2026 Volvo V90 Cross Country Tested: Proof SUVs Are a Waste

• What is it: The Volvo V90 Cross Country is a true do-it-all wagon.
• Why it matters: It's proof that SUVs are simply the wrong way to think about utility cars.
• The bottom line: Volvo discontinued the V90 CC, and I'm very sad about it. 

Wagons can, in fact, be better than SUVs

The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder is not the most refined engine in this class (because the German rivals equip their lifted wagons with six-cylinders). That said, it is a major upgrade thanks to the addition of a mild hybrid system. It revs out freely, there's no driveline shunt thumping you in the back of the head when you pull away from stops, and it doesn't sound as nasty as many other overstressed turbo-fours. The biggest problem with this powertrain is you can't disable the auto stop-start function at all, and on hot days you do not want your A/C disappearing on you. 

But, really, that's it. When you're not looking at the center stack, this car is sublime. The optional Bowers & Wilkins sound system gives crisp highs and deep bass without muddling either, and the center-mounted tweeter on the dashboard is a neat touch. The view out is commanding thanks to a huge windshield, and there is a ton of glass that makes the cabin feel light and airy. 

You and your passengers will also notice how neatly the V90 CC deals with road imperfections, too. The now long-dead V90 was hard-riding and too low-slung, but the Cross Country version with its adaptive suspension keeps both bumps and body motion well in check. It won't corner flat like a sports car, but it does a much better job of controlling its mass than most SUVs on the market without resorting to way-too-stiff suspension. 

But SUVs offer more space for all your stuff, right? Well, not really. The V90 Cross Country offers 25.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear bench up and 69 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear bench down. The BMW X5, despite being nearly 10 inches taller, has 33.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 72 cubes with them down. 

The two cars are nearly identical in overall length, so longer items will fit in both just fine. Do you really need an SUV when all you're getting is enough space for one, maybe two, extra backpacks? Somehow I doubt it. So what we're left with is something that's just as spacious, nicer to drive, easier to park, and nicer inside than almost every luxury SUV on sale south of $100,000. 

The V90 Cross Country laughs in the face of the idea that SUVs are the only way to be ready for anything. It remains charming, spacious, lush, and capable all at the same time without simply resorting to being massive. The wagon is the antidote to the SUV craze, and the V90 CC was a best of both worlds that we've let slide right through our fingertips. What a shame that is.