Secrets of the new Volvo V90 police car (2024)

Volvo police cars have been a common sight on UK motorways since the 1990s. While the 850 was winning a following amongst BTCC fans, traffic officers were being convinced by its practicality, ruggedness and, thanks to its T5 engine, performance.

Today, around 400 Volvo police cars are in operation in the UK. These are predominantly V70s along with a smattering of XC70s (popular in rural areas), plus a few V60s. Of course, the Volvo V70 is no longer in production, having been succeeded by the V90. So what does that mean for the future? The V90 has won over the motoring press since its reveal at last year’s Geneva Motor Show. But are we going to see them in police livery on UK roads?

The answer, Volvo hopes, is ‘yes’. It’s currently working hard to get the V90 on the framework for UK police forces, and testing by Swedish cops has already given the V90 a 9.2 rating out of 10 – higher than any car ever tested.

Secrets of the new Volvo V90 police car (1)

All Volvo police cars spend around six days passing through Volvo’s special vehicles workshop, located close to its factory in Torslanda, near Gothenburg, in Sweden. Here, they take a standard V90 that’s exactly the same as one sold to a customer and start to process of turning it into a traffic car for the UK police.

Currently, you can only buy a diesel-engined V90 in the UK, so all police cars will be powered by the same 235hp four-cylinder twin-turbo diesel as civilian V90s. You might be surprised to hear the D5 remains completely standard. There are no tweaks under the bonnet to improve performance and aid keeping up with crims – rather, the modifications are more practical.

Secrets of the new Volvo V90 police car (2)

Traffic officers carry an awful lot of gear to help with them with their job. Cones, ropes, first aid kits, fire extinguishers… you get the idea. And you don’t want all that kit flying around while in a pursuit at three figure speeds – or worse, being rear-ended on the motorway. The answer comes in form of a strengthened, bespoke boot frame that holds everything in place and is designed to send everything out through the rear window in the case of a crash, rather than forward into passengers.

Secrets of the new Volvo V90 police car (3)
Secrets of the new Volvo V90 police car (4)

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To counteract all that weight (a fully-laden V90 complete with two burley traffic officers weighs as much as 2,400kg), custom springs provide an extra 300mm of ride height, while dampers are around 10-15% stiffer than standard. Wheels are also replaced by those from an XC90.

So how does it drive? We went to Volvo’s top secret test facility in northern Sweden to find out. Here, Volvo test drivers spend around 500 hours putting the V90 police car through its paces, testing it to the limit in well-below-freezing conditions. They’re also tested in hot climates – but the logic is, if they can survive this, a rainy M25 will be a piece of cake.

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On a frozen lake in the Arctic Circle (we’re not allowed to tell you exactly where), the V90 is everything you’d want from a police car: swift, safe (all D5s have four-wheel drive as standard) and predictable. There isn’t the same requirement for studded tyres in Blighty, but the V90 provides that feeling of invincibility that UK traffic officers want. Budget cuts mean police forces regularly keep cars for four or five years and expect them to cover several hundred thousand miles before retirement, so the stick they put up with out here is reassuring.

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After a thoroughly hard day’s work testing out the V90 on a frozen lake in Sweden, we can confirm not only that it’s well up to the job of carrying out traffic officer duties in the UK, but also that it’ll look incredibly cool doing so.

While nothing will quite top the police-liveried 850 in our eyes, a battenburg V90 comes pretty close.

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Secrets of the new Volvo V90 police car (2024)

FAQs

How much horsepower does a Volvo V90 police have? ›

Currently, you can only buy a diesel-engined V90 in the UK, so all police cars will be powered by the same 235hp four-cylinder twin-turbo diesel as civilian V90s.

What countries have Volvo police cars? ›

While the Swedish police will be the first to start using the V90, Volvo Cars sells its police cars in other countries as well. Other police forces that in recent years have used Volvos include Norway, Italy, the UK and the Netherlands.

How many gears does Volvo V90 have? ›

The car has an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and an electric motor for rear-wheel drive. The number of gear changes means that the engine's torque and power range can be used effectively. Two of the gears are overdrive gears that save fuel when driving at constant engine speed.

