Volvo has cemented a reputation of building safe, stylish and practical models that people in the market for a premium model should definitely consider every time they look for a new car.
Two such models are the XC90 and V90 Cross Country – both of which are at the pinnacle of their respective branches in the brand.
One an SUV, the other an off-road concentrated estate – but both provide comfort and a capacious interior. But which one is better suited to your style of driving? We take a look…
XC90
As the largest car available from the Swedish brand, the XC90 has plenty of great features going for it. As the first model to have Volvo’s current design ethos since 2015, the large SUV can seat up to seven people and offers plenty of storage space – with a 314-litre boot which can be extended to 1,868 litres when the rear seats aren’t in use.
Each seat in the back can be moved individually to provide the right amount of storage and passenger space as and when needed – making the XC90 one of the most adaptable cars around.
Quality features aren’t in short supply either, as the XC90 comes as standard with the nine-inch Sensus portrait infotainment system that includes sat-nav and Bluetooth, while the digital driver display and head-up display add further high-end touches to the cabin.
As is the way with Volvo models, safety is well and truly taken care of as the large SUV comes with the City Safety automatic braking system, run-off road mitigation, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping aid and driver alert control all included as well as a host of other systems.
Prices for the XC90 start from £51,860, which gets you one of the most impressive luxury SUVs around.
V90 Cross Country
Based on the sleek and relaxing V90 estate, the V90 Cross Country adds an extra dimension to the family model so that it can take on rougher paths without flinching. Yes, on the surface it may look like only cosmetic changes have been made, but Volvo has raised the height of the car and fitted four-wheel drive so that the V90 doesn’t get troubled off the beaten track.
As you would expect from a large estate, space is excellent with the 560-litre boot more than large enough for most families to use – and it can be extended to 1,526 litres if the rear seats aren’t being sat on.
The V90 Cross Country is also excellently specced as standard, with Sensus infotainment, adaptive cruise control, Bluetooth, head-up display and digital driver display all included. Safety systems are also just as prevalent in the estate.
But the main difference between the two models is the view of the road and how each drives. The XC90 sits much higher than the Cross Country, but the V90 is much more composed when going through corners – although both are definitely angled at a more refined and relaxed drive.
Prices for the V90 Cross Country start from £43,020.
