Volvo releases V60 Cross Country

Volvo Car Australia has released a single diesel version of the V60 Cross Country first seen at last year's Los Angeles motor show.

Priced at $63,375 plus on-road costs, the higher-riding mid-size wagon is therefore $7000 cheaper than Audi's A4 Allroad 2.0 TDI (from $70,500).

Following revisions to the 2016 V60 range, Volvo's second Cross Country model after the V40 CC is also $5700 pricier than the V60 D4 Luxury on which it’s based.

The D4 Luxury now opens the V60 range at $57,675, replacing the D4 and T5 Kinetic models. Meantime, the T5 Luxury and R-Design are now $1000 cheaper at a respective $59,990 and $63,990, while the latter replaces the T6 AWD R-Design and Polestar models as the new flagship in a condensed four-variant V60 range.

Differentiated by a generous 201mm of ground clearance (65mm more than the V60), the V60 Cross Country also gains black plastic wheel-arch extensions, skid plates at the front, rear and sides, and a black grille, wing mirrors caps and window surrounds.

Under the bonnet is a 140kW/420Nm twin-turbo 2.4-litre five-cylinder diesel engine (rather than the standard V60's newer twin-turbo 140kW/400Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel), matched to a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive – instead of the front-drive V60 D4 Luxury's eight-speed auto.

Also fitted with hill descent control, the V60 Cross Country is claimed is claimed to consume 5.8L/100km, hit 100km/h in 8.9 seconds and tow up to 1900kg (braked).

Similar to the V60 D4 Luxury, the Cross Country comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights, reversing camera, rear parking sensors and a 7.0-inch monitor with Sensus infotainment system including navigation, internet and web apps and an eight-speaker sound system.

Also standard is City Safety low-speed autonomous braking, climate-control, electric park brake and 40/20/40-split folding rear seats.

For $4000, a Driver Support Package option adds lane departure and forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, active high beam, road sign information, adaptive cruise control and three auto-dimming mirrors.

Meantime VCA, which is still considering the release of the S60 Cross Country sedan, has also released a revised 2016 XC60 SUV line-up now comprising just five models – down from eight.

Opening the MY16 XC60 range is the D4 Kinetic AWD at $55,675, replacing the 2WD T5 Kinetic (previously $57,990), while the 2WD D4 Kinetic and Luxury models are gone, leaving the $58,765 T5 Luxury as the only 2WD model and the only petrol variant.

The XC60 T6 Luxury and R-Design AWD models are also discontinued, leaving the D5 Luxury and R-Design AWD models unchanged at $69,990 and $71,990 respectively.

The new entry-level XC60 D4 Kinetic is now powered by a 140kW/420Nm 2.4-litre twin-turbo five-cylinder diesel instead of a single-turbo 400Nm 2.0-litre diesel, matched with a six-speed auto.

Now standard across the XC60 range are front (and rear) parking sensors, a powered front passenger seat, interior air quality system and the option of the V60's Driver Support Package for the same $4000).

For 2016, the D5 Luxury's 2.4-litre twin-turbo diesel scores an extra 4kW of power (now 162kW) and 440Nm, while the D5 R-Design remains at 169kW and 470Nm. Yet both are now claimed to be 0.1 seconds quicker to 100km/h at a respective 8.2 and 8.0 sec, and both are nearly 10 per cent more efficient at 6.3L/100km.

There are no mechanical changes to the T5 Luxury's 180kW/350Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, which consumes 7.0L/100km and hits 100km/h in 7.2 seconds.

Compared to the base Kinetic model, Luxury and R-Design versions of the MY16 XC60 gain features including navigation with voice control, active bi-xenon headlights and, for the R-Design, a host of sporty extras.

Read the Volvo V60 Cross Country 2019 Review

2016 Volvo V60 pricing (plus ORCs):

2016 Volvo XC60 pricing (plus ORCs):