2019 Volvo V90 Cross Country T6 AWD Review
It鈥檚 the matte-plastic wheel-arch trim (and in some cases bumper-cover decoration) that says to buyers: 鈥淚鈥檝e now develop into some thing else. And, even though they should surely see the plain old station wagon beneath, consumers wish to oblige. The dress-up wagons promote a lot far better than their donor versions that Subaru and Audi do not even bother giving the non-butch versions anymore. But boy, would a buyer shell out enough if he chose a Cross Nation equipped like our check vehicle. For 2017, the sole accessible drivetrain configuration will be the T6 model, which includes a supercharged and turbocharged 316-hp 2.0-liter inline-four, an eight-speed automated transmission, and all-wheel drive. 69,440 when it had been loaded up with soft-leather interior trimmings, massaging front seats, heated rear outboard seats, four-zone climate handle, a Bowers & Wilkins audio system, head-up display, air-spring rear suspension, metallic paint, and other niceties. This drops the Cross Nation during the pricing chasm between the A4-based Audi Allroad and the Mercedes-Benz E400 wagon.
The Volvo would be the size of your Mercedes with an engine the size of the Audi鈥檚. Even so, that four-cylinder generates impressive output (with 295 pound-feet of torque to go with its load of horsepower). And the 4266-pound Cross Country鈥檚 5.9-second run to 60 mph is plenty quick, if not quite on the pace of your Germans. The problem could be the way in which that power is delivered. It surges and ebbs. If you鈥檙e riding the torque wave, this wagon feels genuinely quick. Fall off it, though-as you frequently will-and the auto feels breathless and wimpy. Climbing back up takes a moment, and the engine moans at the effort. The Cross Country turns in a middling braking performance, requiring 173 feet to stop from 70 mph. And the brakes are grabby and difficult to apply consistently. Its steering is indifferent. We鈥檙e glad to note that, despite wearing optional 20-inch wheels (in place of stand颅ard 19s), the Cross Country rides more comfortably than the somewhat flinty sedan on which it鈥檚 based. Put the mode selector into dynamic should you want a less comfortable ride. The Cross Country鈥檚 structure feels stouter than the sedan鈥檚. We chalk that up to the cushier ride. This is good, because we really want the V90 to be great. It looks stunning (especially in non-Cross Country dress), and the interior is beautifully designed and finished. It鈥檚 roomy and practical. And dammit, we like wagons, even when they鈥檙e festooned.
You still get a two-seater layout, with relatively tight confines, a button-laden central tunnel, and a set of D-shaped vents across the dash. These mostly pertain to Porsche鈥檚 鈥減ared down range of features,鈥?simplifying things where possible and cutting out anything extraneous that doesn鈥檛 contribute to the overall driving experience. For example, the T offers black cloth door pulls rather than traditional door handles. Another example of this move towards overt simplification is a delete for the Porsche Communication Management module from the center console. In its stead, the Cayman T offers a large central storage compartment. Alternatively, buyers can get their infotainment system back at no extra charge, however, the system delete does help to cut out a little bit of weight. That said, buyers in the U.S. You still get a decent amount of luxury, with padded seats and leather upholstery throughout. Speaking of the sitters, passengers will enjoy the standard sport seats and electric two-way adjustment, which replace the standard Cayman鈥檚 far more adjustable (and presumably heavier) seats. The T also comes with Black Sport-Tex upholstery for the center sections of the seats, and the 718 logo is embroidered onto the headrests as well.
Moving towards the dash, we find high-end bits like glossy black trim on the instrument panel and central console. Pilots get to grips with a 360 mm (14.2-inch) three-spoke GT-style sports steering wheel, which also includes multifunction control with a thumb-length 鈥淢ode鈥?switch. Finally, the Cayman T logo was added to the black instrument dials, with additional logos found on the door entry strips. Although we suspected the 2020 Porsche Cayman T would offer a few more ponies over its standard siblings, it turns out this isn鈥檛 the case. That means it gets a mid-mounted, turbocharged 2.0-liter (1,988 cubic cm) flat four-cylinder powerplant, with output directed exclusively to the rear wheels. This is actually the smaller of the two engine options offered for the current Cayman, as the go-faster S variant comes equipped with a larger, more powerful 2.5-liter engine. Output is also unchanged from the standard Cayman, with 296 horsepower produced at 6,500 rpm and torque set at 280 pound-feet at 2,150 rpm.