Volvo V90 Cross Country (2017-2023) Review
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Written by Andrew Brady
Quick overview
Pros
- On and (some) off-road ability
- High quality interior with excellent seats
- Practical with a big boot and strong towing capacity
Cons
- Expensive to buy
- Surprisingly firm ride in some configurations
- Thirsty petrol engines
Overall verdict
"The Volvo V90 Cross Country is the spiritual successor to the old XC70. These days, ‘XC’ denotes SUVs in Volvo’s model range, and the V90 Cross Country most certainly isn’t an SUV – intentionally so."
![Volvo V90 Cross Country (2017-2023) Review: cornering](https://preview-assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/3b3d460e-c5ae-0195-6b86-3ac7fb9d52db/717aadd4-a08c-4f8f-a870-d0fadb0c7323/Volvo%20V90%20Cross%20Country%20%284%29.jpg?w=1920&q=80&fm=webp&lossless=0)
Rather, it’s an estate car for people who need more ground clearance and rough-road ability, but also want the better handling, improved practicality and more socially acceptable appearance of an estate.
Audi will claim its the brand that introduced the estate-SUV crossover with its original A6 Allroad. Volvo follows the same formula: take a normal estate, raise the ride height, add tough plastic body cladding and equip it with rugged all-wheel-drive running gear so it can impersonate a mountain goat.
One of the V90 Cross Country’s most appealing aspects is how well it drives, given this enhanced off-road ability. Larger, taller SUVs can feel heavy and cumbersome when driving swiftly on fast, winding roads. Yet the V90 Cross Country seems little different to the already excellent Volvo V90 estate. It is composed, stable and quick-witted. And because it’s lighter than a bulky SUV, the engines also perform better, and emit less CO2.
In other words, the V90 Cross Country has just enough SUV abilities to get the job done without being lumbered with an excess of weight, cost and complexity. Very clever. Very Volvo.
You might think an SUV would be a more practical car, but generally they’re not. They’re not as space-efficient so, while they might be good for passengers, they simply don’t have the boot space demanded of a proper load-lugger. No such grumbles with the V90 Cross Country, which has the same well-shaped, commodious boot as the regular V90. No, it’s not as big as a Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain, but it’s still large and practical: just the job for delivering antiques to that Welsh hillside retreat.
It’s a lovely car to sit in. The seats are tremendous, as they often are in Volvos. Occupants face an attractive, modern dashboard, finished to the highest standards. The seating position is good: just high enough to feel a bit more commanding, without seeming too ostentatious.
Equipment levels are also high, reflecting the hefty list prices (this is not a cheap car). Many of the gadgets are built into Volvo’s portrait-style infotainment system and you’ll probably be discovering features you didn’t know you had for months after taking delivery.
The petrol and diesel engines are potent even in entry-level guise, with top-spec versions offering over 300PS. This helps make the V90 Cross Country a genuinely fast car against the clock – another reason it appeals to some when compared to a normal SUV. They all come with an automatic gearbox, as you’d expect.
What really sells cars such as the Cross Country to their loyal buyers is that they are not SUVs. They offer all the capabilities of one, but don’t look like one or feel like one to drive. The thinking person’s off-roader, if you like. The Volvo appeals for this fact alone. Add in the fact it’s a damn good car in its own right and the allure is clear to see.
The Volvo V90 Cross Country is a very appealing SUV alternative indeed. We love its understated image and classy appearance, the on-road confidence it delivers, plus its eye-opening off-road ability. The only negative is its price – this is not a cheap car. Even here, though, loyal buyers don’t mind. Compared to an alternative SUV, it’s still good value.
Looking for a used car for sale? We've got 100s of Volvo Approved Used Cars for Sale for you to choose from, including a wide range of Volvo V90 Cross Country cars for sale.
Is the Volvo V90 Cross Country right for you?
What’s the best Volvo V90 Cross Country model/engine to choose?
What other cars are similar to the Volvo V90 Cross Country?
Comfort and design
"There isn’t a Volvo on sale today that doesn’t have a wonderful interior. The V90 Cross Country is naturally very similar to the V90 estate, with the familiar portrait-style touchscreen, wide centre console and jewel-like detailing."
![Volvo V90 Cross Country (2017-2023) Review: interior](https://preview-assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/3b3d460e-c5ae-0195-6b86-3ac7fb9d52db/2e381d80-2843-42fe-88bb-e8775559dd7d/Volvo%20V90%20Cross%20Country%20%286%29.jpg?w=1920&q=80&fm=webp&lossless=0)
Cross Country models get some chunkier trim, while the sense of comfort is enhanced by being positioned just a bit higher off the ground.
The attention to detail in design is fantastic. Take the starter button – it’s not actually a button, but a metal knob, that you turn clockwise to start and stop the car. It’s beautifully tactile, as are the dials to control the air vents, the polished black buttons on the steering wheel and the beautifully shaped speaker grilles.
The dashboard has been built around the iPad style touchscreen – more on that below – so it has a very contemporary appearance. It’s very modern and Swedish.
Then there are the seats. Once you’ve sat in them, you’ll wish Ikea sold equivalents for your house. They’re incredibly comfortable, with feelgood support in all the right places, and they’re beautifully upholstered as well. Even after hours behind the wheel, they feel great – and those in the rear aren’t short-changed either.
