Volvo V90 Cross-Country Review - For Ornithologists! - Test Drive | Everyday Driver
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- Опубліковано 7 кві 2021
- We drove the Volvo V90 Cross Country with a box! Is it the aspirational car for Subaru owners everywhere? We discuss its market position, and if drivers should truly consider it over a traditional SUV.
#Volvo #V90CC #CrossCountry # V90CrossCountry #VolvoWagon #Review #TestDrive
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I've had this car for a couple years, and it perfectly fits our need to deal with things like forestry roads for hiking trails and back country camping. Without the two inch lift, you bottom out on roads like this. But with this car you also get great highway fuel economy that something like an XC90 won't get. So it's a great all rounder.
I own a 95' Volvo 850 wagon with 450K miles. So when it dies, I'll aspire to the V90 T6 R Design. I love wagons and Volvos in particular. The understated elegance is so classy on all their new models especially the wagons. And the interior? Sublime.
I like the design of the current Volvos. I just miss their inline fives and inline six engines.
I drive this and live in the city. I used to drive an S60 T6 R-Design and roadside kerbs and potholes are my worst enemies. With the V90 Cross Country, I am no longer afraid of them.
As the owner/lessee of 3 consecutive Outback's (2015, 2018 and 2021), you guys are spot on when you say the Volvo is an aspirational car for Outback owners. I really like having a wagon and would love to step-up to a Volvo or Audi. However, while the Volvo and Audi are unquestionably better, I can lease an Outback Touring XT for well under $450 per month, zero down, zero out of pocket. Comparably equipped, the Volvo and Audi are well over $700 per month (at least). I can afford the difference, but, for me, the Outback is good enough. Its probably 75% of the car for about 50% of the ownership cost. I keep a 2010 Miata for weekend fun anyway.
The subaru is most likely better built, and will last far longer then the other 2, ESPECIALLY the audi.
@@senseicorey9979 i can see the audi, but volvos are pretty reliable, but thats just what ive heard
I will say that as both an ardent, lifelong ornithologist, gearhead, former V70R owner, and future V90 Cross Country owner (ornithologists shop for used Volvos...) - I heartily approve this message!
(And sorely tempted to leave this comment from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology account...😬)
Thanks for being in on the fun!
Well this review is so nicely balanced in all ways that it’s a real pleasure to watch!!!!
i sometimes feel like most people dont get the cross country's concept. i've seen motor journalists mock it for supposing to be "off road" but they are not getting what it really is
its not supposed to be an off road vehicle or an suv. its an luxury wagon that is capable of all waether/ all climate usabillity. i run the previous gen xc70 in a country where you drive throgh snow and winter conditions most part of the year. and it does it brilliantly, it has more ride height than the std awd v70, and the unpainted plastics on the lower half of it can be dragged through snow and mud all day long with out getting damaged
"The birds will notice you"!
I am cracking up 🐦. Love this review and this car. The sedan version, the S90, is wonderful too, and also comes in colors that won't scare birds.
Woah!! The way you described how Volvo drives is impressive!!! Coming from Audi, I am thinking of trying a Volvo and I am worried about the driving experience and you explained it so well I am sold!! I hope you do Volvo wagons for 2024! Thanks for doing this, i am so impressed. Do you guys think that air suspension is a must? I was hoping to get this car but without the air suspension. I don't carry heavy loads that often.
Great review as always. What’s with all these cool lux wagons popping up all of a sudden? I like it.
Thanks for the review you covered a lot of good info! I have a 2010 volvo xc60 and seats in it are very comfortable. Suggestion for future reviews.. How is the voice recognition? I know you have a lot to cover in a review but it would be nice to know how the voice recognition works in the cars you review for functions etc., for better safety and less distractions. Cheers!
really enjoy my 2017. After driving Subaru (Outback) from early 90's discovered Volvo in 2006. No regrets. Of note is that most relevant controls (cabin temp, heated seats & sterring) , radio, navigation) can be voice directed. Good review.
As the owner of a forester XT, this and the Mercedes all-terrain are my aspirational vehicles. Just hard to justify the price gap when my XT was $34k.
Love my V90 CC. I highly recommend.
Watch savage geese . He got a $89000 for $46000
Just don’t option the shit out of it like these press cars. I got my 2020 V90CC T6 AWD for $49k. I didn’t need a $4000 stereo or $1500 air suspension. I definitely did not need to get the “lounge” leather package, as the standard leather seats are super comfortable as it is. Take all these add on’s off (which your Scubaru doesn’t have anyway) and the price gap isn’t so large.
BTW, I absolutely love my V90CC. I’m coming up on 1 year of ownership and I have zero regrets. Love the car.
