2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country
Volvo has unveiled its latest Cross Country model, the V90 which gets a raised ride height and rugged looking exterior
Volvo has confirmed that it’s latest V90 estate will be made in Cross Country form ahead of sales starting in early 2017.
High-riding Volvo estates have been with us since 1998 when the first XC70 was unveiled, creating a new niche for itself. This is now the third iteration of the vehicle and it gets a 60mm raised ride height, on-demand all-wheel drive and an off-road setting.
Visually, the V90 Cross Country has unique bumpers and wheel arch protection which give it a more rugged appearance, along with unique alloy wheels, front grille and front and rear skid plates that provide some underbody protection.
The off-road mode, which is selectable from the driver mode settings, smooths the throttle response and gearshift at low revs and low speeds to maximise traction and automatically engages hill decent mode, which can also be engaged independently.
Inside the Cross Country, there’s unique upholstery and a Bowers & Wilkins sound system.
For those who prefer not to go the whole hog and get an SUV, these high-riding estates offer all the usual comfort and practicality of the standard estate, but with a higher ground clearance and all-wheel traction, providing some (limited) off-road ability without the public indignation of owning an SUV and without the fuel costs.
Having only had to compete against the Audi A6 Allroad and Subaru Outback to date, it looks like Mercedes-Benz will join the party with an E-Class Estate version set to be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show.
UK prices for the V90 Cross Country will be announced later this year, and first deliveries are expected before Easter in 2017 following its first public outing at the Detroit Motor Show in January.
