Luxurious and adventurous is the character of the Volvo V90 Cross Country , the model that complements the top 90 Series in the Swedish range, alongside the XC90, S90 and V90
Exclusively all-wheel drive, with two-litre 235 hp diesel engine in the D5 version or 320 hp petrol engine in the T6 version
Available in two very rich trim levels, Cross Country and Cross Country Pro, with a suggested retail price starting from 62.170 €
The commercial career of a brand new model, the Volvo V90 Cross Country, which uniquely complements the 90 Series, offering Cross Country features in the upper part of the Swedish brand's range, has also started in Greece. The V90 Cross Country is a worthy continuation of a great tradition, as Volvo was the brand that created the Cross Country segment with the launch of the V70 XC in 1996.
Externally, the new model has obvious similarities with the rest of the 90 Series. It is the same design philosophy that has earned Volvo Cars the highly prestigious "Brand Design Language Award 2016" from the Car Design Award committee, in recognition of Volvo's contribution to contemporary automotive design.
The grille on the V90 Cross Country's grille is a reference to the other 90 Series models, being part of their common design identity. Made up of vertical strips, it gives the impression of floating, and blends harmoniously with the sideways 'T' shaped headlamps, which resemble Thor's hammer, a reference to the rich Norse mythology. But the two elements that differentiate the V90 Cross Country from the 'plain' V90 are the increased ground clearance and the additional equipment, both decorative and functional, in various parts of the body.
Built on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), the new model features Cross Country suspension and is 210 mm off the ground, an increase of 65 mm compared to the standard V90. This gives the V90 Cross Country freedom of movement, making it a capable all-road car with off-road capabilities. As for the additional decorative-functional elements, the distinctive front and rear bumpers, the latter with a Cross Country logo, the protective skirts and sills in charcoal grey, as well as the fender extensions in black, create a distinctly adventurous image, inspiring movement on any road. Let's add to this image the larger exterior mirrors, silver roof rails and distinctively designed alloy wheels, all standard equipment items that complete the Cross Country image.
Inside, the image is entirely familiar from the rest of the 90 Series. A sense of luxury, with top-quality materials and a restrained design that offers comfort and tranquillity is evident everywhere. The standard touchscreen in the centre console and the familiar XC90, S90, V90 digital instrument panel (standard in the Cross Country Pro version) dominate.
In terms of powertrains, the all-wheel drive V90 Cross Country is equipped with the latest generation of two-litre petrol and diesel engines from the Drive-E family. These are mated to the well-known excellent eight-speed automatic transmission, which is standard equipment on the model. Two versions are available in Greece, the D5 and the T6.
The 235 hp D5 diesel version features PowerPulse technology (NOTE: the name without a space between). This is an innovative function, patented by Volvo, which ensures an immediate response to the accelerator without the slightest lag found in diesel turbo engines. PowerPulse works by feeding air from the air filter through a compressor into a two-litre pressurised air reservoir. When the driver wants to accelerate either from a standstill or from low revs, the pressurised air in the reservoir is fed through a valve into the exhaust manifold to feed the turbo. This results in an immediate and high power delivery.
The petrol version T6 delivers 320 hp. It uses a mechanical supercharger (operating up to 3,500 rpm) and turbo (operating throughout the rev range) which ensures excess power with immediate response and excellent operating characteristics.
When it comes to safety equipment, the V90 Cross Country also comes standard with City Safety, which includes the most advanced collision avoidance systems in the automotive industry. The systems are active at all speeds above 4 km/h and there is no speed limit and are effective in all lighting conditions, even in the dark. In summary, these systems involve detection of a car, obstacle, pedestrian, cyclist or cyclist in general, with fully automatic braking if the driver does not react. As with the entire 90 Series, this detection includes large animals - deer, bear, horse, etc. The effectiveness of the systems is a parameter of the relative speed of the car and the vehicle to be avoided, human or animal. And of course, in the V90 Cross Country, City Safety features the two new, innovative safety technologies that Volvo first introduced in the XC90: the ability to brake automatically at an intersection with an oncoming vehicle, with increased risk to both vehicles, and a system to avoid swerving off the road.