Thank You for this review! I have been confused as which model to get and It's the regular V90 for sure. Never needed my SUV and never enjoyed the ride. Looking forward to the V90!
I tried driving a used outback.. 2012 model.. and the seats were too short and not very comfortable , and it was slow. I hated the shifting of the transmission. So this has to be better.
The air suspension might be great now, but its expensive to service later.
As a luxury brand I think the volvo is more reliable than bmw. And less reliable than lexus.
I like the wagon shape. Because everyone drives suv's.
Paul , todd.. how long before people decide a car is better. Less truck size. More reasonable ??
Wagons are the jam, but they don’t have the tall sidewalls of an SUV. We have heinous roads in Atlanta and they wreak havoc on rims with low profile tires.
I know your struggle. Gwinnett county roads are the worst
I own a 2020 V90 Inscription T6 AWD wagon, and sold my 2011 Subaru Outback. My V90 handles fairly well and offers reasonable storage space and utility. What makes this car really special is its extremely comfortable seats and the attention it gets from other drivers. I purchased this car primarily for long distance trips and my V90 just eats up miles. Also, numerous times people have stopped me in parking lots to inquire about and marvel at my car. Other than the owner of an exotic or very high end luxury car, who can say they've had the same experience?
I agree. I own a 2020 V90 CC and I can’t believe how many people stop and come t or ask questions about it. You just never see them in the Midwest.
@@ahome8089 Not surprised about people's interest in our cars. Glad to see you're having the same experience as me. Regarding my 2020 V90 Inscription, from what I've found, there were only around 279 V90's Inscription and Rs, combined, that were sold in the USA in 2020. Of this total, less than 100, per informal feedback from several sales sources, were an Inscription. Regarding the V90 CC, 1019 were sold. While it is rare to see a V90 CC, it's even rarer to see a V90 R, and rarer still to see a V90 Inscription. I've owned mine for 12 months and, driving through NJ, PA, NY, CT and MA, I have yet to see another Inscription, while I've seen around 5 Rs. Particularly in CT and MA, I've noticed, relatively speaking, V90 CCs more often.
Looked like central WA. Great review BTW
My Wife has the R-Line VC90 and she loves it
Great work guys-using a line from a brain fart and generating a title only understood once the video is done. That's why I watch. 👍
Men.. if I am fording streams and looking at ground clearance I am getting a land cruiser and adding lockers..
If you consider fire roads off road we are on different pages.. fire roads are like going to starbucks and they are fixing a pot hole in the parking lot.
You are correct that sane drivers even off road folks can use that wagon for 80 to 90 percent of the trails and roads.
My neighbor owns a cabin in the woods and when his atv got stuck he drove in the woods with his lincoln town car to pull out the atv.. and he got the job done with no issues.
While this can be a step up for Outback owners, the problem is part of the Outback buyer demographics includes people who can easily afford the Volvo and then some, but still choose the Outback. I have no doubt those people have cross shopped the Subaru and Volvo, and likely some other luxury brands.
I love my V90. Didn't need the extra clearance (most people don't!). I'd rather be closer to the road and have a better handling car.
I drive on a lot of uneven roads and slightly softer suspension is very welcome. The increased ground clearance is important for those unmade roads and more awkward places to access. When there's snow on the ground I much prefer to have the extra ground clearance.
What a great car...HOWEVER, I just can’t get by the less than pleasant sounding 4 cylinder...which you cannot escape since EVERY Volvo uses the same engine with different things strapped to it (which begs the question why they aren’t cheaper since they are saving tons by using one engine)...The T8 of any model with the polestar chip is an absolute rocket! But it sounds terrible and I’m not confident about the longevity of it. The infotainment system seems very nice, but it’s not fully baked yet. BUT, the upgraded stereo is the best in the business, hands down! Sound is AMAZING! The rest of the infotainment will take a few more iterations to get it down, but I like it. I don’t agree with the Outback comparo....you want an outback so you can just throw muddy/wet stuff in it. Can’t see Volvo owners doing that, even with the base model. I don’t see the comparo with the high end luxury either. Compared to an AUDI and BMW (both of which I’ve owned), this just feels too unstable to me, even with the air suspension for some reason. My guess is it’s lighter than the X5 or Q7 and therefore doesn’t feel as solid and planted, but don’t know for sure. Skittish is probably a good word. I would love to own one though and would go with the T8 for sure.
I’d love to see you guys compare this to an outback
When you mention the "inhale" of the engine, are you saying there's a significant lag between the moment you press the gas and the actual acceleration of the vehicle?
