The standard T5 engine is the only engine that wasn’t available on the dealer lot we found the V90. It was the T6 AWD in Inscription Trim which is both our favorite trim and has our favorite engine. The 2-liter turbocharged & supercharged four-cylinder offers the punch you’d expect from an engine producing 315hp and the torque at low revs so it’s easy to drive around town. What we like the most is that it doesn’t feel out of its depth when you do put your foot down, however we do have to bash the auto gearbox for its somewhat slow responses when upshifting and downshifting. This is far from annoying or a deal breaker.
On the road the V90 is just as comfortable as the S90 and we love the distinct driving characteristics that are associated with it. The steering weighs up nicely and doesn’t feel overly heavy and the handling is more secure than agile, and we are fine with this. It’s refreshingly Non-German and in a segment where everyone is trying to be like BMW we appreciate this, a hell of a lot. The V90 doesn’t feel like a large wagon especially around town. The long hood does feel daunting at first, but after a while you’ll get used to it quite easily. Wind and road noise are very well suppressed.
The interior is another area where Volvo has made huge leaps of improvement in. The infotainment system is easy to navigate through and the overall quality of the materials used feel top-notch and high quality. The front seats shine in terms of comfort and adjustability; it’s quite easy to find an ideal driving position. The rear seat does offer decent space for two, while three maybe pushing it due to the overly large transmission tunnel. The boot space is very generous and is even more generous with the rear seat folded down.
We’re only going to focus on our tester car which came fitted with almost every single option on the options list. It certainly made the V90 induce sticker shock but we understand that this is a vehicle trying to compete with the Mercedes E-class Estate. Full-LED headlights, perforated leather seats, navigation system and a full panoramic sunroof were fitted as well as 20-inch alloy wheels and a four-wheel air suspension. Our favorite option is the Bowers and Wilkins premium sound system provides the most amazing sound quality we have ever heard next to B&O that was fitted on our Audi A6 Allroad. The price of admission is pretty steep we’ll admit that, but compared to its only real rival the E-class Estate we love the V90 a hell of a lot more.
We’re going to keep it short. The V90 is a classy wagon that’s refreshingly Non-German and that should be all the reason to consider one. However, keep in mind that this is a special order wagon or find one that’s available on a dealer lot and we warn you that won’t be as easy.
Likes: Refreshingly Non-German driving dynamics and interior décor; it’s roomy for four and well it’s a wagon with turbo engine and all-wheel-drive.
Dislikes: It’s special order only.
Our pick: We haven’t had the opportunity to drive the T5 FWD, but if it’s anything like the S90 we’d avoid it. The T6 AWD is the sweet spot in the range and offers the flexibility you’d want with the low running costs that are within reason and logic. We heard there is a Polestar which has 325hp, but when we talked to Volvo they told us that it's even harder to come by than the T5 FWD.
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