Cape Town - The new Volvo V90 Cross Country has arrived in South Africa.
The new crossover SUV completes Volvo’s '90 cluster' in South Africa, sharing its Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) with the new XC90 and S90.
Available with diesel or petrol drivetrains and all-wheel drive as standard, the new V90 Cross Country is the spiritual successor to the much-lauded Volvo XC70. A total of eight derivatives are available locally.
Prices start from R794 800 for the D4 Geartronic AWD Momentum to R921 300 for the top-of-the-range T6 Geartronic AWD Inscription (full prices at the end of this article).
Gallery: 2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country
Sharing its design DNA with the S90/V90, the V90 Cross Country, says Volvo, is not just a styling exercise. Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President Design at Volvo Car Group, says, “It’s not just a ‘plastic job’.
“We raised the ground clearance, not just by a few millimetres, but a substantial six centimetres. The tyre diameter has grown by up to 42 mm, providing us with a stable and rugged platform for our design work. To accommodate the bigger wheels, we designed wheel arch extensions. Together with a silk cover and the new front bumper, they protect the new V90 Cross Country in rough terrain. The car has a powerful stance – it radiates the immense capability of its all-wheel drive and the freedom to go wherever you want.”
Volvo’s individual 90 cluster models are differentiated mainly by the detail of their grilles. For the V90 Cross Country, the 23 concave vertical ribs, first seen on the S90, are each accentuated by five metal studs. High-gloss black detailing on the window surrounds also differentiate the Cross Country models.
The purposeful overall design exudes rugged capability in every direction, while maintaining the elegant and stately prowess that was originally imparted by the new S90 on South African roads earlier in 2017.
Customers can specify colour-coded bumpers, wheel arches and side sills.
Engines
As with the XC90 and S9, the V90 Cross Country models are all powered by the firm's modular 2.0-litre Drive-E diesel and petrol engines. Four power plants are available: the D4 and D5 diesels, and the T5 and T6 petrols. All engines are mated to the latest all-wheel drive system and an 8-speed Geartronic automatic gearbox.
The diesel engines offer strong outputs and excellent efficiency. The twin-turbo D4 AWD models make use of 140kW/400Nm. Volvo claims an average combined fuel consumption of 5.2l/100km and carbon emissions are 138g/km.
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The D5 AWD models elevate diesel performance with PowerPulse technology, offering 173kW/480Nm. PowerPulse, which uses a tank of compressed air to spool up the larger of the D5 engine’s two turbocharges at low rpm, combats turbo lag and realises a sense of this engine being normally aspirated. Average combined fuel economy is 5.3-litres/100km with emissions of 139g/km.
On the petrol front, the T5 AWD models benefit from 187kW/350Nm. Volvo says the the T5's average combined fuel economy is 7.4l/100km.
The twin-charged engine on duty in the T6 AWD derivatives combines turbo- and supercharging for exceptional output and enhanced efficiency. A total of 235kW/400Nm, a 0-100km/h time of 6.3 seconds is quoted.
Prices
V90 Cross Country D4 Geartronic AWD Momentum - R794 800
V90 Cross Country D4 Geartronic AWD Inscription - R825 200
V90 Cross Country D5 Geartronic AWD Momentum - R839 500
V90 Cross Country D5 Geartronic AWD Inscription - R869 900
V90 Cross Country T5 Geartronic AWD Momentum - R770 900
V90 Cross Country T5 Geartronic AWD Inscription- R801 300
V90 Cross Country T6 Geartronic AWD Momentum - R890 900
V90 Cross Country T6 Geartronic AWD Inscription - R921 300
All models come standard with a 5-year or 100 000km full vehicle warranty, full maintenance plan and roadside assistance, as well as laminated glass and Tracker Connect as standard.