Volvo V90: 2018 Motor Trend Car of the Year Contender

We Like: Styling inside and out, Bowers & Wilkins stereo

We Don’t Like: Road noise, ignition knob interface

We continue to swoon before this lovely wagon and nestle into a cabin Mark Rechtin called a “cocoon of comfort.”

“Boasting the same extravagant dash-to-axle ratio, taut surfacing, and crisp character lines as the S90 sedan, the V90 wagon exudes the same confident stance and studied elegance,” Angus MacKenzie said.” Though this time it’s infused with just a dash of sportiness, thanks to those rakish D-pillars and the slightly shorter rear overhang.”

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The 2.0-liter engine’s initial surge of boost from the supercharger is addicting, with the turbo kicking in just as the supercharger wanes, Christian Seabaugh noted.

The V90 handled uneven surfaces better than the other wagons in the field and had less tire squeal and body roll on the handling course, Frank Markus said. But the ride could be more refined. It is rock-solid and stable at high speeds, and Pilot Assist skillfully keeps the wagon safely between the lane markings.

Thoughtful inside touches include the pop-up cargo area divider with integrated straps and hooks. The second-row seats fold electrically. And the front seats might be the most comfortable in the business.

Oddly, this low-volume wagon can only be special-ordered. And as fabulous as the V90 is, our tester cost almost $70,000, which Ed Loh called “a bit eye-watering.”

Lieberman contended that had the S90 and V90 arrived simultaneously last year, Volvo could have had a strong chance of walking away with the Golden Calipers. But as a low-volume stand-alone vehicle, the wagon didn’t sufficiently advance Volvo’s cause.

2018 Volvo V90 T6 Inscription
BASE PRICE	$58,945
PRICE AS TESTED	$69,340
VEHICLE LAYOUT	Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door wagon
ENGINE	2.0L/316-hp/295-lb-ft turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4
TRANSMISSION	8-speed automatic
CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST)	4,253 lb (54/46%)
WHEELBASE	115.8 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT	194.3 x 74.0 x 58.1 in
0-60 MPH	6.1 sec
QUARTER MILE	14.6 sec @ 94.6 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH	110 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION	0.88 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT	26.3 sec @ 0.67 g (avg)
EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON	22/31/25 mpg
ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY	153/109 kW-hrs/100 miles
CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB	0.77 lb/mile

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