Volvo has launched the V90 Cross Country for the Indian market and has priced it at Rs 60 lakh (All-India ex-showroom) and this is something of a novelty for the Indian market. It is not a body style that is popular among Indian buyers and this has been visible in the numbers of tries made by various manufacturers across various price brackets. However, this time around it looks like Volvo is really making a solid attempt as it is bringing in a Cross Country version of its wagon, the V90 estate. What makes this different is that it comes with the practicality of the estate body style, coupled with the ruggedness that an SUV offers. In a bid to see how it stands up to its rivals, here is our take of the V90 Cross Country against the Range Rover Evoque. We believe Volvo will offer a single top-of-the-line model and so, we have taken the top-of-the-line diesel HSE Range Rover Evoque for comparison.
Exterior
At the outset both vehicles seem quite different from each other one is a beefed up station wagon while the other is a high riding crossover with a car-like stance but with enough butch to give it the muscle feel.
Noticeable elements on the Cross Country include the famous Volvo grille and logo, raised stance and of course, the black cladding around the bumpers. Funnily enough, it’s the same elements that make the Evoque stand out as well. But there is more SUV in this vehicle thanks to the strong shoulder line and forward sloping roofline.
To sum things up, the V90 Cross Country looks elevated and like something that has been propped up and beefed up for the butch feel while the Evoque looks more purpose built and exudes the image that it designed to go anywhere without an issue.
Interior
The features list for both cars is quite similar as they both have multi-zone climate control, touchscreen infotainment system, leather upholstery, electrically adjustable front seats and of course, torque-on-demand AWD technology. The difference is then down to the way the things are presented in the cabin.
The V90 Cross Country like its sedan sibling, the S90, gets the same minimal Volvo design language which comprises of a giant touchscreen to control most of the functions in the cabin. The India spec model is being offered with a light brown or maroon interior which adds to the premium factor. The Evoque on the other hand gets a conventional design with black-over-beige as the colour scheme. There are several buttons and the display for the touchscreen system is relatively small, compared to the Volvo’s.
In terms of pure measurement, the V90 Cross Country is significantly larger than the Evoque and so has a much longer wheelbase as well. This has also resulted in the V90 having a bigger boot when compared with the Evoque.
Performance
In this fight, both vehicles are powered by 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engines. In the case of the V90, it’s the same engine from the S90, but here it has been tuned to produce 235bhp/480Nm of torque and has been mated to an eight-speed AT and AWD system. The Evoque’s engine produces 177bhp/430Nm and is offered with a nine-speed AT and AWD system. The engines are the same, but the Volvo clearly has the higher output.
Conclusion
The V90 Cross Country is a new approach to a growing demand for high riding vehicles and is sure to find appeal among enthusiasts and those looking for something different. However, in this price range, it takes on the Range Rover Evoque which is an established player and one that has pretty much created the definition of the compact luxury SUV.