At the same time, the new V90 Cross Country, like the rest of the 90 Series, is equipped as standard with a range of active and passive safety systems that give the model semi-autonomous driving characteristics.
Some of these, coded as Intellisafe Assist, also hint at the Swedish brand's clear intention to be at the forefront of autonomous driving technology, which is expected to be part of the driver's everyday life in the near future. Most of these systems are familiar from other modern Volvo models. Among them are Adaptive Cruise Control (adaptive cruise control), Distance Alert (proximity warning to a vehicle ahead), Lane Keeping Aid (for keeping the vehicle in its lane), Lane Departure Warning (warning if the vehicle tends to deviate from its lane), Driver Alert Control (which detects driver fatigue) and many others, which combined with a new system, Pilot Assist, are responsible - as in the entire 90 Series - for the semi-autonomous driving capability of the V90 Cross Country.
Pilot Assist is an active safety system, optimised for motorway traffic, designed to make driving easier. It is essentially an evolution of Adaptive Cruise Control, adding automatic steering wheel movement without driver involvement and removing the requirement for a vehicle in front. When Pilot Assist is activated by the driver, with a selection on the left-hand side of the steering wheel, the car accelerates, decelerates and turns while remaining in its lane for a limited period of time and up to a speed of 130 km/h, without the need for the presence of a preceding vehicle. The Pilot Assist function is of an auxiliary nature, if it is detected that the driver does not make any - even infinitesimal - movement or correction to the steering wheel for a period of time ranging from 12-15 seconds, depending on speed, then Pilot Assist is deactivated. It goes without saying that it is the driver, both in fact (by controlling the system) and in law, who is in control of the car at all times.
The V90 Cross Country is launched in the Greek market with a full range of standard equipment which includes semi-autonomous driving along with a host of active and passive safety systems that combine with each other to make it possible. It is offered in two versions-equipment levels.
The Cross Country trim level includes everything mentioned above plus Sensus Connect High Performance audio system (includes Bluetooth, steering wheel controls, 9′ colour touch screen, dual RDS receiver, 6 channel 330 watt amplifier with 10 speakers, AUX/USB connection, voice commands, internet browser etc.), hill start assist, keyless start, all known airbags and knee airbags, LED headlights, dual-zone air conditioning system with interior air purification system and many other things that are considered essential in a modern premium model of this category.
The Cross Country Pro trim version comes with additional Drive Modes (choice of 5 different driving modes: Eco, Comfort, Dynamic, Off Road & Individual), the digital instrument panel with 12.3" colour display, interior lighting package with ambient lighting, electrically adjustable front seats with memory, leather trim, front fog lights with LED headlights and cornering lights and more.
The proposed retail price list for the two available engines and equipment versions is as follows.
VOLVO V90 CROSS COUNTRY
CROSS COUNTRY T6 AWD Geartronic (Auto)
Capacities 1.969 (cm3)
Power 320 (HP)
Suggested retail price 64.000 (€)
CROSS COUNTRY PRO Suggested retail price 69.470 (€)
CROSS COUNTRY D5 AWD Geartronic (Auto)
Capacities 1.969 (cm3)
Power 235 (HP)
Suggested retail price 62.170 (€)
CROSS COUNTRY PRO Suggested retail price 67.420 (€)
The V90 Cross Country is built at the Volvo Cars plant in Torslada, north of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Volvo Cars introduced the V70 XC in 1996, creating the Cross Country segment. The first generation (1997-2000) surprised with its commercial success, being an alternative to the various SUVs of the time that were based on the same, rather boring "squared off" design. Functionality, comfort and freedom of movement were the hallmarks of the first generation.
The second generation of the V70 XC (2000-2007) featured a bolder and more liberated design and even greater ground clearance. With the introduction of the XC90, the Swedes' first SUV in 2002, the V70 XC gained a more advanced all-wheel drive system and was renamed the XC70, taking its place as the smallest model next to the XC90.
The third generation of the XC70 was introduced in 2007, with a greater emphasis on elegance and luxury. It was a particular success in North America, with more than half of the production being marketed on the other side of the Atlantic.
