Thursday, January 4, 2018

A wonderful wagon rolls on in Volvo's V90

A menu of Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen on the Business page of The Sacramento Bee’s website  www.sacbee.com/news/business/article4005306.html

Sacramento, California – Yes, it’s 2018, but I wanted to offer up one more 2017 ride for your inspection.

A recent week in the 2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country T6 AWD wagon was a revelation.  This vehicle was a new offering last year, and it pleased in every way: safety, performance, comfort/convenience features, technology and style.

Yes, style. From Volvo. That’s saying something.

Volvo rolled out the V90 wagons as state-of-the-art vehicles in the seldom-appreciated segment.  Plenty of auto reviewers agreed with Volvo's enthusiasm, with the V90 line pulling down numerous prestigious awards.

My initial impression was that the tested V90 Cross Country wagon oozed elegance and smooth styling. On the move, the air seemed to flow over the car without making a sound.  I rolled down the windows and double-checked, so there.

Power came from a 2-liter, supercharged/turbocharged engine dishing up a max 316 horsepower with silky, forceful authority.  I was blowing past cars on the freeway with barely the slightest pressure on the accelerator.  Yet acceleration was smooth and quiet.  A velvet hammer.

The eight-speed gearbox worked seamlessly with the willing power plant.

While I blazed past stragglers, I sat in cool comfort amid luxurious features that included 10-way power front seats (with heat), a heated steering wheel, a panoramic moonroof with a power sunshade, leather all around and dark walnut wood inlays to set it off nicely.

Safety and security perks were plentiful, just what you expect in a Volvo-badged motor vehicle.

Fuel mileage was pretty fair at 22 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

The only thing that might give wagon buyers pause is the price – nearly $65,000 on the tested vehicle, but that included a $3,200 Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system and $1,200 for a primo air suspension set-up in the rear.

Bottom line: If you’re seeking a luxurious wagon for the long haul, the V90 is your starting point.  You might find all you want on your first test drive.  Kudos to Volvo for developing a wonderful wagon.

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