Consumer confidence in diesel is lower than it’s ever been, so the launch of a new T6 petrol engine in the Volvo V90 range couldn’t have come at a better time.
There is a slight snag, though; the company doesn’t offer the 2.0-litre unit across the range, so the only way to get one is by splashing out more than £50,000 on the Cross Country model. That’s not an insignificant sum when you consider that the V90 CC line-up starts at £40,640 for the basic all-wheel-drive D4 diesel.
The T6 engine is intriguing because it’s a 316bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder, which is both turbocharged and supercharged. The benefit of twincharging, in theory at least, is the instant power delivery of a supercharger and high-end shove of the turbo – resulting in a seamlessly smooth engine. The reality is rather different, however.
From start-up and at low speeds, the engine is incredibly quiet, but squeeze the throttle and there’s a noticeable delay before the eight-speed auto gearbox shifts down and you gain any momentum. When you do it’s deceptively quick for a car of this size and weight – with the competent all-wheel-drive system helping to slingshot you from 0-62mph in 6.3 seconds.
Once up and running, performance may be impressive but economy certainly isn’t; Volvo claims just 36.7mpg for the Cross Country T6 model, but you’ll be doing well to get above 30mpg in normal driving. The cheaper D5 will do a claimed 53.3mpg – and with lower CO2 emissions, too.
The £1,500 optional Air Suspension does a great job of cushioning the ride, but the wheels thud into potholes and expansion joints, sending a jolt through the cabin.
The V90 Cross Country has a beautifully crafted interior and ours even featured the brilliant Bowers and Wilkins sound system – although at £3,000 it’s an expensive extra.
- Model: Volvo V90 Cross Country T6
- Price: £50,555
- Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo and supercharged petrol
- Transmission: Eight-speed auto, 4WD
- Power/torque: 316bhp/400Nm
- 0-62mph: 6.3 seconds
- Top speed: 140mph
- Economy/CO2: 36.7mpg/176g/km
- On sale: Now
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