Quality and finish
Infotainment
Space and practicality
Handling and ride quality
"The V90 Cross Country drives not unlike a Volvo V90 estate. This is the very appeal of the car for many of its buyers. Handling, rather than feeling a bit top-heavy through bends, is more dynamic and better controlled, with less soggy rock-and-roll."
![Volvo V90 Cross Country (2017-2023) Review: rear driving](https://preview-assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/3b3d460e-c5ae-0195-6b86-3ac7fb9d52db/06e266ad-3b20-4011-87d8-2790dc0f7de8/Volvo%20V90%20Cross%20Country%20%283%29.jpg?w=1920&q=80&fm=webp&lossless=0)
Modern SUVs are good, and nothing like the dramatic boat-like machines of yesteryear, but the Cross Country is better still. That’s thanks to being so much more car-like.
All models come with intelligent all-wheel drive, offering good tenacity in inclement weather. This all-weather safety and security is a key selling point of the V90 Cross Country. Even those who will never take it off the beaten track still count upon the fact it will shrug off flooded roads. And not bat an eyelid at driving through a snowfall.
It’s not a focused driver’s car, of course, not in the way a BMW 5 Series Touring is. But that’s not Volvo’s schtick anyway. Easygoing and accurate steering, excellent high-speed stability and powerful brakes are instead.
It generally rides competently, aided by long suspension travel and the fact it doesn’t need to battle against the sheer weight of an SUV. The springs are, however, a bit firmer than in a normal V90, and can be caught out with a bit of a thud over bumpy country roads. For this reason, we’d maybe steer clear of models with the very largest alloy wheels, which are more susceptible here. The best ride is on 19-inch wheels. The 20-inch rims feel lumpy and the 21-inch alloys can be crashy and stiff in a most unexpected way.
As standard, the V90 Cross Country gets rear air suspension, which helps ensure an even ride height even if you have heavy loads in the boot or are towing a trailer. As an FYI it can haul 2.4 tonnes, which is 600kg more than a regular V90 estate. As an option, adaptive dampers are available, giving a smoother and more stable ride on challenging roads. They also have a clever off-road mode that calls up the car’s hill descent control and other electronic aids.
Engines and gearboxes
Refinement and noise levels
Safety equipment
MPG and fuel costs
"D4 and D5 models both return between 50mpg and 54mpg on the older fuel economy test. T5 versions do 37-38mpg, and the T6 manages 36-37mpg."
![Volvo V90 Cross Country (2017-2023) Review: drive mode](https://preview-assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/3b3d460e-c5ae-0195-6b86-3ac7fb9d52db/8d0d160a-9276-4bc7-a115-c148525236e3/Volvo%20V90%20Cross%20Country%20%289%29.jpg?w=1920&q=80&fm=webp&lossless=0)
This means fuel costs should prove lower than a full-size SUV, but higher than a lower-slung, front-wheel-drive V90 estate.
New models follow the more real-world WLTP test. A D4 is rated at 43.5mpg, the D5 is 40.9mpg, while both T5 and T6 return 32.5mpg. The mild hybrids are better: a B5 returns 37.2mpg and the B6 averages 34.4mpg.
Insurance groups and costs
VED car tax
How much should you be paying for a used Volvo V90 Cross Country?
"Good news: on the second-hand market, you can now buy a Volvo V90 Cross Country for around half what you’ll pay for a new one."
![Volvo V90 Cross Country (2017-2023) Review: boot space](https://preview-assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/3b3d460e-c5ae-0195-6b86-3ac7fb9d52db/07e6fb55-9d34-4bf2-8a96-6cceb1396d88/Volvo%20V90%20Cross%20Country%20%288%29.jpg?w=1920&q=80&fm=webp&lossless=0)
These early D4 and D5 Powerpulse models will have slightly above-average mileage, but will still come from manufacturer-approved retailers, offering tremendous value for your £22,000 investment.
Cars from 2018 start from around £25,000, and these will have covered fewer miles. Again, it’s D4 and D5 models that dominate – with the odd well-equipped Pro model found amongst them – but as these are the favoured engines, that’s no bad thing.
Up your budget to £30,000 and 2019 cars will be within reach, often with sub-10,000 mileages. This really is the cream of the V90 Cross Country crop and a very compelling alternative to a brand-new model.
Trim levels and standard equipment
Volvo V90 Cross Country cars for sale on heycar
Volvo V90 Cross Country2.0 T5 Cross Country Plus 5dr AWD Geartronic
202039,280 milesPetrol£427 mo£26,990
Good priceBH124LYVolvo V90 Cross Country2.0 B6P Cross Country Ultimate 5dr AWD Auto
202314,122 milesHybrid£734 mo£45,807
EX28EDVolvo V90 Cross Country2.0 B5P Cross Country 5dr AWD Auto
202130,264 milesHybrid£29,500
Great priceWA27DHVolvo V90 Cross Country2.0 B5P Cross Country Plus 5dr AWD Auto
20241,016 milesHybrid£818 mo£52,995
WF26AHVolvo V90 Cross Country2.0 B5P Cross Country Plus 5dr AWD Auto
20243,745 milesHybrid£49,950
LS72BH
Volvo V90 Cross Country Alternatives
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