Volvo V90 Cross Country (2017 – 2023) Review

The Volvo V90 Cross Country is the premium off-road estate car for people who don’t want an SUV. A rival to the likes of the Audi A6 Allroad and Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain, designed to get its boots muddy at the weekend, while offering plenty of room in the, er… boot. Based on the standard V90 estate car, the Cross Country boasts a raised ride height, SUV-like body armour and rugged all-wheel-drive running gear. You also get a classy cabin, excellent driving manners, both on- and off-road, plus a generous level of standard kit. It’s not cheap, but it’s a thoroughly convincing alternative to an SUV.

Launched in 2017, the Volvo V90 Cross Country is designed for rural types who haven’t bought into the SUV craze. It’s based on the standard V90 – the ‘V’ is used to denote Volvo estate cars – and it rivals the likes of the Audi A6 Allroad, Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain and, to a lesser extent, the cheaper Subaru Outback.

It’s an expensive car. You’ll have to spend around £50,000 to buy a new V90 Cross Country, while heavy depreciation means you’ll lose a significant chunk of that outlay within the first few years.

This means the V90 Cross Country represents incredible value for money on the second-hand market. Some of the earliest cars, which are still covered by a manufacturer’s warranty, are available for less than £20,000. That’s the price of a new Ford Fiesta.

For that you get one of the most luxurious and sumptuous estate cars in the world, more ground clearance than the standard V90, the reassurance of all-wheel-drive, and enough space in the boot for whatever lifestyle things you do at the weekend.

Yes, the E-Class All-Terrain is more practical, but the V90 Cross Country remains a cavernous estate car. The boot is wide and of a good shape, while the low loading lip makes it easy to pack, unpack and for your dogs to climb aboard.

An electric tailgate comes as standard, along with levers in the boot for folding the rear seats. Do this and you’re presented with enough space to open a dog kennels.

Just don’t let your pooch run riot in the delightful cabin. The interior quality is a match for the V90’s German rivals, while the rich materials and subtle details give this suave Swede the edge in a small but fiercely competitive segment. Make no mistake, the V90 Cross Country is a fine place to while away the hours, on- or off-road.

It’s not designed to rival a Land Rover or a Land Cruiser, but how many SUVs are bought to go off-road? The Volvo V90 Cross Country is perfect for green lanes, rough tracks, parking at equestrian events and for accessing cottages at the end of a rutted road. When the weather turns nasty, you’ll be glad you’re driving a V90 Cross Country.

Just don’t drive it too quickly. This is a car for smooth and considered inputs, not for sharp cornering and swift acceleration. Push it too hard and you’ll put a dent in the already questionable fuel economy, especially if you opt for one of the petrol engines. The B4 and B5 diesel engines are better, especially since Volvo added mild hybrid tech to the mix.

The V90 Cross Country is likely to be more practical than the SUV you’re considering, almost certainly nicer to drive, and it offers a degree of exclusivity you won’t find elsewhere. We think the styling and cabin quality go some way to justifying the £50,000 price tag.

Not that we would recommend buying one new. Instead, let somebody else tackle the depreciation, leaving you to enjoy a used car bargain.

The long suspension travel and raised ride height combine to create an even more comfortable ride than the standard V90. It’s also less top-heavy and lighter than a Volvo SUV, which is something you’ll feel when cornering.

Not that this is a car that likes to be chucked into a corner like a BMW 5 Series Touring. It thrives on a smooth and relaxed driving style, with the suspension ironing out all but the worst creases in the road. Opt for the 19-inch alloy wheels for the best ride quality; the 20- and 21-inch rims can feel lumpy and crashy over rough surfaces.

Speaking of which, the V90 Cross Country is excellent off-road. It’s a car for green lanes and wet fields, rather than climbing mountains, but for most buyers this will be enough. It’s also wonderfully secure on wet and greasy roads.

All new Volvo V90 Cross Country models are powered by 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines with 48V mild hybrid technology. These are labelled ‘B’, regardless of whether it’s a petrol or diesel engine. The mild hybrid tech delivers an extended range of engine-off motoring, along with a small boost during acceleration.

The B4 diesel is good, developing 197hp, but the B5 diesel is punchier, offering 235hp. Crucially, it delivers more torque (480Nm), which will be useful if you intend to tow a caravan. The B4 and B5 petrol engines lack torque, but the smooth delivery of power is most welcome, and ideal if most of your driving involves short trips.

The eight-speed automatic transmission changes gear with familiar smoothness. It tends to hunt between gears, especially at low speeds, but the relaxed nature suits the V90 Cross Country.

The standard Volvo V90 was awarded a maximum five-star safety rating when it was crash-tested by Euro NCAP in 2017. Although the Cross Country hasn’t been tested, the reassurance of the all-wheel-drive system, plus an extensive list of safety equipment, should mean that it’s even safer than the standard model.

