In opposition to all odds and gross sales sense, the 2021 Volvo V90 continues to be kicking and obtainable to order in america. Not solely that, however Volvo gave it a mini mid-cycle replace this 12 months, altering the styling and including extra tech. It’s nonetheless disappointing that Volvo doesn’t preserve any V90s in inventory at sellers, however it appears to be like like the easiest way to promote a wagon on this nation is to make it order-only just like the Mercedes-AMG E 63 S or Audi RS6 Avant.
Nicely, that, or carry it and apply physique cladding as within the case of the V90’s Cross Nation sibling. Sellers do carry these. Nonetheless, you’ll be glad that you just took the time to particular order the non-lifted, uncladded V90. It is a design masterpiece; a full-size household car that forces you to look again at it each time you stroll away. Volvo hasn’t struck out with a single design over the previous few years, and this V90 is definitely the model’s crowning achievement. Proportions, stance, lighting and wheels; all of it’s pleasing to the attention. The massively helpful cargo space and massive again seat simply elevate the bar even increased. {That a} car might be as sensible as this one is, deal with like a automobile and nonetheless look this good simply makes it much more interesting.
This Volvo goes from level A to level B like a member of the Swedish royal household sweeping throughout a crowded ballroom centuries in the past. Poised and chic, the V90 silently wafts down the highway using on a pillowy air suspension. There’s no rush. Curious eyes flip to catch a glimpse of one thing they not often see. But the V90 by no means calls for anyone take discover with extravagant creases or a gaudy grille. It simply exists on this glamorous state of purist wagon nirvana.
Simplicity tends to breed essentially the most interesting automobile designs, however labeling the V90 as simplistic can be a misnomer. This Inscription trim V90 is adorned with simply the correct quantity of shiny chrome, highlighting the sharp styling and drawing the attention downward. Volvo’s updates serve to clean out the entrance and rear fascias even additional, going as far as to delete the rear exhaust outlet within the bumper in favor of an invisible under-car exit. It fits the wagon’s perspective and likewise serves to organize our eyes for an electrical future. A brand new and rather more intricate rear LED taillight design animates a pleasant “whats up” from bottom-to-top on the press of the unlock button, or top-to-bottom for “goodbye.” The brand new 20-inch wheel design completes the image with a placing vibrant and darkish two-tone end.
As in each different Volvo, the Swedish design aesthetic continues to the leather-swathed and wood-trimmed inside. The V90 isn’t particular versus different Volvos right here apart from its obtainable area. A 6-foot-tall individual might sit comfortably behind themselves. Volvo’s built-in booster seats for the rear make it family-friendly, and the rear even has its personal set of local weather controls to provide the children their very own temperature zone. There’s sadly no rear-facing third row, however cargo area is voluminous at 25.5 cubic ft behind the second row. Drop the rear seatbacks, and that expands to an enormous 53.9 cubes. It’s even entertaining to open and shut the rear hatch, as a shade whirs ahead and again electronically to cowl or uncover your gadgets within the cargo maintain.
The brand new tech contained in the 2021 V90 consists of a wi-fi cellphone charger, a brand new and improved air-filtration system (it allows you to monitor air cleanliness by way of the infotainment system), an much more banging non-compulsory Bowers & Wilkins audio system and USB-C shops to interchange some USB-A shops. Sadly, the wi-fi cellphone charger is a little bit of a joke, as a result of Volvo didn’t redesign the middle console to suit it correctly. As a substitute, Volvo has squeezed in a rubberized mat that’s far too small for a lot of of right this moment’s bigger telephones, and it permits them to fly onto the ground if you hit the throttle or brake too exhausting. It’s typically ineffective and we would in all probability favor to simply plug our telephones within the old style method and benefit from the small bin the wi-fi charger eliminates.
In fact, this wagon doesn’t precisely goad you into driving in a method that’ll make your cellphone go flying. The T6 mannequin has the two.0-liter twin-charged four-cylinder engine that makes 316 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. With it, this heavy full-size wagon spiritedly trots from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. Nonetheless, it appears to be like faster on paper than it feels from the driving force seat. A muted whooshing of air and combustion noise sneaks into the cabin, however the four-cylinder does nothing to audibly excite. The six-cylinder Audi A6 Allroad and Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain are each faster and sound higher.
Dealing with is lightyears higher than an XC90 and even an XC60, however the V90’s massive measurement nonetheless can’t be disguised. You may really feel the prolonged rear finish performing a bit unsure in lengthy sweepers, uncertain of whether or not it needs to observe the entrance in excellent stability. There’s nonetheless loads of physique roll with the $1,200 air suspension stiffened up, however the low middle of gravity and agility of this huge wagon is commendable. It bestows a stage of confidence to take corners faster than Volvo’s similarly-sized crossovers, a key factor that makes the V90 that rather more interesting.
Even when the V90 can put a small smile on an fanatic’s face by way of corners, this wagon is in its factor when its absorbing freeway miles in silence with the massaging seats on and Volvo’s succesful Pilot Help driver-assistance system guiding the way in which. It’s snug and simple to drive in each sense of these phrases.
Plus, I can’t assist however be nostalgic about Volvo and its station wagon historical past whereas sitting behind the wheel of the Swedes’ newest creation. Seeing an outdated Volvo 245, 700 Sequence or 900 Sequence wagon in pristine situation rolling down the freeway at all times causes my face to mild up. Folks care about these automobiles, and the V90’s boxy proportions result in flashbacks of the grand longroofs from a long time previous.
Whereas there will definitely be fewer V90s bought than the Volvo wagons of yesteryear, the choose few who pony up the $58,795 for a T6 Inscription will know they discovered one thing particular. The V90 can also be distinct from the opposite non-performance wagons. Audi slaps plastic cladding to the A6 Allroad, and Mercedes has dropped the usual E 450 Wagon for the E 450 All-Terrain with comparable black cladding (and neither appreciably will increase floor clearance because the V90 Cross Nation does). Jaguar has killed the XF Sportbrake, and the Buick Regal TourX is lengthy gone. That leaves the V90 and the V60 because the final standing luxurious wagons that aren’t of the lifted/ruggedized or high-performance selection.
Volvo’s dedication to this physique type within the face of such miniscule gross sales volumes (500 V90s discovered properties final 12 months) is a glimmer of longroof happiness we are able to all get behind. And with the V90 competitors disappearing or turning into V90 Cross Nation rivals, this wagon simply bought all of the extra fascinating.
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