Return of an Icon: The 2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country T6 AWD

The 2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country T6 AWD.

The Volvo wagon.  In the 1980s and early-mid 90s, nothing said you were smart about however much money you had quite the way a Volvo wagon did.  Somewhere along the way, Volvo wagons lost that cachet...along with much of the Volvo lineup.  But now, the V90 is back, based on the S90 sedan  that yours truly pretty much lost his mind over last fall.  And it could take a Volvo wagon right back to being that type of understated status symbol for the next couple of decades.

2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country T6 AWD.

But, as things tend to be (cranky old guys and nostalgists notwithstanding), the new Volvo wagon is better than the old.  The 2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country T6 AWD is more powerful, more comfortable and more capable on and off road than any of its predecessors.

$55,300 gets you a gorgeous vehicle (the S90's lines lend themselves spectacularly well to a wagon), powered by a 316-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four with an eight-speed automatic gearbox.  Not only is there power, but there's remarkable fuel economy for a vehicle of this size (EPA estimate 22 city/30 highway).  Adjustable drive mode settings, 19-inch alloy wheels, Volvo's Sensus information, entertainment and navigation suite, a wi-fi hotspot, a 330-watt, ten speaker high performance audio system, low speed collision avoidance, pedestrian, cycle and large animal detection, Volvo's Pilot Assist semi-autonomous drive system, a laminated panoramic power moonroof with sunshade, leather upholstered seating surfaces, heated front seats and steering wheel, ten-way power front seats with driver memory, keyless entry, a hands-free tailgate, rear park assist and a rear-view camera, dual-zone electronic climate control and dark walnut wood inlays.

2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country T6 AWD interior.

At $55,000, that is a remarkably well-equipped car.  But you can go beyond that with options, and the Volvo press office did.  Our tester came with Osmium Grey Metallic paint ($595), a convenience package including heated washer nozzles, a 360-degree surround view camera, a grocery bag holder, Homelink, a compass, Park Assist Pilot, and interior high level illumination ($1,950), an upgraded Bowers and Wilkins premium sound system ($3,200), a graphical head up display ($900), an outer childseat ($500) and premium air suspension in the rear ($1,200).

With $995 destination charge, the bottom line wound up at $64,640.  Quite a difference.  Frankly, I could make a case for taking it loaded like our tester, or leaving it stock (though I'd almost certainly pop for the upgraded audio system).   What matters is that the Volvo follows the XC90 and the S90's path in terms of making new Volvos desirable objects again.  I can think of worse garages than one that would have both an S90 and a V90 Cross Country parked side by side.