Standard safety kit includes multiple airbags, autonomous emergency braking, Isofix points for the outer rear seats, road sign information, run-off road mitigation and protection, automatic headlight levelling, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, hill descent control and heated washer jets.

All versions of the V90 Cross Country have a maximum towing capacity of 2,400kg, which is higher than the standard V90. Rear air suspension comes as standard, which helps ensure an even ride height even if you’re towing a trailer.

The wide, long and practical boot serves up 560 litres of space in five-seat mode, but this can be increased to 1600 litres by folding the 60/40-split rear seats. An electric tailgate is standard, along with remote-control seat release buttons in the boot.

The raised ride height provides a commanding driving position, but it’s not quite the same as you’d find in an XC60 or XC90 SUV. Some buyers might prefer the car-like driving position of the V90 Cross Country, and there’s no denying that this is an extremely comfortable car to drive.

It’s also roomy in the back, although rear seat passengers might miss the feeling of high in an SUV. On the plus side, there’s loads of headroom and legroom, along with plenty of storage for oddments.

Premium, bordering on luxurious. The V90 Cross Country is more than a match for its German rivals. In fact, we’d argue that Volvo does things better than Audi, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, with a focus on sophisticated design, rich materials and intricate trim.

The materials used for the dashboard feel upmarket, while the clever use of ambient lighting make the cabin feel as relaxing as taking a hot bath surrounded by candles. Other highlights include electric window switches with a smooth, deft action. It might be an expensive car, but the quality of the cabin justifies the price.

The dashboard is dominated by Volvo’s now familiar nine-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The portrait configuration gives it the feel of a tablet device, similar in style to the system found in Tesla models.

Almost everything is controlled via the touchscreen, which takes a bit of getting used to. Fortunately, the voice recognition is one of the best in the business, so you can control things like the heating, navigation and audio without lifting a finger.

Bank on spending around £50,000 for one with a couple of must-have options, which is £10,000 more than the price of the cheapest version of the standard V90.

The B4 diesel costs £47,860, while the more powerful B5 diesel weighs in at £51,660. The B5 petrol costs £50,040, but you’ll pay £54,040 for the B6 petrol. It’s best to think of the V90 Cross Country as a standalone model, with a number of desirable options included in the purchase price.

Steep depreciation means the V90 Cross Country is a second-hand bargain. You can buy a 2017 model for less than £20,000, which means the car has lost the best part of £30,000 in just three years. That’s £10,000 a year. Even 2018 cars are available for around £21,500.

Negotiate hard if you’re buying new. We’ve seen unregistered cars available with a £5,000 discount, even before you start haggling. Our recommendation would be to buy a nearly-new car, as the savings will make the second and third year depreciation a little easier to stomach. For example, we found a 2020 V90 Cross Country with delivery miles on the clock for just £35,000.

Unfortunately, the heavy deprecation means that the V90 Cross Country is far from competitive in terms of PCP deals. If you must buy new, it’s worth considering a personal contract hire (PCH) contract. After an initial rental of £7511, you’ll pay £379 a month over four years. This is based on 10,000 miles a year.

This is a heavy, all-wheel-drive car, so don’t expect excellent fuel economy from the Volvo V90 Cross Country. The B4 and B5 diesel engines are the most efficient, offering 41.5mpg to 45.5mpg on the combined cycle. These are recent WLTP figures, so they should be achievable in the real world.

The B5 is the most economical petrol engine, with the potential to deliver 34.0mpg to 36.6mpg. Meanwhile, the B6 petrol could manage 31.mpg to 34.4mpg on a combined cycle. 

Older models were tested using the less reliable NEDC standard, so the figures should be greeted with caution. We’d recommend using the new WLTP figures as a rough guide.

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) on a new V90 Cross Country is expensive. High CO2 emissions mean a first-year rate of £860 for the petrol versions, and £530 for the diesels. Things don’t improve in year two, as the V90 Cross Country is subject to the premium surcharge. This means you’ll pay an extra £325 per year on top of the £150 standard rate.

Insurance is another concern, with high group ratings resulting in expensive premiums. Overall, the V90 Cross Country is an expensive car to buy and run, especially in the first three years.

The Volvo V90 Cross Country is never going to be a big seller in the UK. Many buyers are turning to SUVs for family motoring, leaving cars like the V90 Cross Country to fight in a dwindling market. Even Volvo has turned its attention from estate cars to SUVs.

But an SUV cannot offer the same driving experience, practicality and understated elegance of an off-road estate car. The Volvo V90 Cross Country might not be the most practical of the bunch – that would be the E-Class All-Terrain – but in terms of driver satisfaction, it’s hard to beat. If you need a classy and capable all-weather wagon, the V90 Cross Country should be on your shortlist.