Volvo V60 Cross Country (2019 – 2023) Review

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.

A key selling point of the Volvo V60 Cross Country is its extra ride height versus the regular V60 estate. Opting for the Cross Country model results in an extra 60mm of ground clearance.

The Volvo V60 Cross Country is no Land Rover Defender, but it will perform competently in the mud, thanks to its own Off Road driving mode.

Usable below 25mph, this calibrates the engine, gearbox and all-wheel-drive system to maximise grip and control in the dirt. It also engages hill descent control, allowing the Volvo V60 Cross Country to travel down slopes in safety.

The downside to jacking up the ride height is more body roll, but the Volvo V60 has never been much of a driver’s car.

Instead, its extra ground clearance improves suspension comfort, and promotes a more relaxed driving style. The end result is an estate car that feels calm and surefooted whatever the conditions.

Volvo has made a commitment to becoming fully electrified by 2030, and part of this includes dispensing with diesel engines from parts of its model range. For the Volvo V60 Cross Country, this means only one engine is now offered.

The sole engine for the Volvo V60 Cross Country is the B5 turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol, combined with mild-hybrid technology. It is certainly powerful, with outputs of 250PS and 350Nm of torque.

This means the Volvo V60 Cross Country can sprint from 0-62mph in a brisk 6.9 seconds, with a top speed limited to 112mph (as in all new Volvos).

Thanks to its all-wheel-drive set-up, there is no shortage of traction, meaning you can use the full 250PS whatever the weather may be. The petrol engine even sounds quite good, and has no issue with being revved when needed.

Much of the torque is available low down, though, helping the Volvo V60 Cross Country feel flexible on the open road. Such plentiful muscle also makes a difference should you want to take the car off-roading, or need to haul a trailer.

All-wheel drive is standard on the Volvo V60 Cross Country, and is combined with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The latter shifts smoothly when left to its own devices, but is less helpful in manual mode.

There are no steering wheel-mounted shift paddles, meaning you must rock the gear selector instead.

Doing so can sometimes see a delay between gears being engaged, giving the impression the transmission would rather be left undisturbed. It’s best to take it easy – the Volvo V60 Cross Country is that sort of car.

Volvo has a strong reputation for building safe cars, and the Volvo V60 Cross Country is no exception.

The base Volvo V60 estate received the maximum five-star rating when assessed by the Euro NCAP organisation. This included an outstanding 96% score for adult occupant crash protection.

The Volvo V60 Cross Country comes with a host of standard safety equipment, including a driver assistance package. This features a blind-spot warning system with steering assist, cross-traffic alert with automatic braking for car parks, plus rear collision warning and mitigation.

As an off-road-capable estate car, the Volvo V60 Cross Country is likely to hold appeal for those seeking to tow trailers and caravans. With the 250PS petrol engine, the Volvo V60 Cross Country is capable of pulling a braked trailer up to 1800kg in weight.

It is worth noting that the previously available diesel-powered Volvo V60 Cross Country could tow up to 2000kg.

The standard Volvo V60 has one of the largest boots in the estate car class, and the conversion to Cross Country specification does nothing to diminish this.

With the rear seats in place, the Volvo V60 Cross Country can swallow 519 litres of luggage beneath its sliding load cover, or up to 648 litres stacked to the roof.

Folding the rear seats flat creates a massive 1431 litres of box-shaped space, which is 21 litres more than found in the Volvo XC60 SUV.

An electric-opening tailgate is standard on the Volvo V60 Cross Country, and there are plenty of tie-down points, hooks and cubbies to help keep items safe in the boot.

Space in the front of the Volvo V60 Cross Country is also generous, with plenty of legroom. The panoramic sunroof found on Ultimate-spec cars can eat into headroom, but this will only be an issue for those who are six feet or taller.

It is a similar story in the back, with room to accommodate three adults across the rear bench if needed.

There is a decent amount of legroom, although the middle passenger may complain about the size of the transmission tunnel.

Volvo is unashamedly a premium brand now, and the quality of the Volvo V60 Cross Country’s interior reflects that upmarket position.

Finding any pieces of trim that look or feel below par is a major challenge, with all the touchpoints finished with tactile materials.

Leather upholstery is standard, which adds to the impression of quality, as does the digital instrument panel.

The overall effect is one of Scandinavian minimalism, emphasising the Volvo V60 Cross Country’s premium image without coming across as ostentatious. 

Like most new cars from the Swedish firm, the Volvo V60 Cross Country comes equipped with a 9.0-inch multimedia touchscreen.

