaway car, and for good reason. The Volvo V90 Cross Country has been launched at a price of Rs 60 lakh ex-showroom (pan-India).
At that price point, although it may seem expensive, it is pretty good value for money when you compare it with other cars you can get at the same price point. It competes with the likes of the BMW X5 and Audi Q5 on one side, and with the 5-Series sedan or Audi A6 on the other.
It blends the off-road capabilities of an SUV, with the handling and poise of a sedan, with the space and convenience of an MPV. That’s what makes it unique.
Also read: Volvo S90 Review: You Get Class and Comfort With Panache
Design and Looks
The Volvo V90 Cross Country shares its platform with the S90 and XC90. It comes with the trademark ‘Thor-hammer’ full LED headlamps in Inscription trim (only a single variant on offer). Viewed from the front it looks like a sedan. Viewed from the side, it looks like a station wagon. Look at it from the rear it looks like an SUV. The V90 Cross Country is quite big – measuring 4,939 mm in length with a wheelbase of 2,941 mm. That makes it incredibly spacious.
It is a five-seater done up in beige leather on the interiors. It features a panoramic sunroof which brightens up the interiors considerably. The boot has 560 litres of space, which can further be extended into a full loading bay if you fold down the rear seats. It rides on 20-inch alloys with low-profile tyres. With 210mm of ground clearance, it should be able to handle rough terrain fairly easily too.
Key Features
The Volvo V90 Cross Country is loaded with features, and that’s its biggest differentiating factor at the price point it is sold at. It offers far more features than all other sedans and SUVs at the same price point. Some of the feature highlights include adaptive radar-based cruise control, where it automatically adjusts speed if it is following another car.
Then there is Volvo’s trademark ‘city-safe’ braking where the car will automatically brake by itself if it detects a pedestrian or obstacle ahead of it below 50 kmph. In addition, you also get semi-automatic park assist, where the V90 Cross Country can park itself. It also has lane assist, where the car will not drift from its lane when on a highway with clear lane markers, even if you don’t turn the steering wheel.
Besides these features, it also comes loaded with safety tech, which includes seven airbags, traction control, brake assist, and heads-up display. The infotainment system consists of a large central screen with a 19-speaker Bower and Wilkins system.
It also features ventilated front seats, that also have a massage function. The rear gets an air-suspension that should likely improve ride quality for those who like to be chauffeur driven. And then there’s a four-zone climate control system - so that all passengers
Under The Hood
The Volvo V90 Cross Country comes with a 1969 cc four-cylinder diesel engine that puts out 235 bhp of power and 480 Nm of torque. What’s unique about this D5 diesel engine is that it features a ‘power-pulse system’ to eliminate turbo-lag. A cylinder of compressed air helps eliminate turbo lag at low rpm, which should make for faster pick up.
The engine is mated to a 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, which would help with off-road usage. Volvo is pitching the V90 Cross Country as one vehicle for all types of usage – for regular office commutes, long highway drives and off-road forays.
Watch out for a full review of the Volvo V90 Cross Country on The Quint in a while. Or you could check out our Facebook Live here.
Key Specifications of the Volvo V90 Cross Country
Length: 4,939 mm
Width: 2,052 mm
Height: 1,543 mm
Wheelbase: 2,941 mm
Ground clearance: 210 mm
Engine: D5 1969-cc, four-cylinder turbo diesel
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Drive type: All-wheel drive
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)