2022 Volvo V90 Cross Country B6: Overview
Once upon a time station wagons were the name of the game when family and utility vehicles were the talk of the town. Then came a new era when Chrysler introduced the minivan and turned a new page in the 1980s. Finally, in the 2010s we witnessed the rise of the SUV as minivans lost their popularity (but still exist today).
Thanks to companies like Volvo and Subaru, we still do have wagons and “high-wagons” with car-like driving characteristics and features similar to an SUV. The V90 XC has a towing capacity of 1580 kg and 204 mm of ground clearance.
We can say that no other company is more associated than Volvo when it comes to station wagons. The PV445, the first station wagon Volvo launched in 1953 is almost 70 years old. And the company continues the tradition of building reliable, functional “duty vehicles” into the 21st century.
Since 1927, Volvo sold nearly 6.5 million station wagons and this number is approximately one-third of total vehicle sales.
It is wise to say that the Swedish manufacturer is the expert in making station wagons.
In 2010, The Chinese automotive group Geely signed an agreement with Ford, then Volvo’s majority stakeholder and acquired the controlling share of Volvo cars. After 12 years we can confidently say that the cooperation and partnership between Geely and Volvo is one of the most successful examples in automotive history. Geely was smart enough to give Volvo autonomy to conduct its research and development, marketing and production. Today, Volvo is a very powerful brand building the safest automobiles and SUVs which are very robust, functional and reliable. Geely also profited from this strategy and implemented the results to develop its own products.
2022 Volvo V90 Cross Country B6: Engine and Powertrain
Like many other manufacturers, Volvo is working towards an “electrified” future and aims to have a portfolio of zero-emission” vehicles around 2030. However, the transition to BEVs is not an overnight job and the ICE engines will stay for a while. Our tester has a new mild hybrid system. The B6 has a small 13 hp, 30 lb-ft integrated starter/generator for auto start/stop and captures energy from the brakes for the 48-volt battery. The B6 has an electric supercharger. Even if it is too small for electric propulsion it works harmoniously with the eight-speed transmission and helps to generate a smooth torque curve. The 2.0L, four-cylinder engine delivers 295 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque.
2022 Volvo V90 Cross Country B6: Design and Interior
As we are familiar with for generations with Volvo cars, the cabin is simple yet elegant and very well built. Whether you call it Scandinavian, Nordic or “IKEAish” the cabin is functional and minimalist. The materials and build quality are excellent and you notice that as soon as you enter the car. The front seats offer excellent quality (heated and ventilated), and with the optional Lounge Package that adds massage, four-way lumbar, cushion extension, side sun shades, and the four-zone climate, without any doubt, you are in a luxury European vehicle. Volvo means also a vehicle to be driven under harsh winter conditions. However, in the middle of summer, we could not test those features such as a heated steering wheel part of the $1,000 Climate Package, which includes also heated rear seats and headlamp cleaners. The optional Bowers and Wilkins Premium Sound System sounds wonderful and is a stand-alone option for $3,750.
Like other Volvos of the current generation, the V90 XC has a 9.1-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen. Volvo decided to use a Google-based infotainment system powered by Android, that can receive over-the-air updates. The system is responsive, the screen resolution is great and the embedded Google Maps navigation works very well. But navigating through the menu steps with small icons is not the best in the industry and this is one of the areas requiring improvement.
The long roofline with the panoramic sunroof lets much light in and makes you feel in a larger vehicle. Thanks to the large opening angle of both front and rear doors, and SUV-like ground clearance, entering and exiting the vehicle is easy. an important factor particularly for senior drivers.
2022 Volvo V90 Cross Country B6: Driving Impressions
The sweetest part of driving this Volvo is its car-like characteristics with the direct steering response in particular. The 2.0L turbocharged engine with the 8-speed transmission and AWD drive is powerful enough for the city and also the highway. The mild hybrid system cannot provide electric propulsion but contributes to smooth acceleration and linear torque curve.
With regard to fuel consumption, we came up with an average of 10 litres. Premium fuel is required.
2022 Volvo V90 Cross Country B6: Pricing and Equipment
The MSRP for the basic 2022 Volvo V90 XC is $65,950. As it is usually the case our tester was fully loaded escalating the price to $77,450 excluding the destination charge. This price is still lower than the starting prices of its German competitors, Audi Allroad and Mercedes E 450 All-Terrain.
For details of pricing and equipment, please see the below:
2022 Volvo V90 Cross Country B6: Conclusion
Volvo has been a respectable manufacturer with big engineering talent for not only cars but big trucks, buses and marine engines. The biggest challenge for the Swedish company was the scale of production which was and is too small to become a stand-alone global player. And the cooperation with Geely successfully running for more than a decade seems to offer the perfect solution.
With its high-quality vehicles setting the safety standards in the industry for decades, Volvo is confidently moving into the future.
The V90 XC B6 is one of the several proofs for it.
For more detailed and the most up-to-date information, please visit https://www.volvocars.com/ca/
