Volvo V60 Cross Country (2019 – 2023) Review
Volvo V60 Cross Country (2019 – 2023) At A Glance
Insurance Groups are between 28–35
On average it achieves 69% of the official MPG figure
Buying an SUV seems like the default option for those who require practicality and some off-road ability. However, the Volvo V60 Cross Country proves there is an alternative. Like the larger Volvo V90 Cross Country, and cheaper Volkswagen Golf Estate Alltrack, this rugged estate car gives buyers the best of both worlds.
Stylish without being brash or ostentatious, the Volvo V60 Cross Country acts as a reminder that an off-road-capable estate car is a viable alternative to some of the best SUVs on the market.
Volvo has been producing its Cross Country line of estates since 1997, when it launched the Volvo V70 XC.
Despite the company releasing a number of SUVs since, it has persevered with its line of off-road biased wagons, and as our Volvo V60 Cross Country review will show, the formula of a raised ride height and protective body cladding still works well.
For this second-generation Volvo V60 Cross Country, some 60mm of ground clearance compared to the regular Volvo V60 estate has been added.
There is also bespoke body styling, with charcoal-coloured plastic trim helping to keep the Volvo V60 Cross Country’s paintwork safe.
Proving that the Volvo V60 Cross Country is not just a styling exercise, all-wheel drive is fitted as standard. This is combined with a bespoke off-road driving mode, allowing for greater precision when tackling slippery terrain.
A hill-descent control system is fitted, too. This all means the Volvo V60 Cross Country is surprisingly capable in the dirt, and well suited to traversing unfinished country lanes or grassy fields.
The Volvo V60 Cross Country is now offered solely with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and turbocharged petrol engine. Producing 250PS, it makes for relatively rapid progress, aided by the traction from the all-wheel drive system.
However, the mild-hybrid technology cannot overcome the inherent thirstiness of the petrol engine, with average fuel economy of just over 30mpg.
It might not be the firm’s largest estate, but the Volvo V60 Cross Country still delivers when it comes to practicality, with a sizeable boot and plenty of space for passengers.
There is also a host of standard equipment, including LED headlights, leather upholstery and a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. Such features go some way towards justifying the premium pricing, which sees the Volvo V60 Cross Country start from nearly £49,000.
Off-road estates like the Volvo V60 Cross Country are something of a rarity, with very few alternatives left in the marketplace. The Audi A4 Allroad has been discontinued, as has the Skoda Octavia Scout.
This leaves the much cheaper Volkswagen Golf Alltrack, along with the larger Volvo V90 Cross Country, as the only real alternatives.
The biggest challenge to the Volvo V60 Cross Country comes from within the company’s own model range. For less money, buyers can opt for the Volvo XC60 SUV, which offers similar practicality and more off-road ability.
There is still the option of a diesel engine with the Volvo XC60, too, and it can tow a heavier trailer.
However, the Volvo V60 Cross Country is a great option for those who don’t want to drive an SUV. It means not picking the obvious choice, and standing out from the crowd.
And so the Volvo V60 Cross Country is worth celebrating for that alone. The fact it makes for a thoroughly impressive estate car is a welcome bonus.