Somewhat unusually, Volvo mounts its displays in a portrait format, rather than the landscape orientation found in most other cars.

This touchscreen controls almost every interior function, including the climate control air-con.

The temperature settings do at least remain visible on the screen, but it does not feel as user-friendly as simply pressing a physical button. Changing other settings can require delving into multiple menus, which is hardly ideal when on the move.

Navigation via Google Maps, along with Google voice control, is incorporated into the infotainment system. This can even be used to operate connected home appliances.

Other features include DAB radio, wireless smartphone charging and smartphone connectivity using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Volvo V60 Cross Country also comes with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. Although this does not offer the same level of customisation as other virtual displays, it still holds a lot of useful information.

The Volvo V60 Cross Country is a niche choice, and prices reflect that. The cheapest model, in Plus specification, will require at least £48,500 to purchase outright. Opting for the range-topping Ultimate spec stretches this figure to around £53,000.

The Volvo V60 Cross Country lacks any immediate rivals, with the Audi A4 Allroad now discontinued. A Volkswagen Golf Estate Alltrack costs from around £39,000, but does not offer the same degree of quality or off-road ability.

It is worth noting that the Volvo XC60 SUV starts from around £47,500 in basic Core specification. The Volvo XC60 will also be cheaper for those paying monthly through Volvo’s own subscription service.

When it comes to working out how much a Volvo V60 Cross Country costs to run, the off-road estate has two things counting against it.

Firstly, it is now offered solely with a turbocharged petrol engine. And secondly, it comes with all-wheel drive as standard.

Both of these features mean the Volvo V60 Cross Country will be expensive to run, with higher fuel consumption and CO2 emissions than those of the regular Volvo V60 estate. Even Volvo’s use of fuel-saving mild-hybrid technology can’t help much here.

According to the official WLTP assessment, the Volvo V60 Cross Country should return fuel economy of between 29 and 32mpg.

Naturally, making use of the full 250PS on offer will see those numbers dwindle. Just how the car performs in the real world can be discovered from reading our Real MPG submissions.

When it comes to CO2 emissions, the Volvo V60 Cross Country produces an official figure of 168g/km. This means a VED (road tax) bill of £645 in the first year, followed by five years of paying £570. A high Benefit-in-Kind rate of 37 percent will also make the car costly for those considering one as a company car.

The Volvo V60 Cross Country was previously offered with a D4 diesel engine. This boasted official fuel consumption of up to 40mpg, making for lower running costs. Unlike many other models in the range, the Volvo V60 Cross Country is not available as a plug-in hybrid.

The Volvo V60 is offered with a three-year or 60,000-mile warranty, which is comparable to other premium European brands.

The Volvo V60 Cross Country has a simple model range, consisting of just two trim levels. Both are well equipped, helping to justify the premium price tag attached to this off-road estate.

Specific to the Volvo V60 Cross Country are a number of features not found on regular Volvo V60 models. These include the Cross Country body styling, which sees the lower front grille, wheelarch extensions and side sills finished in protective charcoal black plastic.

The front grille is finished in matt black, with chrome detailing. There are also silver roof rails, gloss black window surrounds, and a rear bumper embossed with ‘Cross Country’ branding.

Standard specification on all Volvo V60 Cross Country models begins with LED headlights with active high beam assist, LED tail-lights, a rear-view camera and front and rear parking sensors.

Fitted to all models are a 9.0-inch multimedia touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a 10-speaker audio system.

Volvo’s Google integration includes satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and wireless smartphone charging.

The Volvo V60 Cross Country Pure is the entry trim level, and includes 19-inch alloy wheels, hands-free-opening for the boot and puddle lights.

Inside, the Plus comes with four-zone climate control, heated front and rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. The windscreen is also heated, and buyers benefit from keyless entry and leather upholstery.

There is plenty of safety equipment included, too. Every V60 Cross Country comes with front collision warning with automatic braking, lane keeping assist, speed assist and a driver alert warning.

There is also a speed limiter, cruise control and cross-traffic alert.

Opting for the Volvo V60 Cross Country Ultimate brings even more equipment. This includes a surround-view parking camera, active LED headlights, rear privacy glass and a panoramic sunroof.

Volvo’s Pilot Assist and adaptive cruise control give the V60 Cross Country Ultimate a degree of autonomous driving capability.

Completing the Ultimate package is the 13-speaker Dolby Pro Logic II surround-sound audio system, with a punchy 600W output.