Wagons are the most practical vehicles one can buy today. They amalgamate the practicality of an SUV and the ride and handling of a sedan. Although they lacked the star-power and the glamorous looks until five years back, things have changed. A lot of mainstream automakers have started making these long vehicles look sexy. One such company that deserves credit for making a wagon look so desirable is Volvo. The Scandinavian company has gone a step ahead by mixing a crossover and a wagon into one beautiful product called the Volvo V60 Cross Country.

2020 Volvo V60 Cross Country

Specifications
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  • Model: 2020 Volvo V60 Cross Country
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Pros
Cons

2020 Volvo V60 Cross Country Exterior

- V90-based design - Thor's hammer headlamps - Sporty bumpers - Longer wheelbase - Modern design overall

Upfront, the 2020 Volvo V60 Cross Country looks stunning. The clean bonnet has two creases that extend all the way to the A-pillar. The slim LED headlights come with the trademark 'Thor's Hammer' daytime running lights. The well-sized black grille has chrome bits, a chrome border, and the Volvo badge slapped on it. The headlights even come with washers. The bumper has foglamp housings on either end, which in itself is quite large when compared to the tiny LED bulb placed in it. You can see the front parking sensors on the black mesh grille below the number plate. The bottom comes with black plastic cladding that is slightly tweaked to aid aerodynamics.

Personally, I have always loved the shape of the Volvo V60 Cross Country. Even though the vehicle is long, it is very well-balanced and sorted, and it does not look out of proportion from any angle. The side justifies what I'm saying. The plain-looking profile does not carry any badges on the fenders. You can see how the rear quarter glass slopes upwards at the end, giving a neat finish to the D-Pillar, and also accentuating the boomerang shape of the V60 Cross Country. The good thing is that whether you go with the standard wheels or the optional 19-inch and 20-inch wheels, Volvo provides 0.4 inches of extra side tire wall. The ground clearance is a cool 2.9 inches more than the V60's, 0.4-inches of which is because of the tires.

On the top is a spoiler with the high mounted stop light, and right above it is the shark-fin antenna. The Christmas tree-type vertical LED taillights have been around for very long and automakers nowadays are actually ditching it for vertical lamps, but despite that, the lights don't look out of place here. The design philosophy looks the most Scandinavian on the rear. The Swedish automaker has skipped the logo at the back in favor of the VOLVO lettering below the raked windshield. The bumper has two sleek reflectors along with a tow hook behind the body-colored cover. The black cladding at the bottom completes the rear and it also houses two rectangular chrome-tip exhaust pipes on wither sides. Overall, the Volvo V60 Cross Country looks quite sleek, sharp, and beautiful. It will certainly age gracefully and won't look out of place amidst the horde of upcoming 'from-the-future' designed electric vehicles.

2020 Volvo V60 Cross Country exterior dimensions

Length

188.3 inches

Width

72.8 inches

Height

59.0 inches

Wheelbase

113.2 inches

Track front/rear

64.9/64.2


2020 Volvo V60 Cross Country Interior

- Also based on the V90 - Vertical infotainment display - Clean center stack - Wide center console - Leather and cloth - Good fit and finish - Premium look - Loads of new tech

Should we even talk about a Volvo's interior? Be it the entry level sedan or the expensive SUVs, Volvo does not compromise on the interior and provides the best cabin in its respective segment. The 2020 Volvo V60 Cross Country's interior is no exception either. With that said, the cabin does not boast a lot of difference from any of its other siblings. While some may think 'why fix something that ain't broken' and just use the success formula across models, other will surely give Volvo a 'lousy' tag for it. The wide center console and the boxy dashboard, coupled with the huge touchscreen in the centre contribute to a cabin where everything seems a size larger than it should have been. Although you cannot call it cluttered, it sure feels busy in every nook and corner.

Park yourself in the front seats and they will just soak you in. All the seats are sculpted and shaped in a way to supports you from all the angles. Even the rear passengers have plenty of headroom and legroom. Upfront, there is 40-inches of headroom and 42.3-inches of legroom available. In the rear, the 2020 Volvo V60 Cross Country offers 38-inches of headroom 35.2-inches of legroom. These figures can give a complex to some SUVs as well. Everything feels so plush and rich inside the cabin. There is no dearth of space anywhere in the cabin. Flip the rear seats down and enjoy the luxury of 50.9 cubic-feet of cargo space at your disposal.

