Skip advert
Advertisement

New Volvo V90 Cross Country T6 2017 review

Verdict as the rugged Volvo V90 Cross Country estate gets petrol power

Overall Auto Express Rating

3.0 out of 5

Find your Volvo V90
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Customers got an average £1000 more vs part exchange quotes
Advertisement

The Volvo V90 Cross Country remains a handsome, practical and well equipped family car, but the 2.0-litre T6 engine doesn’t show it in its best light. The engine makes the model quicker than it really needs to be and as a result it’s not very efficient; better value for money can be found with the diesel D4.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Consumer confidence in diesel is lower than it’s ever been, so the launch of a new T6 petrol engine in the Volvo V90 range couldn’t have come at a better time.

There is a slight snag, though; the company doesn’t offer the 2.0-litre unit across the range, so the only way to get one is by splashing out more than £50,000 on the Cross Country model. That’s not an insignificant sum when you consider that the V90 CC line-up starts at £40,640 for the basic all-wheel-drive D4 diesel.

Best estate cars on sale

The T6 engine is intriguing because it’s a 316bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder, which is both turbocharged and supercharged. The benefit of twincharging, in theory at least, is the instant power delivery of a supercharger and high-end shove of the turbo – resulting in a seamlessly smooth engine. The reality is rather different, however.

From start-up and at low speeds, the engine is incredibly quiet, but squeeze the throttle and there’s a noticeable delay before the eight-speed auto gearbox shifts down and you gain any momentum. When you do it’s deceptively quick for a car of this size and weight – with the competent all-wheel-drive system helping to slingshot you from 0-62mph in 6.3 seconds.

Once up and running, performance may be impressive but economy certainly isn’t; Volvo claims just 36.7mpg for the Cross Country T6 model, but you’ll be doing well to get above 30mpg in normal driving. The cheaper D5 will do a claimed 53.3mpg – and with lower CO2 emissions, too.

The £1,500 optional Air Suspension does a great job of cushioning the ride, but the wheels thud into potholes and expansion joints, sending a jolt through the cabin.

The V90 Cross Country has a beautifully crafted interior and ours even featured the brilliant Bowers and Wilkins sound system – although at £3,000 it’s an expensive extra.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars will now pay £10 more per year, although the biggest gas guzzlers fare even worse
28 Mar 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
26 Mar 2024
Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years
Upcoming Audi models - four-way image
News

Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years

After a quiet few years, the German giant is gearing up for its biggest product onslaught to date
25 Mar 2024