New Volvo V90 estate takes on Audi A6 Avant
MODEL TESTED: Volvo V90 D4 Inscription PRICE: £37,555 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbodiesel, 187bhp
VOLVO is hoping its new V90 estate can go one better than its S90 saloon, which narrowly lost out to the Mercedes E-class on its test debut (Issue 1,426).
Featuring the four-door model’s sleek style, upmarket interior and impressive efficiency, the newcomer brings a welcome dose of practicality. Currently, there’s a choice of two four-cylinder diesel engines, two or four-wheel drive and three trim levels. We test the lower-powered front-wheel-drive D4 model in flagship £37,555 Inscription guise.
Styling 4.3/5
MANY of the V90’s styling themes, such as the Thor’s hammer running lights, big, upright front grille and strong shoulder line, are shared with the S90 saloon. However, move to the rear and you’ll find that Volvo’s designers have done a fine job of grafting on an estate rear. Like the Audi, the V90 gets a steeply raked tailgate that sacrifices space for style. This impression is enhanced by the eye-catching vertical tail-lights that stretch from just above the bumper to the roof.
In all other respects, the V90 follows the same template as the S90, with great proportions and thoughtful detailing that mark it out as a premium product. The newcomer certainly has the edge over the Audi for kerb appeal, although this is hardly surprising as its rival is now five years old.
It’s clear the brand has spent as much time and effort on the V90’s cabin, which is slickly designed and solidly built. The centrepiece of the interior is a nine-inch touchscreen tablet mounted in the centre of the dash that controls everything inside the car, including entertainment, navigation and ventilation.
There are only a few buttons beneath the touchscreen, which means the facia is minimalist. The wooden veneers run the width of the interior and flow back on to the doors, while the soft leather seats feature discreet Swedish flag tags.
Our Inscription test model gets the brand’s 12.3-inch TFT instrument cluster as standard, too – it’s a reasonable £400 option on other versions. Whichever set-up you choose, the displays are clear, while the various menus are easy to scroll through using buttons on the multifunction wheel.
Although material and build quality is good, it’s still not quite on par with the Audi. The A6 cabin is looking a little dated, but it boasts even highergrade materials, plus the fit and finish is faultless.
Driving 3.8/5
OUR test car was fitted with Volvo’s entry-level 2.0-litre D4 four-cylinder diesel. It will be the best seller in the UK, and it matches the Audi exactly for power and torque, producing 187bhp and 400Nm.
As you’d expect, our duo were closely matched at the track. There’s a smooth wave of power and very little lag from the Volvo’s turbocharged engine, allowing it to sprint from 0-60mph in 7.3 seconds, which was just three-tenths faster than the A6.
However, thanks in part to its eight-speed gearbox, the Volvo’s in-gear figures were better than the Audi’s. It took 6.1 and 8.1 seconds for the 50-70mph test in sixth and seventh respectively – 3.9 and 15.7 seconds faster than the A6.
Better still, this performance advantage doesn’t come at the expense of refinement, as the S90’s engine is no noisier than the A6’s. There’s some diesel clatter at idle and it sounds a little strained when extended, but decent insulation means it rarely makes its presence felt during normal use. This relaxed character is confirmed by the car’s comfortable real-world driving experience.
Like the Audi, there’s a firm edge to the low-speed ride, especially on our model’s £700 optional 19-inch alloys, which crash into potholes. However, at a cruise, the V90 does a good job of soaking up bumps, while wind and road noise are also better suppressed than in the Audi, making the Volvo fractionally more cosseting on long runs. Our car had the £1,500 Active Four-c Chassis, which features adaptive dampers and air springs for the rear suspension. It provides a relaxing float over bigger bumps, but sharp ridges catch it out and send a shudder through the cabin.
Quick steering and strong grip give the V90’s front end a pointy feeling, but a softer set-up focused on comfort means body control isn’t the tightest, even with the optional dampers in their firmest setting. As a result, the Volvo doesn’t quite boast the A6’s agility – although for many buyers of big estate cars, that’s unlikely to be a deal-breaker.
Practicality 4.4/5
THERE was a time when Volvo estate models reigned supreme in terms of practicality, but the V90’s 560litre capacity is five litres down on the Audi’s, while both give best to a Skoda Octavia hatchback for space. The Volvo’s seats fold flat at the touch of a button, but a volume of 1,526 litres is 154 litres less than the A6’s.
Still, what it lacks in space, it makes up for with thoughtful features. For instance, there’s underfloor storage and the load cover retracts automatically, plus you get a handy cargo divider and shopping holder. Keyless entry and a powered tailgate also feature.
There’s lots of room inside the cabin, though, and the back seats are particularly spacious. Neat touches include the £400 Family Pack which adds a pair of integrated child booster seats to the rear bench. Volvo has managed to maximise storage, too, with a large glovebox and a big tray between the two seats.
Running costs 4.0/5
EMISSIONS of 119g/km are 4g/km higher than the Audi’s, but both cars feature a 23 per cent Benefit in Kind rate. However, the Volvo’s lower P11D price means the V90 will be £167 cheaper per year to run for higher-rate business users.
Private buyers will also benefit, with our experts predicting the Volvo will retain a healthy 47.5 per cent of its new value after three years, compared with 41.6 per cent for the A6. We also recorded a respectable 45.5mpg return at the pumps.