Driven: 2024 Volvo V90 Cross Country Offers Unassuming Style And Underrated Capability

Wagons are not dead, and a large part of that is thanks to Volvo. The Volvo V90 is a mid-size family hauler, but the original version was discontinued here in favor of the more rugged Cross Country models. These come with a suspension lift and all-wheel-drive so it can cover the commute, the road trip, and some time at a resort or retreat. The V90 Cross Country (CC) is a sophisticated car in its simplicity and elegance, both inside and out, with plenty of cargo space and safety features, and powered by a four-cylinder engine that’s twin-charged – meaning it has a supercharger as well as a turbocharger, and it’s good for 295 horsepower.

If that’s not enough, all V90 CCs are also kitted out with a 48-volt hybrid system. The icing on the cake is that this dose of alternative European style comes in cheaper than the Audi A6 allroad and Mercedes-Benz E450 All-Terrain defaults – and that lower price doesn’t come at a downgrade in comfort and style.

Volvo sent us the top tier of the V90 Cross Country’s trims, the Ultimate (which gets replaced by the Ultra from next year), and it’s powered by a complex engine setup — a 2.0-liter engine fitted with a turbo- and supercharger and helped by a 48-volt mild hybrid system. We already know the V90 Cross Country is as at home in the suburbs as it is at a high-end ski resort, but we also learned it’s just as at home in the California desert.

Exterior Looks: True Style Never Goes Out Of Fashion

The V90 is still in its first generation, making it an eight-year-old model with a single refresh, which showed itself in 2020. The Cross Country version is just as old, but you wouldn’t know by looking at it. It’s as close to a timeless design as we’ll get now, and classically Volvo in its silhouette and motifs – particularly the rear lights shape and the Thor’s Hammer front lights. The base style is so strong that adding plastic cladding and more ground clearance can’t hurt the the V90 CC. What helps with its off-the beaten track credibility and practicality are the standard integrated roof bars.

Ground clearance is 7.7 inches and the front overhang is short, making it suitable for rough terrain, unsealed roads, and light off-road use. You’ll want a set of winter tires on hand for a snowy area or something a little more all-terrain if muddy tracks are in the cars future, but it comes with Off Road mode and Hill Descent Control.

Interior & On-Board Technology: A Lounge On Wheels

As long as you don’t go for Volvo’s baffling R-Design trims, you’re going to get the brand’s trademark rolling coffee shop vibe interior. That’s the case with the V90 Cross Country, and it features some of the comfiest front seats we’ve experienced yet. In the front, there’s also plenty of room to avoid clashing elbows and you’ll still fit a couple of tall adults in the back without a fuss, too.

Standard features include a panoramic roof and four-way adjustable lumbar on the front seats, but the Ultimate adds ventilation, power cushion extension, and power adjustable side support to dial them in just right. For 2025, Volvo is making massaging seats a stand-alone option. Ultimate also adds the crystal gear shifter, which we feel like we shouldn’t like and on paper sounds chintzy. But, we love it.

Infotainment: Not Going Nuts

The upright screen is standard throughout Volvo’s range, and runs the Google Built-In system for the V90 CC. On the one hand, handing over infotainment to an actual software company that’s been doing car stuff for years means the system is solid and useful, and you don’t need to connect a phone to it. On the other hand, it invites the biggest data gathering company in the world into the car on a permanent basis.

One of our favorite things about Volvo’s infotainment systems is the available Bowers & Wilkins system, and that’s long been the case with Volvo. A Harmon Kardon system comes standard with the Ultimate trim, but if you love listening to music and sound quality is that important to you, it’s $3,500 well spent.

Performance: A Smooth Driver

Volvo’s wagons have a long history of being excellent for more than just comfort and space – there are a number of sleeper wagons in its build up to what we know now. The V90 CC isn’t one of these, but that doesn’t mean it’s underpowered. It uses Volvo’s B6 powertrain, meaning it’s 2.0-liter engine is fitted with a turbocharger and supercharger, and helped by a 48-volt mild hybrid system. It’s complex, but nicely tuned to be smooth and responsive. There’s plenty of acceleration to get into moving traffic safely but, under hard acceleration, the engine sound is unrefined. Adding to the smooth feel is Volvo’s well-developed eight-speed transmission.

Ride and Handling

With the $1,200 adaptive chassis and rear air suspension upgrade, the V90 CC does a fantastic job of smoothing out the California deserts cracked and baked roads. On twisty roads, it’s surprisingly agile but doesn’t stray into the area of sporty, despite its strong power figures. Where the V90 CC shines is, well, just about everywhere. It’s just as pleasant to drive through the city in rush hour as it is on the freeway late at night.

We bumped off the road onto dirt tracks a few times, and quickly found that the adaptive suspension is a must. While it may not be as capable as a Subaru Outback when push comes to shove and things get slippery, it beats it, at least with the air suspension option ticked, on off-road ride quality. In a moderately well maintained local track, it felt like the Cross Country hadn’t even left the pavement. In bumpy and corrugated areas, the only way we can think of to get a smoother ride is with an off-road truck with tires featuring a big sidewall. And the V90 CC we drove was on summer tires. We were impressed.

Verdict & Pricing: They DO Still Make Them Like This

The V90 is priced to compete with premium and luxury SUVs, starting at $60,995 for 2025 (excluding destination). The Plus model is well-equipped, and wouldn’t disappoint anyone. The Ultimate (soon to become the Ultra) is the one to get at $69,995. However, the problem we have is that you still need some expensive options to get the V90 CC to its top level. The air suspension is a must-have for $1,200, as is the power-lift tailgate for $200 – a feature that should be standard at this level. Then, to get another feature that should be standard, a heated steering wheel is part of the $750 Climate Package, which also includes headlight washers and heated rear seats. With options, our Ultimate trim tester started at $64,750, but rolled out at $73,380 with the delivery charge attached.

The Volvo V90 Cross Country is one of those cars that drives how you expect based on how it looks. There’s no pretension to being sporty, so no aggressive scowl on its face or fake vents or harsh angles on the bodywork. While we’ve scoffed before at Volvo’s arbitrary decision that all its vehicles should be limited to 112 mph for safety, it’s not a car you’ll have any urge to bust that far through the speed limit with. It’s sleek and happy cruising at speed, but the comfort level and interior aesthetic reminds you there’s no hurry, plus you have that amazing sound system if you dropped the extra $3,500.