2017 Volvo V90 Road Test and Review

2017 Volvo V90 sideprofile ・ Photo by Jason Fogelson

Volvo’s resurgence has taken many experts by surprise. The latest surprise is the 2017 Volvo V90. The Swedish brand floundered a bit during its decade-long term under the ownership of Ford as part of the Premier Automotive Group. Sharing platforms and technology with Ford vehicles didn’t elevate either brand. Ford sold Volvo to Zhenjiang Geely Holding Group Company, Ltd., a Chinese company, in 2010. The new ownership allowed Volvo to start over with a virtual clean sheet. A huge time investment in infrastructure and engineering led to a new 90-series of vehicles. First was the highly praised XC90 three-row SUV; then the S90 sedan. The next 90-series Volvo, arriving in late 2016, is the V90 wagon.

A Wagon Legacy

Volvo station wagons are cultural icons in the United States. In the pre-minivan years, a Volvo wagon was the go-to choice for safety-conscious families, and you were likely to find Birkenstocks and granola inside and a “My Kid is on the Honor Roll” sticker on the outside. Volvo wagons got handed down, accumulating Grateful Dead skull emblems all the while. Today’s hipsters have adopted the classic Volvo 245 wagon as an ironic statement, reveling in its utilitarian two-box design and Etsy-friendly cargo capacity.

Volvo started building wagons in 1953, but the 245—the “archetypal Volvo wagon” (according to Volvo)—arrived in 1974, and remained in the lineup through 1993.

Photo by Volvo Cars

2017 Volvo V90: Exterior Design and Dimensions

The new V90 wagon shares a platform with the XC90 crossover and S90 sedan, and its elegant exterior avoids even a hint of irony. The front end wears a concave grille with a big Volvo “Iron Mark” emblem at center, and the horizontally arrayed headlights feature LED “Thor’s Hammer” signature daytime running light features, also found on the XC90 and S90. The base of the raked windshield starts far back from the front axle, a distance that designers covet for an elegant impression. The roof sweeps back, sloping down gently after reaching a small integrated spoiler at the peak. The V90 looks long and low, far from the stodgy image of Volvo wagons of the past.

Photo by Jason Fogelson

2017 Volvo V90: Comfort and Convenience

Scandinavian design, which concentrates on natural materials and surfaces with a simple, human-centered approach to placement and display, dictates the aesthetic inside the V90’s cabin. A strong base horizontal metal element underlies the dash, lending a modern architectural feel to the unit. Extremely comfortable and supportive leather seats coddle the driver and front-seat passenger. Second-row seats accommodate three adults comfortably, with good head and leg room, and there’s a wagon-like 19.8 cubic feet of luggage space (including underfloor storage), expandable to 53.9 cubic feet when the second row is folded flat. The cargo compartment is 24 inches tall and 43.3 inches wide (between the wheel wells), big enough for two medium dog crates.

Photo by Volvo Cars

2017 Volvo V90: Features and Controls

In the spirit of simplicity, Volvo has smartly consolidated many of the expected knobs and buttons of the normal center stack into intuitive features within the Sensus system, which is accessed via a big color touchscreen mounted front and center. The screen resembles an iPad or tablet, a vertical rectangle with plenty of real estate. Familiar tap, swipe, pinch, and pull gestures quickly bring up control screens, and a single button returns you to the home screen. In just a few minutes of investigation, you can figure out how to control audio, climate, vehicle dynamics, navigation and other settings via easily operated menus and commands. It’s a marvel, and best of all, will be updatable to future revisions.

Photo by Jason Fogelson

2017 Volvo V90: Safety

Volvo has earned its reputation for safety, and employs those learnings in the V90. For instance, Pilot Assist, Volvo’s semi-autonomous driving system, is standard on the V90. Pilot Assist is a Level 2 autonomous system that uses the adaptive cruise control, steering control, lane-keeping, road edge detection, and other systems to aid the driver in keeping the car on the road. The driver has to remain engaged, with a hand on the steering wheel, in order for Pilot Assist to function. It’s impressive, and turns a long highway slog into a relaxing experience. The list of other safety systems, which Volvo calls “IntelliSafe,” is long and involved, encompassing all manner of passive and active safety features.

Photo by Jason Fogelson

2017 Volvo V90: Engine Choices

Two gasoline engine setups will be available for the V90 initially, with a hybrid gasoline-electric powertrain to follow, and each tied to a specific trim level. T5 uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with front-wheel drive, and T6 uses a turbocharged and supercharged 2.0-liter engine with all-wheel drive—both with an 8-speed automatic transmission. At the launch event that we attended, Volvo brought T6 models for us to drive. Selectable drive modes affect throttle response and shift points for the transmission, softening performance for ECO mode and sharpening for Sport, as expected. Acceleration, rated by Volvo at 6.1 seconds from 0-62 mph, comes on smoothly, and there’s plenty of passing power.

Photo by Jason Fogelson

2017 Volvo V90: Handling

Smooth. That’s the word that fits the V90. A double wishbone setup holds up the front, while a sophisticated integral axle with a transverse composite leaf spring lives out back, with stabilizer bars both front and rear. Our test vehicle had Volvo’s optional air suspension system, too, and the combination of systems delivers a smooth, composed ride over even rough surfaces. The electric power assisted rack-and-pinion steering system has a dual nature. With Pilot Assist or other active systems engaged, the steering feel is a little numb and weighty—probably because the car takes some of the steering responsibility for itself. When the driver is in full control, without autonomous systems engaged, steering feels better, though still a little soft.

Photo by Jason Fogelson

2017 Volvo V90: Fuel Economy and Capacities

The V90 hasn’t been rated for the EPA yet, but Volvo promises that it will be competitive. Premium fuel will be required, and it will take 14.9 gallons to fill the T5 tank, or 15.9 gallons for the T6. The wagon weighs between 3,968-4,629 lbs., depending on equipment and configuration. Although we didn't test it during this road test and review, we're told you can tow up to 4,000 lbs with a V90 (or up to 5,000 lbs with an optional tow kit), and the roof will hold up to 220 lbs. of cargo if you attach a roof rack.

Photo by Jason Fogelson

2017 Volvo V90: Pricing and Availability

Pricing for the V90 hasn’t yet been announced. However, consider the S90 prices, which start at $46,950 for T5 Momentum, $50,450 for T5 Inscription, $52,950 for T6 Momentum and $56,250 for T6 Inscription as a reference point. Volvo’s currently launching the S90 in the United States, and will follow up with the V90 later in the year. Wagons are not exactly flooding the marketplace in the United States right now, so if you’re seriously interested in a V90, you’d be wise to contact your Volvo dealer. The more groundswell that Volvo senses for its wagon, the more likely it will be to produce and distribute V90s to its dealers.

Photo by Jason Fogelson

2017 Volvo V90: Final Thoughts

V90 enters a slim slice of the automotive market. Domestic manufacturers have pretty much abandoned the station wagon for the crossover suv, which is a shame. BMW makes a 3-series Sport Wagon, but doesn’t bring a 5-series wagon to the US anymore, just a 5-series Gran Turismo. Mercedes-Benz’s E350 wagon rolls on, and the AMG E63 S is a rocket ship. Audi’s allroad is based on the compact A4 and is more of a "hot hatch" than a true wagon. Volkswagen and Subaru each offer non-premium wagons. That’s about it.

V90 stands out as a unique take on family transportation. Elegant, safe, useful, and bold, V90 continues Volvo’s resurgence. Twenty years from now, Birkenstock-wearing Deadheads may well be seeking out the 2017 Volvo V90 as the classic hip wagon of choice.

Photo by Jason Fogelson