2021 Volvo V90 Review

Name: 2021 Volvo V90
Brand: Volvo
Price: 24051 USD

Price Estimate: $24,051 - $29,763

2021 Volvo V90 T6 R-Design Wagon Exterior Shown

Average

7.6

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Combining SUV-like utility with eye-catching design, the 2021 V90 is the kind of car that can change minds about station wagons. Behind the good looks and giant trunk, you'll find Volvo comfort, a capable powertrain and upscale materials. It's almost enough to make up for the needlessly complicated infotainment. Unfortunately, the V90 is only available by order, which will severely limit its appeal.

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Appraise My 2021 Volvo V90

Pros

Sleek wagon style with a decent amount of utility
Lots of standard features
Premium interior materials and design

Cons

Touchscreen system is unintuitive to use
All-wheel drive only available in upper T6 trim

What's new

The V90 receives a subtle styling update
A minor shuffling of feature content
Part of the second V90 generation introduced for 2018

Overview

Written by automotive expert Mark Takahashi

1/7/2021

SUVs are clearly the most popular choice for people who want a vehicle with a lot of utility. But that's not to say that wagons don't have their place. The 2021 Volvo V90 is a good example. Its sleek styling helps it stand out among a seemingly endless sea of crossover SUVs, and it still has enough cargo capacity to handle daily driving and the occasional road trip. And compared to the typical luxury SUV, the V90 offers a lower stance for more secure handling.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

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For 2021, the V90 gets a mild styling update and continues to slot between the small Volvo V60 wagon and the V90 Cross Country, which is effectively a V90 with an elevated ride height. Outside of Volvo, the few wagon alternatives include the Audi A4 and A6 Allroad as well as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon. All of these have plenty of strengths and few weaknesses, so we suggest paying close attention during a test drive to see which fits your needs and budget best. Also check out our Expert Rating on the V90 to get our in-depth evaluation.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Average

7.6

out of 10

We drove the 2021 Volvo V90 on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Performance

7.5/10

How does the V90 drive? The V90 is brisk, needing only 5.9 seconds to hit 60 mph, and handles better than most buyers expect a midsize luxury wagon to. The T6 engine is responsive and quick, though it posts longer braking distances than most competitors, and, disappointingly, even some trucks. When you order the optional adaptive suspension, it can firm up for better body control when you want.

A minor point to consider for more discerning drivers: We noticed the occasional hiccup from the transmission in selecting an appropriate gear while driving in slow-moving traffic. Also, while the steering offers nice feedback in turns, the V90 lacks the locked-on, straight-ahead highway feel that some of its German competitors possess.

Comfort

8/10

How comfortable is the V90? The V90's seats and suspension are perfect for long road trips or big-box store adventures. We particularly like the power-adjustable nature of the lower thigh support and seat bolsters. The ride down the road is firm but not jostling. In Dynamic mode, the optional adaptive suspension stiffens up and limits excessive body roll when cornering.

The climate control system works well, but it's frustrating to operate since controls are accessed through the touchscreen. However, if you're the type to set and forget, you should be fine. Overall the cabin remains pleasantly quiet, but it's subject to more tire noise than we're accustomed to in a luxury vehicle like this.

Interior

7/10

How’s the interior? The V90's beautifully executed interior feels airy and open, especially with a light-colored roof liner. It also provides ample space for four adults and wide door openings, although getting in and out is complicated by the deeply set seats. The extra glass adds more all-around visibility, and while the 360-degree camera is helpful in tight spaces, it requires quite a bit of menu navigation to activate.

The simple design is pleasingly free of clutter, although that hurts usability since most controls are shunted through the less-than-intuitive infotainment system. While ergonomically comfortable, this arrangement compromises the Volvo's ease of use when you need to adjust almost any setting.

Technology

6.5/10

How’s the tech? On the whole, the V90's in-car technology lags behind top competitors in terms of advancement, execution and features. Still, Volvo's premium audio delivers crisp sound, connecting to Bluetooth is easy, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support is standard. Voice controls work for climate as well as navigation and audio controls, but they lack the robustness or flexibility of current German offerings. The biggest downside is the annoying menu structure and function groupings — Volvo's system is less pleasant to use than most competitors.

Volvo's Pilot Assist generally does well tracking lane markings and keeping pace with traffic through its adaptive cruise control, although we experienced a situation in which the system issued a collision warning but didn't slow sufficiently. So attention to the road is, as always, required.