Where is the Volvo V90 cross country made? ›

Volvo V90
ManufacturerVolvo Cars
Production2016–present
Model years2017–present
AssemblySweden: Torslanda (Torslandaverken)
24 more rows

What is the fastest Volvo engine? ›

The 2022 Volvo S60 Recharge T8 Polestar Engineered is the fastest Volvo ever made as it does 0-60 mph in just 4.1 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 112 mph.

What is the highest horsepower Volvo? ›

Polestar-tuned XC90 T8 is most powerful Volvo ever - LeftLaneNews. Power output has jumped to 421 horsepower and 502 lb-ft of torque.

What brand are most police cars? ›

Ford Police Interceptor Sedan and Utility continue to be America's best-selling police vehicles.

What country has the fastest police cars? ›

The world's fastest police car is the Bugatti Veyron used in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which reaches 253mph/407kmh. Six of the eight fastest police cars in the world are found in the UAE. UAE also has the world's most expensive police car: the AUS$4.4m/US$3.4m Lykan HyperSport.

What is the fastest Volvo V90? ›

The T6 petrol plug-in is the quickest version in the V90 lineup, managing 0-62mph in a rapid 5.9s, while the B6, B5 and B4 petrol cars all offer decent sprinting pace with times of 6.2s, 6.9s and 7.9s respectively. Top speed is limited to 112mph for all V90 variants.

How long will a Volvo V90 last? ›

It can also vary depending on the make and year of your Volvo. That being said, with the proper care the average lifespan of a Volvo is typically 20 years with over 200,000 miles.

What does the V in V90 stand for? ›

SPEC HIGHLIGHTS

The next two products from Volvo's Scaleable Product Architecture (SPA) are the S90 (saloon) and V90 (estate - the 'V' stands for 'versatile').

Will there be a 2023 V90? ›

For the 2023 model year, the V90 Cross Country is available in two trims, Plus and Ultimate. We like the value offered by the Plus trim, which includes a standard 360-degree camera, four-zone climate control, and an abundance of driver assist and safety features.

How many Volvo V90 sold? ›

Volvo V90 U.S Sales Figures
Volvo V90
2021169
2020279
2019500
2018491
1 more row

What is the gas mileage on a Volvo V90? ›

The EPA says the V90 Cross Country with the new B6 powertrain should get 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.

What is Volvos strongest engine? ›

Volvo Penta has expanded its genset range and launched its most powerful engine to date with the introduction of the D17.

What speed does Volvo limit? ›

Setting the limiter at 112 mph will make all Volvos amongst the slowest cars on the road today, even the base model Mini One has 120 mph top speed!

Why does Volvo limit top speed? ›

Basically, even if you buy the most powerful and sportier car of the brand (we are looking at you, Polestar), you won't be able to exceed this speed. Volvo's motivation for this decision is its attempt to reduce the road fatalities and serious injuries in Volvo cars, and basically eliminate them in the next few years.

Why is Volvo so strong? ›

Volvo makes use of ultra-high strength steel to create an extremely safe protection cage. The structure is designed intelligently in order to dissipate impact energy, in case of a collision, to keep the occupants safe.

Did Volvo ever make a V8? ›

The new V8 engine marks a new turning-point in Volvo Cars' history. It is the first V8 the company has produced since it was founded in 1927, and the Volvo XC90 is the first model to be powered by the new engine.

What Volvo has a V12? ›

This decrepit Volvo PV544 has been given new life with the addition of a massive 38.88-liter diesel V12.

What state has the nicest police cars? ›

The agency said they received 65,169 votes during the contest hosted by the American Association of State Troopers.

Which state has the best looking police cars? ›

Kentucky State Police wins national 'Best Looking Cruiser' contest.

What car do cops pull over the least? ›

10 of the Least Ticketed Cars
  • Audi A3.
  • Cadillac Escalade.
  • Chevrolet Express.
  • Cadillac ATS.
  • Buick Encore.
  • Honda Civic.
  • Acura ILX.
  • Lexus IS.

What cars do the FBI use? ›

FBI SWAT uses a variety of armored SWAT vehicles, including the Lenco BearCat, Humvee, various MRAP models, and occasionally tracked armored personnel carriers.

What type of cars attract cops? ›

People tend to think that the police pull red vehicles over more because they stand out, but this is a myth! White cars actually get pulled over the most! Red comes in second, with gray and silver taking third and fourth place, respectively.

What do cops call their cars? ›

A police car (also called a police cruiser, police interceptor, patrol car, area car, cop car, prowl car, squad car, radio car, or radio motor patrol) is a ground vehicle used by police and law enforcement for transportation during patrols and responses to calls for service.

