Discontinued in 1998 after only two years on the market, the V90 
returns as Volvo’ s flagship wagon in 2016. The V90 will be built on Volvo’s new Scaleable Production Architecture platform, which already underpins the XC90 SUV and the S90. That means the wagon will likely use the same drivetrains as the S90, which in turn borrowed them from the XC90. I say “likely” because the Swedish brand has yet to release specific drivetrain information, but the sedan’s gasoline and diesel engines should find their way into the wagon without modifications.
Likewise, the V90 features the same design language as the sedan and gets a similar interior, which should make it one of the most luxurious grocery getters on the market. Of course, the wagon received a redesigned rear end and a more practical interior with enhanced luggage space.
More good news comes from the availability department, as Volvo confirmed that the V90 will be sold in the United States. A specific on-sale date has yet to be announced, but the V90 will cross the pond to North America in 2017. The V90 will become Volvo’s first wagon in the U.S. in many years. Although the brand still offers the V60 on these shores, it comes in Cross Country spec with a more rugged, crossover- like appearance.
Stay tuned for more updates on the V90 in the coming months and keep reading to find out what we already know about Volvo’s new full-size wagon.
Updated 02/18/2016: Volvo dropped the official details and images on the new V90 with just a few days before the car’s official debut at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show.
Continue reading to learn more about the 2017 Volvo V90.
Exterior
The V90 is a significant departure from its predecessor, as Volvo dropped the boxy design in favor of a sportier roof section with a raked rear windscreen.
When Volvo unveiled the S90, it also revealed more than half of the V90’s design, as the two cars are identical between the nose and the B-pillars. We had no idea what the rear section would look like, but we assumed it should be similar to the XC90’s in order for the V90 to stay true to Volvo’s new styling language.
Now that the V90 has been unveiled, we have confirmation that the large wagon will continue to employ Volvo ’s traditional taillights that extend upward on the tailgate. At the same time, the V90 is a significant departure from its predecessor, as Volvo dropped the boxy design in favor of a sportier roof section with a raked rear windscreen. Although it looks sporty and modern, the new styling might prove upsetting to old-school enthusiasts, not to mention that it may impact trunk space.
Interior
Much like the exterior, the V90’s interior is also be based on the S90’s. Both the front and rear passenger compartments appear to be identical in terms of styling and equipment, meaning the wagon comes with the same dashboard with large wood inserts and vertical A/C vents flanking the tablet-like touchscreen, a tall and clean center console, and an overall premium feel — thanks to the numerous soft-touch surfaces and excellent fit and finish. In short, the V90 is quite fancy for a wagon, even if compared with products from BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
While leg, shoulder, and headroom will remain similar for the rear-seat passengers, luggage space should increase dramatically thanks to the wagon configuration. A foldable rear seat will further increase cargo room, making the V90 not only one of the most luxurious wagons on the market, but also a practical grocery getter and a perfect vacation car. Volvo has yet to release full specs for the V90, but we’ll be back to update this section as soon as we have more info.
Drivetrain
Volvo didn’t have much info to share about the car’s drivetrains, but since it will ride on the same architecture as the S90 and XC90, it’s only natural to assume that the V90 will use the same engines as its siblings. Volvo has already confirmed that all units available with the SUV will be offered for the sedan, which means that the wagon will also feature two gasoline engines, two diesels, and a hybrid.
Since it will ride on the same architecture as the S90 and XC90, it’s only natural to assume that the V90 will use the same drivetrains as its siblings.
The gasoline range includes the turbocharged T5 with 254 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and the turbocharged and supercharged T6, which generates 316 horses and 295 pound-feet.
The diesel lineup consists for the D4, rated 190 horsepower and 295-pound-feet of twist, and the D5, which cranks out 225 horsepower and 346-pound-feet.
Customers in need of a greener, more fuel-efficient wagon will be able to order the V90 with the T8 hybrid, which pairs a 2.0-liter, turbocharged and supercharged four-banger and a 60-kW (80-horsepower) electric motor. The combo delivers 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque.
Transmission options will include an eight-speed automatic and a six-speed manual.
In the U.S., only the gasoline and hybrid setups will be offered, with the diesels to go on sale in Europe and other markets.
Safety
The V90’s safety features should mimic those of the sedan, meaning Lane Keeping Aid, Driver Alert Control, Road Sign Information, Run-off Road Mitigation, Run-off Road Protection, and the City Safety package will be standard. The latter is able to detect vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and large animals and it’s always active above 4 km/h (2.5 mph).
Options will include Blind Spot Information, Rear Collision Warning, Cross Traffic Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control, Pilot Assist, Distance Alert, Park Assist Pilot and a 360-degree camera.