To even mention the Outback is high praise. Many Subaru owners could own more upmarket but choose not too...something a company like Volvo would have a hard time overcoming.
I owned a 2011 Subaru Outback, sold it to my neighbor (who uses it as a train station parking lot car), after which I purchased a 2020 Volvo V90 Inscription. Regarding the Outback, I liked its comfortable seats, good fuel economy, excellent storage room and very good driving in snow. Also, other than for routine maintenance, no other problems were encountered. I'm just trying to be fair with my evaluation. However, the cons were the inferior paint (faded), metal work (razor thin and was very easily be dented) and plastic body cladding (looked old and gray, no matter what I did to keep it looking good), all of which were impossible to maintain in an as-new condition, which I try to do with all of my new cars. Honestly, it got to the point where I couldn't stand looking at it.
If Subaru would have paid as much attention to the outside quality of the Outback, as they do to the engine and inside, I might have considered either (a) keeping my old Outback (only had 75K miles and was mechanical sound) or (b) purchased a new one.
Nice conversation. I was hoping for a bit more tech. 4C suspension, sensors, pilot assist, collision avoidance, animal detection? There's a lot to these vehicles now and 4C isn't what it used to be with the true-R vehicles of yesteryear. Is the "category" of "sport" wagon gone? RS6? E63S? Sure, that'll get you there! Where Outback is just rudely pedestrian, Volvo is, at least civilized!
Nice. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻😎😎😎 I own a Subaru. I've always liked Volvo. It's just too expensive for me. Indeed it's better than German technology, but it's too expensive for the average person. 67,000$ is a lot.
Well, it's true BUT you don't have to buy a NEW one!
I drove a Volvo XC60 with a roof box and it does affect the handling and mpg, so wouldn't use it daily if not required, take it off and you will feel quite a difference.
Great test. Where did you perform the test drive?
Their in the Rockies.
67?lol they are like 90 where I live. But is true, that is an aspirational wagon.
In the level of quiet inside the cabin .. how quiet is it ?
Have these guys never heard of the 3 generations of XC70‽
I really wish Volvo wasn't a Chinese company now. I have a 2000 V70 XC cross country, I think I'll hang onto it.
I’m glad they are apart of Volvo what you don’t know these cars are still Swedish Chinese just supply the money not the designs or it’s safety features. Ford could had destroyed Volvo I’m glad the Chinese invested in this remarkable car company.
Is that thunder gray color ?
On top form again guys.... "the birds will notice you" 🤣🤣🤣
Perhaps this is a double step up from my 6MT VW Alltrack. With that slopping rear window, you think you could fit a large dog (Greyhound) back there comfortably?
I have a V90 CC and my 200 pound Great Dane easily fits in back. Granted, to your point, he can’t really sit up, unless in back seat as opposed to laying seats flat in back, because of the roofline.
“You feel it inhale” 😂
At 11:55 Todd and I are making the same face. Paul, sophisticated and classy are just euphemisms for boring
🤣The birds will notice you
P&T why sont you think more car companies twin charge (super & turbo charger) their cars? And Volvo, "the forgotten luxury brand" forever
Guys, it is not a sports car. It is a wagon
Give me the V60 regular all day 😊
Really wish Volvo wasn't a Chinese company now. I have a 2000 V70 XC Cross Country, think I'll hang on to it.
Volvo isn´t any less Swedish now than they were under Ford ownership...actually they are more Swedish now than under Ford. Geely Holdings pretty much just gave Volvo a blank check to do what they want. Geely profits from that by Volvo being a much more profitable company now and being able to use Volvo´s developments in their other brands like Geely Auto and LYNK&CO.
Just because everyone is doing it doesn't make it the good thing to do. I also miss regular wagons but am forced to buy either a lifted wagon or an suv. Height isn't that much different between a high wagon and suv. Given that, I'd likely just forgo the wagon and buy an suv and get more space. Wish I lived in Europe.
Are these Volvo reliable ?
They are the forgotten lux brand because they are still priced too high. Dealer network might also have something to do with it as well. Euro reliability or now that Volvo falls under a Chinese company might factor in to the decision also. Volvo is more in line with Acura and should play in a price bracket 10-15% below where they are. Just because it's European/'Scandinavian' doesn't not automatically make it a luxury car. Black, white, silver, grey = 90% of volvos on the road because those colors lease the best (sad actually). Speaking of lease, how many Volvo owners keep the car past the warranty period? If it is that good, why flip it every three to four years?
