The Volvo V60 Cross Country is hugely comfortable, well-built, relaxing to drive and as practical as a Volvo should be. Some cheaper rivals offer more standard equipment, however.
The arrival of the all-new XC90 SUV in 2014 heralded the start of push upmarket for Volvo as it took the fight to rivals Audi, BMW and Mercedes, aiming to match or better those brands for interior quality, exterior design and onboard technology.
Outside the Volvo V60 Cross Country is the latest model to offer the Swedish brands’ trademark sharp, unfussy design – albeit with added plastic cladding to protect against bumps and scrapes on rougher surfaces. The Cross Country rides 60mm higher than the standard V60, with its beefier suspension and larger wheels as contributing factors. Roof rails are standard, as are 18-inch alloy wheels.
Inside, the Cross Country matches its siblings with a focus on plush materials, simple ergonomics and strong infotainment. A minimalist design makes for a relaxing place to sit; the cabin feels especially airy when specced with lighter-coloured upholstery.
Standard equipment is good but you’ll need to delve into the options list to bring the spec up to the standard set by its closest rivals. The Subaru Outback, for example, comes as standard with front, side and rear view cameras, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a full suite of driver assistance and active safety systems; V60 Cross Country buyers will need to select the majority of these features either as standalone options or as part of Volvo’s options packs.
Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment
A 9.7-inch portrait touchscreen sits in the centre of the dash and is used to control most key functions, including ventilation controls. It sets the class standard for ease of use, but it’s disappointing that Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity is a £300 optional extra. Good-quality sat nav comes as standard, however.
Audiophiles benefit from the choice of two optional stereo upgrades over the standard 170-watt, 10-speaker system. A 600-watt, 13-speaker Harmon Kardon system is an £825 option, while a 1,100-watt, 15-speaker system by Bowers and Wilkins is available for £2,500; the latter is one of the best we’ve tested. A CD player does not feature as standard but can be added for £100.
Settle in behind the wheel of the V60 Cross Country and you can just about feel the additional 60mm of ride height, and the cabin feels ever so slightly elevated from the road surface. The difference is most evident when compared to the low slung, new R-Design version of the V60. It feels slightly taller than an Audi A4 Allroad too.
If the A4 Allroad is a sharp-to-drive take on the posh, propped up estate, the Volvo stays true to its colours with an emphasis on comfort. A decent amount of the 60mm increase in height can be put down to the larger profile tyres equipped as standard. Few sub-SUV cars on the road today get quite so much rubber, so immediately, the V60 Cross Country’s primary ride is strong, as the revised suspension setup gets plenty of cushion to work with.
At speed it’s soft, but not totally wafty. A lick of body control has been retained through a suspension setup not totally committed to being as pliant as possible. It means that small vibrations and a small degree of brittleness can be picked up on the move, but it’s a worthwhile trade-off, and this is still a very comfortable car.
The 187bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine sending power to the all-wheel-drive system is a straightforward affair. It’s a modest but well-judged amount of power, and the V60 Cross Country never feels short of grunt. The eight-speed transmission is smooth, and while it’s not totally foolproof, it doesn’t have to be razor sharp in action given the serene nature of the V60 Cross Country, and the way this car is likely to be driven. The same can be said of the steering, which is comfortably weighted but absent of any road feel.
Away from the tarmac, the raised suspension, all-wheel-drive, cladding, the specialised off-road setting for the traction control and hill descent control mean there’s a definite sense of ability off-road. It won’t venture as far as a proper SUV, but for green-landing and rutted tracks, the V60 Cross Country is more than capable.
Engines, 0-60 acceleration and top speed
For now, there’s only one engine available in the Volvo V60 Cross Country – a turbocharged 2.0-litre diesel with 187bhp and 400Nm of torque. Four-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic gearbox are standard.
Performance is adequate if not particularly electrifying: 0-62mph takes 8.2 seconds and top seed is 130mph. There’s plenty of torque though, making for acceptable in-gear punch and good overtaking ability. It’s bound to help when towing or tackling difficult terrain, too.
The Volvo V60 was crash tested by Euro NCAP in 2018 and awarded a five-star overall rating, with impressive scores of 96 per cent and 84 per cent respectively for adult and child occupant protection. A 74 per cent score for vulnerable road user protection (including pedestrian impacts) is respectable, as is the 76 per cent safety assist score.
The Volvo V60 is too new to have been included in our Driver Power 2018 customer satisfaction survey, but Volvo itself finished in 13th place out of 26 manufacturers. The brand secured an impressive 5th-place finish for reliability – this should bode well for Cross Country buyers.
Warranty
The V60 Cross Country comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty as standard. This matches Audi’s standard warranty, but can’t compete with Mercedes’ unlimited mileage warranty. By contrast, the Volvo’s cheaper Subaru Outback rival boasts a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty as standard.
