Volvo V90 Cross Country Test Drive Review

Performance – Powering the V90 Cross-Country is the D5 engine which also happens to be the most powerful 2.0-litre diesel engine by Volvo in India. Churning out a massive 235 BHP and 480 NM of torque, this engine competes with the 6-cylinder units offered by the competitors. Power delivery is linear and there is no sudden surge in power. The engine has a strong low-end and mid-range and powers tops at a little over 4000 RPM. When you floor the throttle on urgency, there is barely any lag and the V90 Cross Country takes off effortlessly. Even though this is a 2.0-litre oil burner, power seems adequate for the job, be it city driving or the highway. This engine is also expected to return best-in-class fuel efficiency.

The 2.0-litre engine has adequate power on tap, with driveability being good

In order to reduce turbo lag and ensure good driveability, Volvo is using a very clever piece of tech in this car. Known as ‘Powerpulse’, this technology uses compressed air which is stored in a cylinder. Once you give the throttle the beans, the compressed air gushes into the turbo, thereby reducing lag and improving driveability. Mated to this engine is an 8-speed automatic transmission which works well in both city and highway conditions. There is no sports mode on offer but you can use the paddle-shifters when you want to drive with urgency. The V90 Cross Country is only the second car to get it in India after the S60 Polestar.

You also have 4 driving modes to choose from. Eco, Comfort, Off-Road and Dynamic. The Eco mode, as the name suggests is about driving to get maximum fuel economy. The gearshifts are relaxed and shift way before the rev limit. In Comfort mode, the steering feels lighter, the shifts are relaxed and the suspension setup favours comfortable ride over handling. The Off-Road mode is the one which truly highlights the essence of this car. In this mode, ground clearance is maximised, hill descent control is turned on and more torque is channelled to the rear wheels making this car tread into terrain which a sedan wouldn’t dare. Mind you, the low profile tyres may be the spoilers for the party as you could easily bust a tyre in some tricky ground. Once you cross 40 km/hr in this mode, the car automatically moves to comfort mode. It is unlikely that V90 Cross Country owners will get into some serious off-roading. The Dynamic mode is what enthusiasts will prefer. In this mode, gearshifts are more aggressive, the dampers tighten up and the chassis shines around the twisties. The steering too weighs up giving a more predictable feel.

Driving Dynamics – The V90 Cross Country gets All Wheel Drive as standard and in routine the power is channelled through the front wheels. However, when the wheels detect slip or the car is in the Off-Road mode, power goes through the rear wheels. In simple speak, this car offers tremendous amount of grip and those Pirelli tyres on our car only complemented the chassis. Ride quality was surprisingly good for a car which sits high on ride height. Volvo has got air suspension at the rear so from the ride point of view, the rear seat is more comfortable. Slow speed ride deserves a special mention, even in off-road conditions. At high speeds, the big craters do creep inside the car but only slightly. This car is heavy and with the added weight, there is some amount of body-roll. The brakes bite well with very predictable braking distances. The diesel clatter is obvious on the outside but the cabin is so well insulated, that there is practically no outside sound creeping inside.