Like many manufacturers, Volvo has expanded its product portfolio in recent years and now also offers, for example, SUVs, crossover and powerful versions of its civilian variants. All segments, without which it seems that today no longer works. But if you would have to define the Swedish car par excellence, then in the end, more or less our test car would come out of it: A large estate with reasonable engine and inside and outside in typical Swedish style held. Voila, the new one Volvo V90.
The five-seater with the large hatchback took over the successor of the but a smaller V70 last autumn. The result is an elegant, on a whopping 4,94 meter-stretching station wagon, which looks much more coherent with its tailgate, as the limousine S90 in this area still very conservative.
The main thing you expect from a Swedish space transporter is capacity and variability. Swedish station wagons often set standards in the past, not least because of their box-like design. Unfortunately that is over, because the beautiful shape of the V90 takes its toll. The load compartment, which is easily accessible through a wide tailgate, holds 560 liters, but can only be expanded to 1.526 liters by folding down the rear seat backrests. Even the much shorter V70 with around 1.600 liters had more to offer. And compared to the top of the class, the station wagon of the Mercedes E-Class, the Volvo even loses 330 liters. On the other hand: how often do I need so much storage space? And if there is really something to transport - in the refrigerator, armchair or bookcase league - we would prefer a rental car anyway. Simply so as not to begin to damage the beautiful Swede. We were more disturbed by the somewhat fiddly load-up roller blind, for which there is also no good storage space if you dismantle it for the transport of a higher object.
The inside of the V90 is otherwise really fine. The leather of the seats has been generously applied and smells like that. Soft plastics and fine wood complement this impression - at least in the higher equipment levels. In terms of the quality of the interior and the workmanship, Volvo can only be beaten by Audi in this class. In the center console, the 90-inch screen, which is now familiar from the SUV XC90 and the S9,2, sits enthroned. Its error-free operation has to be tried out a bit at first, but then most of it works smoothly and sometimes even intuitively. We didn't like the navigation system, especially its traffic jam reports. Not only once, despite the available alternatives, we were coldly drawn into a time-consuming highway queue.
If you turn the knob, which is not fitted as standard with the eight-speed automatic gearbox, it makes you live the engine. Nominally, the 2,0-liter diesel delivers 140 kW / 190 horsepower and it starts up quickly. However, the concept of the Swedes to offer only a displacement and only four cylinders for both auto-igniters and gasoline engines, however, reaches its limits at the latest when the drive is required. Then the turbo engine has its problems, it gets loud and some of the sovereignty of the unit is lost. Our test consumption was with 6,8 liters in the expected range above the standard specification of 4,9 liters of diesel. The eight-speed gearbox, on the other hand, performs its work calmly and precisely. The surcharge for the manual six-speed transmission is steep with 2.250 Euro, but the investment is definitely worth it, because the machine simply fits much better with the vehicle.
If you like it sportier, you should buy the stronger version (D5, 235 PS). Despite the 4 Newtonmeter torque, the D400 is more of a driver for restrained drivers, which may well be a good fit for a Volvo owner. Also, the chassis is not designed sporty, but should primarily offer a lot of comfort. This works quite well, but on bad tracks it reacts sometimes with stuttering. At an additional cost, an adaptive air suspension is available for the rear axle. Even a sports suspension is offered, but experience teaches that you can do without it in the interest of your own back. In addition, the D4 of the entire basic idea is clearly designed for everyday life and travel, a comfort station wagon that does not need the curve hunting nor goutiert.
In many ways, Volvo now really offers the premium level that the Swedes have been promising for a few years. This applies in particular to the new models in the 90 series. It should come as no surprise that the relevant prices are then announced. The gross basic price for the V49.300 with this motorization, all-wheel drive and automatic is 90 euros. When fully equipped, our test car cost around 75.000 (!) Euros. Compared to an Audi A6, a BMW 5-series or a Mercedes E-Class, the V90 buyer saves at most when adjusted for equipment and then only in the single-digit percentage range. The large Swedish station wagon is not a bargain, but it is the most Swedish station wagon. (Peter Eck / SP-X)