It’s the funniest thing really. Everybody I know loves a good station-wagon or ‘estate’, and yet there are so few on the road here. In Japan recently while attending the Tokyo Motorshow, I’d venture to say that every fifth car I saw was a wagon…
Perhaps it’s the rarity of them that adds to the enigma, whereby in the used-car market, the wagon variant of any sedan, be it the old Toyota KE70, Volvo 945 or Mercedes-Benz W123, will always command a higher resale-value. In the latter instance the wagon variant of the W123 is now commanding prices that are eight times higher than the sedan equivalent. Not double, eight!
Further adding to the conundrum is the fact that Malaysians are so hung-up on resale-value, you’d think that everyone would be buying wagons right? But no. Oft times (and this I’ve actually heard from salespeople), customers will walk-in, they’ll ooh-and-aah at the wagon variant, but end-up buying the sedan…
Case in point this new Volvo V90 T6 R-Design AWD. You already know about its sedan sibling the S90 T6, and its even more diabolical evil-twin the S90 T8, but what’s happened to the V90? And speaking of residual resale value, yes, both the older 245 and 945 Volvo wagons do command a much higher pre-loved price than their sedan counterparts, up to three times more in some cases.
I’ll skip the nitty-gritty tech details which you can read here, and cut to the chase. The V90 T6 R Design puts out a whopping 320bhp and 400Nm of torque to all four wheels, mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox, with paddle-shifts.
During my allotted time with the car, I have to say, I liked it more than the S90 T6 R. Don’t get me wrong, the S90 is a fine, fine car, but there’s just something about the V90 T6 R that makes it a little bit more special, and it’s not just because it’s a wagon either.
Priced at RM458,888 (on-the-road without insurance, inclusive of 6% GST), the V90 T6 R is by no means cheap, and costs RM5k more than its aforementioned sedan counterpart. But it offers a whole lot more. For one thing, it handles better…
Not kidding, for a wagon, this thing tackles corners like it was bred for a track, and maybe it was, for not so long ago, I’m sure you remember when this was tearing up the BTCC circuit…
It was Volvo who single-handedly made wagons ‘cool’ in the eyes of many, and they even raced them with much success. So is it any wonder then why the wagon variant in this 90-series feels sportier? Here’s a walk-around video…
Maybe it’s because of Volvo’s extensive knowledge of setting-up a wagon for racing that had a residual effect on their road-cars too. I’m just spit-balling though, although it wouldn’t be too far fetched a theory, I mean, have a look for yourself…
On the flip-side, maybe it’s just me, for I really did feel more at home and reassured driving the wagon, than I did the sedan. Be it puttering around or pounding pavement, the V90 T6R takes it all in stride.
There’s more than enough grunt from the engine, and that added benefit of all-wheel drive making sure all that power is distributed evenly is always a welcome change. The thing is though, the V90 T6R communicates its intentions to the driver very well.
You can actually feel what the car is doing under you, as it makes the most out of 350bhp and 400Nm. Acceleration is instantaneous and linear, while gear-shifts are imperceptible, and on more than one occasion I found myself looking back over my shoulder to see if it was indeed a wagon I was driving.
Speaking of which, it goes without saying that the interior cargo area of the V90 T6R is absolutely massive. With the rear seats folded down flat, trips to another type of Swedish business are going to be a piece of cake. It’s amazing just how much you can load into this car.
In conclusion, the V90 T6 R Design really is everything you could want in a family car; it’s obviously safe, very well equipped and offers the kind of interior space that sedans can only dream about. It’s a pity that Malaysians have taken to SUV’s more than they have to wagons, because in my book, wagons rule.
Here’s our friend Bobby Ang of EVO Malaysia (you may remember him as the mad-cap maestro behind the EVO Enduro) with his take of the new V90 T6 R – Chris Wee.
Volvo V90 T6 R Design Photo Gallery…