Turbo and supercharger ?. Feels like engine won’t last
Nice wagon...that coffin on the roof though :/
It is removable 🤨
It's officially V90XC, NOT V90CC
No, it`s V90CC (V90 Cross Country). XC also means cross country, but when moving in the new generation of Volvos they wanted to clean up their model range and naming scheme. Therefore the XC-name was made exclusive to the SUV`s. So V90CC is the official short name for the V90 Cross Country used by Volvo.
Key thing to keep in mind: A volvo feels unmistakably front wheel drive biased. At this price point, the vehicle dynamics are going to matter to you. Maybe not on the test drive, but they eventually will. And at that point, you don't want to be in a V90
Two years ago, I had a rental S80 for about a month for a very long road trip where we visited a bunch of cities and national parks while crossing the US and never was the FWD-ness of the car a problem.
@@TJDST4 And I don't see why it would have been a problem on a long road trip, driving around? Especially as a car you aren't going to keep. Volvos shine as comfortable highway cruisers.
Did you wind up buying an S80 years later or is it just a part of a good vacation? I assume it's the latter?
My point really is that at the price the V90 costs - or other top trim Volvos - you should care about dynamics. It's part of the cost at that price range. And a well sorted FWD-bias just doesn't deliver the same feeling.
@@meatblade3490 You are correct. I did not buy one immediately after that trip. Instead I transferred to a duty station on the other side of the planet for a few years. That being said, Volvos are high on my list of cars to possibly buy after retiring from the Navy.
I do care about vehicle dynamics, have driven a wide variety of vehicles, not every vehicle, but did not find the Volvo to be lacking anything for a daily driver that will never see a track. I have an actual racecar for that.
@@TJDST4
You can just say you like it, regardless of it's FWD-bias.
You don't score brownie points by throwing out being in the service or what other cars you own. Have some confidence in your own opinions and you won't need to mention that kind of stuff to make yourself feel more qualified.
Have a good one, mr. race-car deckhand.
@@meatblade3490 fair enough.
well, take the box off !
I truly dont understand why people would still buy a boring stupid SUV instead of a wagon like the V90
Отличная тачка. У вас неправильное представление о современном
Seems like an out of warranty nightmare?
I wonder. That’s why I’m keeping my build simple. No air suspension. No lounge pkg
- it adds a lot of (for me) unnecessary whistles that will be a costly nightmare when they start failing.
@@josegonzalez570Sensible! Some people have no issues. However, the Volvo forums are full of expensive issues. The Supercharged engines have a weak tube which regularly bursts. Outside of warranty it's £400 to replace each time it goes. There are gearbox gremlins which seem to specifically occur at low speeds and with stop-start. Electrical issues were common but I don't recall which issue kept reoccurring.
@@shrimperlincs3395 I've been reading the swedespeed forum but logically, not much info on '21 V90 R design. I ended up deciding to add the AWD, despite how pricey it is (adds $6k), I figure the peace of mind is worth it. I'm in east Texas and it rains quite a bit as well as potential snowfall in JAN-FEB.
The hating on the Outback is unnecessary and not appreciated. It is also a car that is more reliable, more capable off paved roads and will retain its value when traded or sold.
In the US the regular (non CC) version of the V60 & 90 are no longer offered.
I took a long and hard look at the v60/90 models and did not like the fact that the useless sunroof was mandatory, that a cloth interior was only available on the lowest trim, that it requires premium fuel, the steering is way too slow and the ground clearance needs to be a little higher. It is a nice effort but way overpriced. The only real negatives on the Outback are the awful CVT, the generally worthless EyeSight system and the clumsy implementation of start/stop.
Let’s take an Outback Onyx or Wilderness out against the V60 and V90 CC on some forest roads and see which is actually a better car for the purpose. The Outback sells better because it is a better car for the purpose.
....me thinks you've misheard these guys... they LOVE the Outback...it's just an eye roll that they are so common. They say THIS V90cc should be as common.
Who the hell really drives on fire roads, or even knows what they are?
Me.
Many mountain bike trail heads are on fire roads
Love it!
In this year the 100th anniversary of Chinese Communist Party #CCP, stoked to know Volvo is now owned by Geely of China #MadeInChina2025 #BeltAndRoad #BeijingOlympics2022 #OccupyMars2024
My dad bought me this as my first car $75,245 black exterior plus fully loaded black interior and I love It, and its a wagon for sure
I wish my dad could!
Underpowered with a 2.0 4 cylinder turbo. Big disappointment. Settled on the Cadillac XT5 with a naturally aspirated 3.6 engine that has great power and burns regular unleaded gasoline.
Yet another video that gives absolutely no indication of the trunk space, and with the rear seats folded flat. So much repetition. Utter waste of time. I won't get those 20 minutes of my life back.