What state has the fastest police cars? ›

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the Michigan State Police put these police vehicles through their paces, be it with acceleration runs, top speed numbers, or even lap times, and the Ford Utility P.I., came out on top.

What is the max speed of USA police car? ›

Dodge Charger, Chevy Caprice, and Ford Police Interceptor Utility are the popular models, though many more favorites have come and gone in the past. The 2022 Ford Police Interceptor Utility AWD clocks a top speed of 148 mph and goes 0-60 in 5.5 seconds.

What's the fastest police car in America? ›

10 Fastest American Police Cars Of All Time
  1. 1 Chevrolet C7 Corvette Z06: 196 MPH.
  2. 2 2002 Chevrolet Camaro B4C: 159 MPH. ...
  3. 3 2013 Chevrolet Caprice PPV: 155 MPH. ...
  4. 4 1996 Chevrolet Caprice 9C1: 150 MPH. ...
  5. 5 2016-2022 Dodge Charger Pursuit: 150 MPH. ...
  6. 6 1969 Dodge Polara Pursuit: 149 MPH. ...
  7. 7 2022 Ford Interceptor Utility: 148 MPH. ...
Apr 1, 2023

What is the top of the range V90? ›

V90 Ultimate

The Ultimate gets all the ticks for options. Top of the range 20-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof and the Bowers & Wilkins sound all come as standard. You also get a heads-up-display that's integrated into the windscreen.

What modes does the Volvo V90 have? ›

Press Settings in the top view. Press My CarIndividual Drive Mode and select Individual Drive Mode. In Presets, select a drive mode to start from: Pure, Hybrid, Power or Polestar Engineered*.

What is similar to a Volvo V90? ›

Its Competition. Audi and Mercedes-Benz both match the S90 and V90 when it comes to breadth of body style availability, though both will be costlier when optioned up to Volvo levels.

Do Volvos need premium gas? ›

Volvo recommends using premium gasoline, which has an octane of 91 or higher. However, this isn't a requirement. Gasoline with an octane of just 87 can be used without affecting the reliability of your engine.

Is Volvo better than Lexus? ›

When it comes to style and engineering, our collection of Volvo models beats Lexus, hands down. For example, Volvo understands what drivers want, and they deliver a range of great styles, including wagons, cross country wagons, sedans, and SUVs. Lexus only offers an assortment of sedans or SUVs as options.

What is considered high miles for a Volvo? ›

Mileage will also vary depending on the make and year of a Volvo, but the average lifespan is typically 20 years with over 200,000 miles.

Why are V90 discontinued? ›

The Volvo V90 Cross Country was discontinued in Europe as falling wagon sales continued after years of similar trends. The 2023 model is the last one. According to a forecast by LMC Automotive, European sales of station wagons will fall to 1.5 million by 2025 from 1.7 million in 2019.

Is Volvo V90 built in China? ›

Volvo XC60

That said, Volvo – unlike Polestar – hasn't switched over to Chinese sourcing for its entire product portfolio, as the company still makes the S90/V90 and XC90 range in Sweden, the S60/V60 in the United States and the C40 and XC40 Recharge in Belgium.

What does U3 mean? ›

U3 indicates the minimum write speed is 30 MB/s. A U3 rating for SDXC cards indicates a minimum write speed of 30MB/second. The last description is the V rating. This is the video speed class, developed to address advancements in memory technology. The number in the spec is drawn from the minimum write speed.

What are the changes in the Volvo V90 2023? ›

For 2023, the slightly raised off-road wagon undergoes revisions similar to its S90 luxury sedan counterpart. Newly standard features include four-zone climate control, an air purifier, full ambient lighting, and a surround-view camera system. The 2023 V90 Cross Country also offers updated paint color selections.

When can i buy 2023 Volvo? ›

The 2023 Volvo XC40 release date is slated to be sometime in Fall 2022. We know that the 2023 Volvo XC40 is now in production, and that dealerships expect to receive inventory in a few months. We hope that you are as enthused as we are about this redesigned premium crossover SUV.

Are Volvo V90 reliable? ›

Volvo finished 17th out of 32 car makers listed in the 2022 What Car? Reliability Survey. That's one place behind BMW but well ahead of Audi and Mercedes in 21st and 23rd place respectively. All V90s come with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty as standard, which is not overly generous.

