When you want something that few others have. . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

So my neighbor, a guy in is mid-20s said: “I really like that car a lot. I quite nearly bought one.”

He was talking about the 2024 Volvo V90 Cross Country B6 AWD.

Which is surprising for two reasons:

1. He is in his mid-20s
2. The car in question is a station wagon

He said that not only does he like the styling of the Volvo, but he’d taken one for a spin and thought it drove well.

To fill out this little vignette, know that he bought an Alfa Romeo Giula sedan instead.

He had had another Giulia, a Quadrifoglio, that he’d leased. He purchased the one now in his driveway.

He said he bought the Alfa because he likes the way it handles.

It is worth noting that in the first quarter of 2024 Alfa sold 640 Giulas in the U.S., so perhaps my neighbor is something of an outlier.

Style vs. Utility

The station wagon body style—more puzzling referred to in other markets as a “shooting brake” (not that “station wagon” isn’t odd: the “wagon” bit makes sense because it can carry goods, but the “station” part seems to indicate that it is something that is static, like a train station—has gone out of favor for the sport utility vehicle.

In part, this goes to the notion that the sport utility vehicle configuration provides utility. Presumably that means the ability to contain a lot of stuff, whether it is golf clubs or hockey gear, suitcases or Costco-sized personal paper items.

The V90 Cross Country provides 25.2 cubic feet of cargo capacity with the second-row seat back up and 69 cubic feet if that is folded down.

So let’s say someone opts for a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Let’s face it: that vehicle is the absolute poster child for an SUV with comfort and style. The Jeep, of course, has four-wheel drive, which makes it incredibly capable when the pavement has given way to an undeveloped surface.

The Volvo has all-wheel drive, which means that it is configured to handle things like snow (after all, Volvo HQ is in Sweden, so they know more than a little something about that).

For what most people are likely to encounter in their driving, AWD is the ticket.

Anyway. . .the Grand Cherokee offers 37.7 cubic feet behind the second row, which is significantly greater than what the Volvo provides, but the Grand Cherokee has 70.8 cubic feet of space with the second row back folded, so it is pretty much a wash.

The V90 Cross Country is longer than the Grand Cherokee—195.2 inches vs. 193.5 inches—but with mirrors folded narrower—74 inches vs. 77.5 inches—and a lot lower: a height of 60.5 inches vs. 70.8 inches. All of which is to say that doing a bit of geometry explains the differences in capacity.

Looks Right. Drives Right.

But let’s get back to my neighbor.

He said he finds the styling of the Volvo appealing, which goes to show that the company has gone a long way from when it seemed as though the designers were kitted with a T-square and right-triangle. It could also go to the point that it very well may be that given the endless proliferation of SUVs and crossovers there may be a small-but-growing group of people who are looking for alternatives.

Yes, he didn’t buy the Volvo, but he did buy a sedan.

Also, he said that he thought the Cross Country handled well. Presumably this has something to do with the vehicle having a lower center of gravity than, say, an SUV.

The Volvo is a mild hybrid. Which means that there is, in addition to the regular 12-Volt battery, a 48-Volt battery that recovers some of the energy produced by braking and stores it until it is used when it works through an integrated starter-generator to provide assistance when starting from a stop.

The vehicle has a 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It is mated to an eight-speed automatic. There are 295 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. All of which is to say that it comports itself as you would expect something like a station wagon to. What’s more, it has a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. Combined fuel economy is 25 mpg.

Volvo has gone all-in with Google, so there are Google Maps, Google Assistant and Google Play. (Yes, it does support CarPlay.)

Will the Era End?

Swinging back to the Giulia, as previously mentioned, there weren’t a whole lot sold in the U.S. in Q1 2024.

But there were fewer V90 Cross Country models sold during that same period: 164.

At some point, perhaps, more people are going to want to get something that they don’t see in every other driveway on their block. On mine there is an array of F-150s.

And a Giulia.

But I suspect that car makers—Alfa and Volvo alike—are going to have to phase out things that are not gaining traction.

And add to the proliferation of SUVs.