The center console houses the 9-inch vertically-stacked Sensus infotainment screen. This system has had a love-it-or-hate-it relationship with customers since the beginning. The system is bright, crisp under the sunlight, and supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It does offer navigation as well, but let's admit, it has been Volvo's strong suit. When compared to the competition, the system does seem to have a little lag and is not as fast as the ones found on any of the German cars. It also comes with a Bowers & Wilkins audio system.

2020 Volvo V60 Cross Country interior dimensions

Passenger Volume

93 - 95 cubic-feet

Cargo Space

19 cubic-feet (50.9 cubic-feet with rear seats folded)

Curb Weight

3,950 pounds


2020 Volvo V60 Cross Country Safety

Speaking of the safety systems, Volvo just continues to excel in this department. In a bid to create a perfect-world kind of a situation, Volvo is working hard towards its 'Vision 2020', wherein the automaker is aiming to reduce the number of people that die or are seriously injured in road traffic accidents to zero. It also reduces driver strain in tedious situations and increases safety, while also delivering enhanced speed and distance keeping in the lane.

The other safety features on the 2020 Volvo V60 Cross Country include:

-* Automatic Emergency Braking and Collision Avoidance

-* Hill Descent Control

-* Cross Traffic Alert

-* Lane Keeping Aid

-* Driver Alert Control

-* Road Sign Information

-* Run-Off Road Mitigation And Protection

-* Blind Spot Information

-* Rear Collision Warning

-* Adaptive Cruise Control

-* Distance Alert

-* Park Assist Pilot

-* 360-Degree Camera

2020 Volvo V60 Cross Country Drivetrain

- T5 and T6 gasoline engines - D3 and D4 diesel units - Two hybrid drivetrains - Up to 390 horsepower - Eight-speed automatic - All-wheel drive

Volvo perhaps missed a trick or two here by launching the 2020 V60 Cross Country with a sole engine option for the U.S. It will be offered in only the T5 AWD trim. Power is sent to all the wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. This is the same all-wheel-drive system found on the Volvo V60's T6 trim. Power can be split 50/50 between the front and rear axles, but it mostly sends power only to the front wheels while cruising on the highways.

The phrase, 'no replacement for displacement' holds true in the V60 Cross Country's case. The four-banger unit feels lethargic when the A-pedal is floored. Switch this to “Dynamic” mode and the wagon will offer marginally better throttle response and slightly heavier steering. With that said, the power delivery is smooth and linear, and goes all the way to make sure that comfort remains above everything else. What's exclusive to the 2020 V60 Cross Country over the V60 is the “Off-Road” mode that recalibrates the engine, gearbox, and all-wheel-drive system in pursuit of more grip, and the suspension is tuned to be slightly more spongier and comfort-oriented.

2020 Volvo V60 Cross Country drivetrain specifications

Engine

2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbocharged unit

Power

250 horsepower

Torque

258 pound-feet

Transmission

Eight-speed automatic gearbox

0-60 mph

6.4 seconds

0- 100 mph

16.4 seconds

Top Speed

130 miles per hour

Mileage (combined)

25 miles per gallon


2020 Volvo V60 Cross Country Pricing

The official prices are not out yet, but the 2020 Volvo V60 Cross Country could come with a starting price of $42,000. This makes it slightly higher than the V60, which starts at $39,000.

2020 Volvo V60 Cross Country Competition

Audi A4 Allroad

The A4 Allroad, in stark contrast, looks like a typical wagon that is based on a sedan. It does not seem as stylish as the V60 Cross Country, but it certainly has the appeal that can attract the masses. The new A4 Allroad borrows a lot of design cues from the Q8, thus making it look a lot more premium over the previous models. The wheelbase, cargo space, and other dimensions are similar to the Volvo V60 Cross Country. On the inside, the A4 Allroad is loaded with features and has a comfortable cabin overall. The touchscreen infotainment system supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Audi A4 Allroad comes powered by a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder unit that churns out with 248 horses and 273 pound-feet of torque. It can sprint from a standstill to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds and has a top speed of 130 miles per hour. It comes with five different dive modes to choose from, making it versatile in all driving conditions. Although the prices have not been officially revealed, we speculate it to begin around $52,000 for the base model. All-in-all, it is a well-rounded wagon with multiple package options to choose from. However, adding these multiple options will take its price to $65,000, which makes the Volvo V60 Cross Country looks like a value-for-money proposition.

