Here’s a rather bold claim: the V60 Cross Country is the best-looking car Volvo currently makes. In fact, I reckon it could just be the best-looking estate car full stop.
Previously, I’d have given that crown to the regular V60; but the arrival of this beefed-up version of the Swedish reply to the likes of the Mercedes C-Class and BMW 3 Series estates cuts an impeccably fine shape indeed. You’ll likely have your own opinions on its overall aesthetic, although I’d wager you’d be hard-pressed to call it unattractive.
How does the Cross Country stand out from the standard V60?
Much of what makes this V60 Cross Country what it is will already be familiar. Being a large-ish Volvo, it sits on the same Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) as all of the other large Volvos (XC90, XC60, V90, S90 et al). Its largely steel monocoque is suspended by double wishbones and coil springs at the front and an integral link arrangement with transverse composite leaf springs at the rear.
However, its ride height is jacked up by 60mm, its suspension has been tuned with a more laid-back, comfortable style of driving in mind, it comes with all-wheel drive as standard, and it has been given some rough and ready protective black cladding. Off-roady types will be pleased.
Being a Volvo, it’s powered by a range of 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines. In the UK, the V60 Cross Country will initially be available with Volvo’s D4 diesel powerplant as the sole offering and will cost from £38,270. The car you see here is ever so slightly different in that it packs a T5 petrol engine under the bonnet - an engine that is yet to be confirmed for the UK market but looks set to arrive later in 2019. Volvo has yet to decide on an official on-sale date.