Storage

8/10

How’s the storage? The generous cargo area, a V90 strong point, measures 33.9 cubic feet, which rivals what you'll get from many SUVs. It's also easy to load. The rear seats can be easily lowered, increasing volume to 59.3 cubic feet. Parents will love the easy-access car seat anchors and available child booster seats built into the outboard rear seats.

The only downside is storage space for small items. The front armrest storage bin is average size for this type of vehicle, but the door pockets are thin and shallow. The front cupholders aren't deep enough to hold larger cups and bottles.

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? We tested the V90 T6, which is EPA-estimated at 25 mpg combined. During our time with the car, we achieved 22.9 mpg, with more miles spent in town than on the open road. We were able to achieve 25.3 mpg during our evaluation drive for handling and comfort — it has a much more balanced ratio of driving on the highway and in the city.

It's a shame the plug-in hybrid T8 powertrain isn't available for the V90 since the less powerful T5 engine with front-wheel drive only nets you an EPA-estimated 1 mpg improvement over the AWD T6.

Value

7.5/10

Is the V90 a good value? Volvo's restrained interior design continues to impress, bolstered by upscale materials and feeling of soliditiy to everything you touch. The V90 certainly delivers the impression of luxury and still comes in a bit under its German rivals in price. But you won't get as many of the latest tech bells and whistles, and you can't get Volvo's PHEV powertrain.

Volvo generally does a good job of taking care of its customers after they leave the dealership. It'll even tow your car to the nearest authorized repair center for as long as you own the vehicle. But the V90 is generally only available by special order, making it harder to purchase and less likely to carry any sort of discount.

Wildcard

8.5/10

The V90 is immensely comfortable and practical, and the long-roof body looks fantastic. It also shows some potential to be fun to drive, even if it's held back by the standard-equipment tires. It's truly a shame you have to special order the V90 because this feels like the kind of car that can change people's minds about wagons.

2021 Volvo V90 trim level differences

The 2021 Volvo V90 wagon is available in two trim levels: R-Design and Inscription. Both trims are offered with the choice of two engines. The T5 is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (250 horsepower, 258 lb-ft of torque), and the T6 is also supercharged (316 hp, 295 lb-ft). An eight-speed automatic transmission sends power to the front wheels for the T5. The T6, meanwhile, comes standard with all-wheel drive. Compare the 2021 Volvo V90 trim levels in-depth.

Which V90 trim does Edmunds recommend?

The Volvo V90's R-Design and Inscription trim levels mostly differ in their appearance, which means the big decision comes down to what engine you want. We're partial to the T6 and its higher output, but also because it comes standard with all-wheel drive.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$220/mo

$257/mo

Avg. Large Car

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Reliability

The 2021 Volvo V90 has a 4 years / 50,000 miles basic warranty and 2 recalls. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Recalls

2 recalls found

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Recall Number:: 21V682000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: R10111
Number of vehicles affected:: 19149
Defect Description:: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021 XC40, XC 40 Recharge, V60CC, V90, V90CC, XC90, and 2021-2022 V60, XC60, S60 vehicles. The seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Defect Consequence:: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 13, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10111.

Recall Number:: 21V001000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: R10068
Number of vehicles affected:: 2883
Defect Description:: Volvo Cars USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021 Volvo V60, V60 Cross Country, V90, V90 Cross Country, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. The Supplementary Restraint System (SRS) control unit may not have been properly attached to the car body and may detach during a crash.
Defect Consequence:: A detached SRS control unit can decrease the performance of occupant protection systems such as air bags, seat belts, and high voltage battery disconnect, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Corrective Action:: Volvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, tighten the SRS control unit mounting screws, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 19, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10068.

Warranty

4 years / 50,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 12 years / unlimited miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 4 years / unlimited miles
Free maintenance Warranty: 3 years / 30,000 miles

Volvo V90 Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.8

11 reviews

5(82%)

4(18%)

3(0%)

2(0%)

1(0%)

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2021 V90 Features & Specs

Trim:

T5 Inscription

Est. Market Value	$28,164
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	26 MPG
Cost to Drive	$220/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	53.9 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the V90 models:

Run-Off Road Mitigation: Scans the road ahead and tenses up the seat belts if it detects the car will run off the road.
Rear Collision Warning: Warns you if an approaching car may cause a rear-end collision. Will flash the lights, tense up the seat belts and apply brakes.
Emergency Brake Lights: Warns rear oncoming drivers when you panic-stop by flashing the brake lights at four pulses per second.