Volvo V90

– Málaga, Spain

Volvo is a company that has found its voice. And while the brand’s newfound swagger is manifested beautifully in the XC90 crossover and all-new S90 sedan, Volvo is not running away from its proud tradition of building classy station wagons. Identical under the skin to the lovely S90, the V90 is just as stunning to behold. Make ours brown.

Pros

• Mechanically, the V90 is virtually identical to the S90 sedan on which it’s based, save for about a Golden Retriever’s worth of additional mass in the rear quarters. That is not enough to change the way it drives, a good thing indeed.
• At launch, Volvo will offer the V90 with two powertrains: T5, a front-driver with 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque; and the faster, all-wheel-drive T6, with 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, both with eight-speed automatic transmissions with manual shifting on the console. Our initial impressions were limited to the latter, which got along swiftly and quietly, with decisive transmission shifts and zero turbo lag.
• While Mercedes’ upcoming 2018 E-Class wagon is likely to offer superior handling due to its rear-drive architecture, the Volvo nonetheless offers unflappable poise and very tidy handling at the limit, especially with the drive select system in “Dynamic” mode. Yes, we’re still giggling about a Volvo wagon that features a “Dynamic” mode.
• The interior is simply spectacular, especially in loaded Inscription trim. Like the XC90 and the S90, the cabin is a veritable sanctuary. ...