The Volvo V90 Cross Country gets typecast as a family car, and family is commonly presumed to be parents and kids. But the V90 Cross Country has five-passenger seating, the same as a sedan, and its cabin is far too splendid for the devastation young children are known to inflict on a car interior.
I envision the V90 Cross Country as ideal for boomers and people born in the early Gen X years. They’re more likely able to afford it, and appreciative if not flat-out in need of the comfortable, supportive seating and gentle ride. Their kids are grown. (Grandchildren are excluded from the interior devastation paradigm.) I can picture four old friends taking a road trip in the V90 Cross Country, riding in fine style and with scads of room for them and their luggage.
The V90 Cross Country is a wagon, what used to be called a station wagon. Behind the two rows of seats is an expansive cargo area. All-wheel drive is standard. The wagon provides the utility and driving stability of an SUV, without the high stance and uneven ride. Maneuverability is also better. Car-like design means the V90 Cross Country is easier to get into and out of.
This car is incredibly well built. It couldn’t be more solid if it were carved from granite. Not surprising, since Volvo is a brand known for its safety.
There are two forms of the V90 Cross Country: Plus ($60,995) and Ultra ($65,995).
It goes without saying that the Plus model is richly furnished with standard features of the luxury, tech, and safety varieties. The Ultra adds a head-up display, rear sunshades, ventilation for front seats, a beautiful crystal gear shifter and more. The standard leather upholstery is upgraded to Nappa leather. A high-end nonleather option would be nice.
On my Ultra test car, the standard premium audio was replaced by an even more premium Bowers and Wilkins system for $3,200.
Both V90 Cross Country models have a 2.0-liter four-cylinder supercharged and turbocharged B6 engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system. It’s paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Total output is a respectable 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. EPA fuel economy ratings are 22 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. Premium fuel is recommended.
The 2025 V90 Cross Country comes with a 12.3-inch digital gauge display and 9.0-inch vertically-oriented infotainment touchscreen. They’re artistically crafted to blend into the dash and center console. Operation isn’t 100-percent intuitive, but it’s close enough to ward off any major episodes.
A word on paint color: The gorgeous paint on my test car was a thousand times more stately than its Vapour Grey name implies.
2025 VOLVO V90 CROSS COUNTRY ULTRA
Base price, including destination charge: $65,995
Price as driven: $72,935
Mary Lowry is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a member and past president of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. She lives in Snohomish County. Vehicles are provided by automotive manufacturers as a one-week loan for evaluation purposes only. Manufacturers do not control content of the reviews.
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