Volvo V60 Cross Country 2020 Review
There are not many cars left in the sensible centre, but the new Volvo V60 Cross Country is one of themWhat’s it all about?
Volvo has a history with wagons and is currently enjoying success with SUVs.
So, in essence, the Volvo V60 Cross Country combines both. A wagon body, all-wheel drive, raised ride height, a bit of cladding, hill descent control and an off-road mode make this a tempting package in the style of the Subaru Outback, but closer in price to the Audi A4 allroad.
Only recently released internationally and all but officially confirmed for Australia, the V60 Cross Country seems certain to head Down Under in 2020, either with the D4 turbo-diesel tested here, or as T5 turbo-petrol.
How much will it cost?
Considering Volvo Car Australia has yet to officially confirm the car’s local arrival, pricing is nothing more than a guestimate. But the aforementioned A4 allroad retails for $74,800 plus on-roads, so that offers some form of ballpark guidance.
Volvo’s on the record promising the new S/V60 line-up that starts arriving in Australia from August will be very well equipped for the money. So, expect the Cross Country to go down the same route.
Highlights of the equipment list should include plenty of driver safety assistants. They will spot obstacles and brake the car independently, provide semi-autonomous support up to 130km/h, try to reduce the impact of running off road and autobrake for crossing traffic.
The Cross Country’s infotainment system supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and all media services along with sat-nav are provided through a 9.0-inch touch-screen. Yep, there’s a volume button but most functions are controlled by a swipe and a finger push.
Warranty and servicing costs are an interesting question. At the moment VCA offers a three-year warranty and a servicing schedule that’s quite expensive up-front. Both could have come in for adjustment by the time the Cross Country lands.
Why should I buy it?
The Volvo V60 Cross Country sits at a neat intersection between road cars and SUVs, just as all its predecessors dating back to the 1997 XC70 have done.
That means it sacrifices a little of the handling dexterity of an orthodox passenger car without descending into the clumsiness of much taller SUVs.
Adding 60mm of extra ground clearance and widening the track (compared to the V60) delivers the Cross Country a small amount of off-road cred, but we didn’t get the chance to hit the trails to find out just how capable it is. Based on past evidence we’d say muddy lanes, snowy roads and beach tracks will be its limit.
On-road – well on the 2.1km test track of which we did three brisk laps – the Cross Country displayed pliable yet controlled manners and steered lightly and accurately. There was something of the Subaru Outback about the way it rolled, settled and ultimately understeered. It felt utterly dependable. The Outback is one of our favourite vehicles so that is high praise.
You almost but never lose the impression of how big this car is; It’s more than 100mm longer than its predecessor at 4.784m and weighs in at up to 1867kg. It can tow up to 2000kg, if you care about such things.
Like the rest of Volvo’s 60- and 90-badged models, the Cross Country benefits from Volvo’s SPA (Scalable Production Architecture) platform. It really shows up in its dynamic cohesiveness and its sharper looks.
The 140kW/400Nm diesel engine, part of the new generation Drive-E range, is smooth and pretty quiet by diesel standards. Volvo’s new petrols are more refined, but it’s not a yawning chasm between them. The fuel claim under Europe’s new and more realistic WLTP ratings top out at 6.6L1/00km.
The eight-speed auto did its job without notable issues, but the lack of paddle shifters is a minor annoyance.
When is it available in Australia?
You’re not going to see the Cross Country before 2020, so if it’s appealing then just be patient. Alternatively, the standard V60 is going to be here before the end of 2019.
Who will it appeal to?
The Volvo V60 Cross Country adds a bit more versatility to the standard Volvo package, which already places a strong emphasis on such things, as well as safety and a comfortable and handsome interior design.
The boot measures up at 898 litres including underfloor storage and then expands to 1441 litres when you flop the rear seats. Smaller stuff can be accommodated in a plethora of storage pockets and bins spread around the cabin.
And that cabin, gosh Volvo is good at its interiors. OK, there isn’t the sheer opulence you’ll find in a top-speccer XC60, but the same bones are there.
The trim materials are high quality, control systems are relatively straight forward and the dashboard has a simplicity and grace that puts its rivals into the shade.
Add to that truly comfortable seating front and rear and this shapes as a typically welcoming Volvo interior. Only the middle rear-seat passenger is going to feel spurned, the high transmission tunnel cruelling leg space.
Where does it fit?
Depending on your view it’s either rolling around in no-man’s land or occupying the sensible centre.
So, what do we think?
Volvo is an eminently sensible brand and appropriately enough the V60 Cross Country is an eminently sensible model.
It is easy to like for its interior space and quality, high level of safety smarts and – in something of a first – its enjoyably relaxed driving manners.
When it gets here there’s no doubt it will eke out a small but very satisfied group of owners.
How much does the 2020 Volvo V60 Cross Country cost?
Price: $75,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder
Output: 140kW/400Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel: 5.9-6.6L/100km (WLTP Combined)
CO2: 155-173 g/km (WLTP Combined)
Safety rating: N/A
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