What is the most bought Volvo? ›

Globally, the XC60 continues to be the best-selling model for the company in 2022, as the company sold 195,338 cars (2021: 215,635) of the model during the year. The XC40 follows in second with total sales of 169,206 cars (2021: 201,037), while the XC90 is the third-best selling model with 97,130 cars (2021: 108,231).

What country buys the most Volvos? ›

Volvo Cars global sales up by 97.5 per cent in April
April
2020Change
Europe9,28541.9%
China14,72473.7%
US3,86663.9%
2 more rows
May 4, 2021

Who owns most of Volvo? ›

About The Auto Group

So, the Zhejiang Geely Holding Group owns the brand, but who makes Volvo cars? Some drivers in the Laurel or Shepherd area may remember that for a brief period, Volvo was part of the Ford Motor Company, but currently, all Volvo vehicles are manufactured by the Geely Holding Group.

How many miles will a Volvo engine last? ›

It can also differ based on the make and year of your Volvo. That being said, the lifespan of a Volvo is typically 20 years with over 200,000 miles when properly cared for. The Volvo P1800 model has a 1.8-liter engine with 103 horsepower and 150 Nm of torque.

Can a Volvo last 300k miles? ›

Overall, expect to see your Volvo vehicle last for over 200,000 miles if you give it proper care each year. If you look to the classics, though, you'll find that a 1966 Volvo P1800 broke the world record for highest vehicle mileage with a staggering three million miles driven.

What is the highest mileage Volvo in the world? ›

At the age of 77 and with 3.2 million miles to his name, Irv Gordon has sadly passed away. Irv is survived by the original Volvo P1800 he had bought in 1966 and which has earned him a World Record for carrying him the equivalent of 7 roundtrips to the moon.

What is the fastest V90? ›

If you can afford the high sticker price, the fastest Volvo V90 is the Recharge T8 plug-in hybrid and it'll rocket you to 62mph in 4.8 seconds, while still able to provide an electric-only range of 52 miles.

How much horsepower does a Swedish police car have? ›

Gallery. So this is what the Swedish police will get next year. They can chose between three different engines, D4 (diesel with 190 hp), D5 (diesel with 235 hp) or T6 (petrol with 320 hp). All of them will have AWD and automatic transmission.

How much hp does a Volvo semi truck have? ›

Cummins X15 Engine

The X15 at the 400–550 hp rating is well suited for fleets in freight applications that require fuel economy and the benefits of bigger block architecture.

What is Volvo limiting top speed? ›

Setting the limiter at 112 mph will make all Volvos amongst the slowest cars on the road today, even the base model Mini One has 120 mph top speed!

Does Volvo have a speed limit? ›

Volvo Cars will limit the top speed on all its cars to 180km/h from 2020, sending a strong signal about the dangers of speeding. But realising that technology alone will not get it all the way to zero, Volvo Cars is now broadening its scope to include a focus on driver behaviour.

What does the V stand for in Volvo V90? ›

The Volvo V-line – world-class functional flexibility V stands for Versatility.

What is the top speed police car? ›

From pony cars to specialized SUVs, conventional police vehicles have come a long way to hit speeds up to 155mph. Most commuter cars can hit 120 mph, so cop cars need to match that speed or do better.

Who makes the fastest police car? ›

While the modern police force also has cars like the Dodge Charger pursuit, it is the Ford Police Interceptor Utility with a whopping 148 mph top speed, which is the fastest cop car today.

Do police cars have stronger engines? ›

Patrol cars are equipped with light bars, sirens, and are clearly marked as law enforcement vehicles. Pursuit Vehicle or Interceptor: This type of police vehicle is usually equipped with a more powerful engine to achieve high speeds.

Who makes Volvo engines? ›

Who makes the engines for Volvo Cars? Since 2013, all petrol and diesel engines are proudly made by Volvo Cars at their Skövde, Sweden facility. This family of VEA engines (Volvo Engine Architecture) is produced for nearly all global markets.

What is the fastest Volvo truck? ›

The record-breaker is custom-built in every respect. The only exception is the engine and the series-manufactured I-Shift Dual Clutch transmission. Volvo's Iron Knight has 2,400 horsepower, 6,000 Nm of torque and a weight of 4.5 tonnes.

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