Photo: Volvo
There's something we find weirdly appealing about the V90 Cross Country - and other cars like it: they may very well be the most versatile cars out there. No, really, think about it.
Since most people who buy SUVs only use their abilities for the occasional snow-covered road, all they really need is a four-wheel-drive system, and not that increased ground clearance. And unless we're talking about something really big - like a Mercedes-Benz GLS or a Land Rover Discovery - a station wagon the size of the Volvo V90 is always going to offer more interior space than an SUV.
And then there's the design. Some may argue for the larger off-roaders, but we think the proportions of a wagon are more athletic, hence more pleasing on the eye. It's like comparing a body builder who has steroids for breakfast with a lean athlete that has a much better power-to-weight ratio.
Speaking of that, the dynamic performances of the two types of vehicles should not be ignored either. The taller figure of an SUV does grant the driver a higher vantage point over traffic, but it will also mean more rolling while cornering because of the higher center of gravity. A station wagon, on the other hand, can perform almost as well as a sedan, and with the right engine and transmission configuration that can spell "fun."
The Volvo V90 Cross Country might offer that winning combination in the form of its T8 Twin-Engine hybrid powertrain that generates 408 hp, and the Aisin eight-speed automatic transmission. Of course, it will come at a price, so for those who are looking for something more accessible, the all-terrain station wagon will offer a D5 diesel engine and a T5 gasoline turbo unit. As expected from a model such as this, all will have four-wheel-drive as standard.
The car looked like an amateur boxer in the spy shots with that black, foamy material covering it on all sides, but there's no real surprise to be had here. We know the recipe by now, so we're expecting a regular V90 with slightly higher ground clearance and some added plastic bits over the wheel arches and bumpers. These can be seen in the latest teaser showing the car under wraps in the middle of a cold Swedish landscape.
The V90 Cross Country should be revealed the following days, and it marks the latest model in what looks like a spectacular comeback for Volvo. Since its relaunch, the Swedish brand has found a design language almost everybody finds beautiful, and it's been very active in the field of autonomous driving, one of the technologies that could make or break carmakers in the short-term future. Things are looking good for Volvo right now.
And then there's the design. Some may argue for the larger off-roaders, but we think the proportions of a wagon are more athletic, hence more pleasing on the eye. It's like comparing a body builder who has steroids for breakfast with a lean athlete that has a much better power-to-weight ratio.
Speaking of that, the dynamic performances of the two types of vehicles should not be ignored either. The taller figure of an SUV does grant the driver a higher vantage point over traffic, but it will also mean more rolling while cornering because of the higher center of gravity. A station wagon, on the other hand, can perform almost as well as a sedan, and with the right engine and transmission configuration that can spell "fun."
The Volvo V90 Cross Country might offer that winning combination in the form of its T8 Twin-Engine hybrid powertrain that generates 408 hp, and the Aisin eight-speed automatic transmission. Of course, it will come at a price, so for those who are looking for something more accessible, the all-terrain station wagon will offer a D5 diesel engine and a T5 gasoline turbo unit. As expected from a model such as this, all will have four-wheel-drive as standard.
The car looked like an amateur boxer in the spy shots with that black, foamy material covering it on all sides, but there's no real surprise to be had here. We know the recipe by now, so we're expecting a regular V90 with slightly higher ground clearance and some added plastic bits over the wheel arches and bumpers. These can be seen in the latest teaser showing the car under wraps in the middle of a cold Swedish landscape.
The V90 Cross Country should be revealed the following days, and it marks the latest model in what looks like a spectacular comeback for Volvo. Since its relaunch, the Swedish brand has found a design language almost everybody finds beautiful, and it's been very active in the field of autonomous driving, one of the technologies that could make or break carmakers in the short-term future. Things are looking good for Volvo right now.
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