Servicing
Service intervals are quoted as 18,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first. Volvo offers a number of service plans that can help spread the cost and as part of its Volvo Service Promise will include 12 months free roadside assistance, a car wash and a courtesy car, all organised through a dedicated personal service contact.
Free software upgrades are also included for the car’s infotainment system, although it’s worth noting that this does not include sat nav map updates.
As with all modern Volvo products, the V60 Cross Country majors on comfort. The V60 is slightly bigger than the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series estates, meaning there’s plenty of space inside for passengers and luggage.
From the driver’s seat you’ll just about notice the higher driving position offered by the raised ride height, but this is no tall-riding SUV. All-round visibility is still good, however.
Size
The Volvo V60 Cross Country measures in at just under 4.8m long, just over 1.9m (a shade over 2m including mirrors) and one millimetre shy of 1.5m in height. It’s a little larger than conventional executive estates from Audi, Mercedes and BMW, but around the same size as the Subaru Outback – although the latter is around 100mm taller. The V60 has a greater focus on practicality than its stylish V90 sibling, featuring a tailgate that’s far less raked and therefore a boot with a more practical shape.
Leg room, head room & passenger space
Up front, you’ll find some of the best seats in the business – something of a Volvo hallmark – while the rears offer enough space to sit two six-foot adults in comfort. The rear floor isn’t flat, so legroom becomes an issue with three rear passengers – even if shoulder space is fine. It’s worth noting too that while rear legroom is okay, it can be hampered if the front seats are set to their lowest positions. There are Isofix points on each of the two outer rear seats.
Boot
The V60 Cross Country’s boot measures in at 529 litres – larger than that of the conventional Audi A4 Avant (504 litres) and BMW 3 Series Touring (495 litres), but trails the Subaru Outback’s 559 litres ever so slightly. The Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer is the biggest near-rival, with 560 litres. It’s interesting to note that the Cross Country does not lose out on space versus front-wheel drive versions of the V60.
Folding the seats flat can be made easier with the optional Convenience Pack (£500), which adds electrically folding rear seats amongst other practical luggage organisation features and extra power sockets. A total of 1,441-litres of space is available with the seats down.
Towing
The Volvo V60 can tow braked trailers of up to 2000kg when specified with the optional retractable tow bar at just over £1,000. This also brings Volvo’s ‘Trailer Stability Assist’ system, which can use the brakes to help regain control of a snaking trailer at speeds over 31mph.
Though not as cheap to run as its front-wheel drive counterpart with the same engine, the V60 Cross Country offers decent economy and acceptable emissions for a car of this type. Volvo quotes an average economy figure of 42.8-47.9mpg, measured on the latest WLTP test cycle that more accurately reflects real-world driving. By contrast, the same engine and gearbox combination in the standard V60 manages 47.9-55.4mpg.
The V60 Cross Country clearly beats its Subaru Outback rival in this department, whose 2.5-litre petrol engine only returns 33mpg on average (WLTP). In top-spec 2.0-litre BiTurbo D trim, the Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer returns 36.2mp, or between 41.5 and 42.2mpg in the lower-powered Turbo D. Until the Volkswagen Group models return to their respective ranges (Audi A4 Allroad, Skoda Octavia Scout and Volkswagen Passat Alltrack), the V60 Cross Country is most economical car of its type.
Emissions are good for a four-wheel drive estate car, with an official NEDC equivalent figure of 135g/km quoted. For company car users this means a Benefit in Kind percentage charge of 32% in 2018/19, 35% in 2019/20 and 36% in 2020/21. By contrast, the petrol-only Subaru Outback brings a 34% charge in 2018/19, climbing to the maximum 37% thereafter.
Road tax is £205 in the first year, followed by the standard yearly payment of £140. Once you’ve ticked a few options boxes you’ll easily push your V60 Cross Country over the government’s £40,000 threshold and incur a £310 surcharge on in years two to six of ownership, making for a total annual bill of £450. Rivals like the Insignia Country Tourer start around the £30,000 mark and so should avoid this.
Insurance groups
The Volvo V60 Cross Country sits in insurance group 31 – considerably higher than the groups 17 to 20 of the Subaru Outback. The Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer sits in group 20 or 24 depending on which engine is fitted.
Currently discontinued but available through dealer stock, the Audi A4 Allroad sits in insurance groups 26 to 39 depending on engine and specification.
All Volvo V60 models are fitted with an anti-theft alarm with an immobiliser, volume sensor and a level sensor. Volvo’s On Call system can also be used to track the vehicle if it is stolen.
Depreciation
Our experts predict that the V60 Cross Country will hold onto a shade over 41% of its original value come trade-in time after three years and 36,000 miles. An equivalent Audi A4 Allroad is predicted to retain around 48-50% by contrast, though the Subaru Outback falls behind both with a predicted 39% after three years.
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