Engine

2.0-liter, four-cylinder unit

Power

248 horses

Torque

273 pound-feet of torque

Mileage (combined)

27 miles per gallon

0 - 60 mph

5.9 seconds

Cargo Size

24.2 cubic feet / 58.5 cubic feet with rear seats folded down

Price

$52,000 onwards (estimated)


Read our full review on the 2018 Audi A4 Allroad

BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon

In the same way that the A4 Allroad is based in on the A4 sedan, this Sports wagon also originated from the 3 Series sedan's DNA. On the outside, this wagon looks sexy. The mean-looking LED headlights go well with the appropriately-sized grille, the tailamps, the shark-fin antenna, and the dual-tip exhaust. The perfect integration of all the elements make the BMW Sports Wagon look more than just an elongated 3 Series sedan.

It has perhaps the best interior in the segment currently. It exudes nothing but sheer class and quality. You can get features like Panoramic sunroof, heated steering wheel, head-up display, ambient lighting, etc. Touchscreen infotainment system supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In terms of performance, this car is a hoot-and-a-half to drive. It comes with three drive modes to cater to your needs as per the situation. This family hauler makes sure to keep the family, as well as the enthusiastic driver in you happy. Not to mention, BMW offers a plethora of packages and option for you to spec it as per your needs - both, aesthetically and mechanically. The caveat, however, is that the BMW 3 Series Wagon is ending its run after spending 20 years in the U.S. BMW has announced that it will not be bringing the next-gen wagon to the States.

Engine

2.0-liter, four-cylinder, TwinPowerTurbo unit

Power

248 horses

Torque

258 pound-feet of torque

Mileage (combined)

27 miles per gallon

0 - 60 mph

5.7 seconds

Cargo Size

27.5 cubic feet / 61.5 cubic feet with rear seats folded down

Price

$45,000 onwards


Read our full review on the 2018 BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon.

Final Thoughts

The Volvo V60 Cross Country caters to customers looking for a crossover, SUV, and a wagon. It comes with a great looks, raised height, mild off-roading abilities, utilitarian cargo room, and oodles of space inside the cabin. The V60 Cross Country is a well-packaged vehicle that ticks all the boxes. This does not have to do anything with the fact that I have a soft corner for Volvos and wagons in general. If I were to nitpick, I would say Volvo should have offered the V60 Cross Country in additional trims and engine configurations. This one is a potent engine, but there is no harm in offering customers with a variety of options.

With the estimated price of $42,000, the Volvo V60 Cross Country sees itself placed dangerously close to the entry-level XC60. Post the launch in summer 2019, Volvo will be adding mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid models to the lineup as well. Do you think that the V60 spawning a rugged look makes it a better offering than the standard V60? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Will the V60 Cross Country cannibalize the sales of its SUV sibling? We will have to wait and watch.

Background

U.S has not been very kind to traditional wagons. Even though we see companies like BMW leaving the wagon market here, there are some companies like Buick, which has managed to change its whole image and reputation of 'Grandpa's car' because of a wagon. This is because some smart-ass decided to paste the traditional wagon with black plastic cladding and raising it by a few inches to add the oomph factor, and this seemed to have worked! Wonder what I am talking about? Check out the Audi Allroad, Volkswagen Golf Alltrack, or the Buick Regal TourX. These are not your typical wagons, but sending them to the gym and making their curves and creases look more jacked up has done the trick.

In contrast, wagons are widely popular in Europe. You have the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo, Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon, and BMW 3 Series Wagon, to name a few. The Volvo V60 Cross Country is one other popular choice. Volvo has been slapping its regular models with plastic body cladding and a few SUV elements since 1998 to come up with vehicles known as 'Cross Country', and we have to say, it has been quite a successful business model for the Swedish automaker. The Volvo V60 Cross Country is obviously based on the V60. The two major differences, other than the visual cues, are that the V60 Cross Country comes with a slightly higher ground clearance and a higher starting price.