Americans have made it clear. We don't like wagons anymore and haven't for quite some time. That makes it hard for automakers to justify building them despite enthusiasts screaming and running with pitchforks.

This, of course, presents a problem for an automaker like Volvo, whose history is tied to the wagon. It's also why the Cross Country series was born 20 years ago. These lifted wagons, as capable as most crossovers, somehow appeal to Americans.

With the the 2017 V90 Cross Country, Volvo thinks it has created the perfect weekend getaway car with the right mix of driving dynamics, capability, and luxury.

Has it?

A wagon built for adventure

The V90 Cross Country is the latest, and last, addition to the 90 series lineup. It starts with the new V90 wagon, but it's a bit more than just a lift kit with some styling bits.

While the chassis is raised 2.3 inches overall, giving it 8.3 inches of ground clearance, the track was also increased 0.79 inch on each side, and there are wheel arch extensions--gray plastic is standard, but opt for the Luxury package and they get painted to match the body color--to accommodate larger wheels and tires.

CHECK OUT: 2018 Volvo V90 first drive review

Speaking of tires, Volvo worked with Pirelli to create a specific Scorpion Verde all-season tire that is a little more rounded in profile to help provide the best grip for off-road situations. The sidewalls say VOL and customers will be able to purchase them both at the dealership and from Tirerack.com.

2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country

2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country

Offered only with Volvo's T6 powertrain, the V90 Cross Country is powered by a supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 making 316 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. An 8-speed automatic transmission sends power to all four wheels and hill descent control is standard.

Stefan Sällqvist, senior product manager for the 90 series globally, told us that there are currently no plans to offer the plug-in hybrid T8 powertrain in the V90 lineup in the U.S. The V90 Cross Country also doesn't come with the 250-horsepower T5 turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, while the standard V90 does.

Like most new cars, the V90 Cross Country has drive modes, four of them: Eco, Comfort, Off Road, and Dynamic. Obviously, the V90 doesn't have the Off Road mode. Each mode modifies throttle response and shift patterns.

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An air suspension is available for self leveling in the rear, just like the V90. You cannot get it at all four corners, however, as the hoodline can't accommodate the air setup.

A base V90 Cross Country isn't very basic. Priced from $56,295, it comes standard with Volvo's Pilot Assist semi-autonomous driver assist system, the Sensus 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, laminated side windows, heated front seats and steering wheel, LED daytime running lights, a laminated panoramic sunroof, blind-spot monitors, and lane-departure warning with run-off mitigation.

Only two option packages are available: For $1,950 the Convenience package comes with niceties such as headlight washers, a 360-degree camera system, and parking assist. Opt for the $4,500 Luxury package and you'll add everything from massaging front seats and a leather-wrapped dashboard to 4-zone climate control and rear-door sunshades, along with the painted exterior cladding.

Go ahead, seek adventure

Volvo's Jim Nichols, product technology communications manager, said the V90 buyer has a keen sense of adventure, prefers active hobbies, and while they focus on outdoor activities, they relish in the adventure prep as much as the experience itself. It's for those reasons that buyers would choose this car over the standard V90.

To that end, Volvo threw me the keys and let me loose on rugged trails in Arizona with two warnings: you'll have very limited cell phone reception and we'll have multiple sweeper cars with spare wheels and tires in case you get into trouble.

Within minutes of entering the rugged trail Volvo had chosen, it became clear that it would be easy to pop a tire if I failed to pay attention to my driving line or drove too quickly.

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Naturally, I decided to seek my own adventure and headed off the pre-set route in search of photo opportunities. Within minutes, I feared I was about to get stuck, but the Volvo's all-wheel-drive system and 8.3-inches of ground clearance kept the car moving through fine, powdery sand and up a small hill. The 360-degree camera system was a blessing as it displayed what was in front of, next to, and behind the car as I slowly made my way through tight passages.

As the day wore on, I passed Jeep Wranglers with drivers giving me funny looks, as if to say, "Boy, that shiny Volvo doesn't belong here." But it did, as it was able to do every single thing I threw at it. From running water crossings to uphill ascents with little traction, the Volvo just kept going, and it probably could've done more. I was also certainly more comfortable in the Volvo's cossetting cabin while trouncing through the trails than those in the Wranglers.

2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country

2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country

2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country

2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country

2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country

2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country

Back on the highway, the V90 Cross Country's suspension and tires soaked up any road imperfections with ease. The extra ground clearance and those special tires may actually help the ride quality versus the already comfortable V90.

The steering is nicely weighted, though it doesn't provide a ton of feedback as to what's going on down on the road. That's the flipside to the added ride height and unique tire equation.

In terms of fuel economy, the on-board trip computer indicated 25.2 mpg in mixed driving and just a hair under 30 mpg on the highway. These findings align perfectly with the EPA ratings of 22 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined.

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2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country

2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country

Why you should want it

Volvo's realistic with its expectations for the V90 Cross Country. It plans to sell a couple thousand annually, and that includes the random non-Cross Country V90 wagon (which must be special ordered from the dealership only--none are being stocked on dealer lots).

But this is a fringe vehicle, as the V90 Cross Country has no direct competition. While the Audi A4 Allroad is similar, it's smaller and has less ground clearance at only 6.5 inches. Mercedes-Benz offers the E-Class wagon here in the U.S., but not an all-terrain model, and the Subaru Outback doesn't offer nearly the level of luxury or refinement one will find in the V90 Cross Country.

Volvo's built a luxury wagon Americans will accept. With a crossover SUV stance, more than enough space for all your gear, and capabilities beyond most of what your weekend excursions will demand, it's the perfect recipe for today's suburban adventurers.