Just like the S90, the V90 will be a semi-autonomous vehicle thanks to Volvo’s brand-new Pilot Assist feature. When activated, the system controls acceleration, braking and steering in order to help the driver follow the traffic flow within the current lane. The system reduces driver strain in tedious situations and increases safety, while also delivering enhanced speed and distance keeping in the lane.
Prices
With the S90 likely to start from around $46,000 in the U.S., the V90 should fetch less than $50K in standard trim.
Competition
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon
When it comes to premium mid-size wagon, the U.S. market only has the one. If you want something bigger than the Audi Allroad (based on the A4) or the BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon, your only option is the E-Class Wagon. On its way to being redesigned for the 2017 model year, the German hauler can be had in just one non-AMG trim — the E350 4Matic. Power comes from a 3.5-liter V-6 rated at 302 horsepower and travels to the wheels through an automatic transmission and an AWD system. Unlike Volvo, Merc also offers a beefed-up version — the AMG E63 S. This one uses a 5.5-liter, biturbo V-8 with 577 horsepower and will get you to 60 mph from a standing start in only 3.6 seconds. That’s as quick as a full-fledged sports car. Pricing for the standard model starts from $59,900.
Find out more about the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon here.
Conclusion
Much like the S90 before it, the V90 promises to be a revolutionary car for Swedish brand. The cabin brings more luxury than any other Volvo wagon before it, while the drivetrains seem to provide the perfect combination of power and efficiency. As far as styling goes, however, the V90 could go either way, as it really depends on where you stand. If you’re among those who disliked previous Volvo wagons because of their boxy rear ends, you’ll probably find the new V90 quite pleasant to look at. Old-school enthusiasts, on the other, might reject the sportier roof and raked rear windscreen and give Volvo heat for betraying its roots. While I’m a big fan of the old and boxy Volvo designs, I still think that the V90 will turn out to be a gorgeous wagon. My only concern is that the massive cargo room that usually comes with Volvo wagons might decrease due to the new tailgate design. Hopefully, Volvo came up with some clever solutions and the V90 will be at least as spacious as the current V70.
Updated History
Updated 02/09/2016: Volvo officially confirmed that the new V90 will be unveiled on February 18 in Stockholm, Sweden. According to the company, “The V90 is a car that benefits from over 60 years of estate building heritage that started with the Volvo Duett which was launched in 1953 – the first car to meet the combined needs of drivers’ active leisure time and practical professional lives.”
Updated 01/04/2015: The first images of the upcoming Volvo V90 leaked online revealing pretty much all we knew so far: its just a station wagon version of the recently launched S90.
Leaked Image
Rendering
Press Release
The eagerly-awaited Volvo V90 was revealed today in Stockholm, Sweden. The stylish and versatile V90 is the latest in the luxury car maker’s top-of-the-line 90 series sitting alongside the award winning XC90 SUV and the recently-launched S90 luxury sedan.
Building on Volvo Cars’ indisputable heritage in the wagon segment, that began over 60 years ago with the Volvo Duett, the new V90 takes the luxury wagon a clear step forward in terms of aesthetics, materials and finish, while living up to the ultimately practical nature of any true wagon.
“We have a very strong position in the wagon segment,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars. “In many people’s minds we are known as the definitive wagon brand. While the Volvo brand today stands for more than wagons, we are proud to carry forward this rich heritage with the V90.”
The new V90 is the third car unveiled in Volvo’s top-of-the-line 90 series, all of which are built on the company’s specially-designed and fully modular Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), which has opened up a range of new opportunities in terms of how Volvos can be designed, built and equipped.
“The modern luxury wagon is all about the intriguing combination of a luxurious experience with the functional origins of the wagon silhouette. The sophisticated ambience of our new Volvo Interiors is combined with a great cargo space, providing the right kind of functionality – whether through connectivity or cargo and storage solutions,” said Thomas Ingenlath senior vice president for design at Volvo Cars.
The new V90 delivers cutting-edge Pilot Assist semi-autonomous drive technology, the most advanced standard safety package on the market, with large animal detection and run-off road mitigation, and class-leading connectivity including smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay.
Volvo Cars has also worked tirelessly on driving dynamics in the new model delivering a totally new and refined driving experience characterised by a sense of engaging control and predictability.
“We have a very strong offer in the V90. The T8 Twin Engine gas plug-in hybrid will deliver around 400 hp and a pure electric range of around 50 km,” said Dr Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research Development at Volvo Cars.
The new Volvo V90 is scheduled to arrive in the United States in 2017.