Wagons are pretty much an endangered species in this SUV-focused world, but they’re not dead yet. And Volvo is one of the main reasons for this.
With decades of wagon experience, the Swedish luxury brand continues to make options available to wagon lovers, including its V60 and V90 offerings.
Both of those vehicles also come in Cross Country options, and I recently spent some time behind the wheel of a 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country, which lives up to the brand’s lofty wagon reputation.
The Cross Country is a version of the V60 featuring a higher ride height, improved suspension and protective body materials.
Volvo has few true competitors in the luxury wagon segment — mainly just the Audi A4 and A6 Allroad, and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class wagon. Read on for a full breakdown of how the V60 Cross Country holds up in this limited but important segment for buyers seeking alternatives to the barrage of SUVs we see in the market today that offer similar versatility, but a better driving experience.
FYI
- Vehicle: 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country
- Price as tested: $63,595 (starts around $50K)
- Best feature: Long and roomy wagon design, top-notch Google-based tech, Volvo safety credentials
- Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- Who will want this vehicle?: Luxury car buyers looking for an SUV alternative that still provides plenty of cargo space and roomy interior, plus a strong ride quality
LOOKS
The 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country is a long and beautifully designed wagon. It measures at 188.5 inches long, roughly 7 inches less than the larger V90 wagon.
It features Volvo’s traditional understated yet classy grille, and long swooping head lamps.
Simply by offering a wagon style and not being the typical same-old SUV, it immediately stands out in today’s automotive landscape.
The sharp “Onyx Black” paint job on my tester immediately caught my attention, as it’s rare to see a vehicle this dark black. But they pulled it off very well on the V60 Cross Country.
The vehicle comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels and all-season tires. You can upgrade to 20-inchers for $3,200; but it’s a bit pricey and probably not necessary.
The V60 Cross Country comes with a panoramic moonroof with power sunshade, as well as integrated roof rails.
One unique feature offered is headlamp cleaners, embedded into the front of the vehicle, which come out and spray the headlamps with fluid.
Moving inside, the V60 Cross Country offers roomy and upscale seating for five passengers. It’s a sharp interior design including slick wood trim. I wouldn’t call it flashy, but it still gives off a luxurious vibe — keeping with the Scandinavian vibe of not being too ostentatious.
Passengers in the rear get a fold-down armrest, from which you can pull out hidden drink holders.
Seats are truly comfortable even on longer rides, and there is a massage function offered for front seat passengers. All materials are high-quality, including:
- Perforated Nappa leather seating surfaces
- Ventilated and heated front seats
- Power front seats with driver seat memory
- Tailored dashboard
- Tinted windows and cargo area
- 4-zone automatic climate control (rear seat passengers can control their own settings via console in center rear)
- Retractable side view mirrors
- Heated rear seats and heated steering wheel
Controls are mostly easy to use, but some of them require you to access the touchscreen when that could have been avoided.
Cargo space behind the rear seats comes in at 23.2 cubic feet, and jumps to 50.9 cubic feet with the rear seats down.
HOW’S THE RIDE?
There is one engine offered on the 2023 Volvo V60 Cross County: A turbocharged, four-cylinder, 2.0-liter powerplant that delivers 247 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, and the vehicle features a 48V mild hybrid system with regenerative braking, which helps keep fuel mileage strong.
The vehicle also features start-stop technology, and all-wheel drive with instant traction comes standard.
Also featured are a double wishbone front and integral link rear suspension, anti-lock braking, hill-start assist, Advanced Electronic Stability Control
and Electric Power Assisted Steering.
In terms of speed off the line, the 0-to-60 time is just over 7 seconds, which is respectable but not class-leading.
The overall driving experience, however, feels more powerful than the numbers would indicate. It’s truly one of the smoothest and quietest vehicles I’ve driven this year, and can get going when you need it to. By no means a rocketship, but it’s truly a pleasure to drive and is quite nimble for its size.
Off-roading ability is enhanced due to the impressive 8-inch ride height on the V60 Cross Country.
TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY
The 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country features a very strong infotainment setup and overall technology offerings.
The Google-based system features a vertical 9-inch touchscreen that responded well to touch commands, understood verbal commands easily, and also provided tremendously detailed Google Maps and navigation. With so many settings to learn, there is a bit of a learning curve, but with regular use it soon becomes second nature.
The system is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and with Android Auto, offers Bluetooth for streaming music and phone calls, and an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot is also offered in the vehicle.
The vehicle comes with quality Harman Kardon sound, but you can upgrade further to an even more stout Bowers & Wilkins audio system. The vehicle also comes with four USB-C ports, and a 12-volt charger.
Moving on to safety: Volvo is recognized as perhaps the safest automobile brand in the world, and the V60 Cross Country lives up to that stellar reputation.
Among the safety systems included on the vehicle include:
- Blind Spot Information System, including Steer Assist and Cross Traffic Alert with Autobrake
- Collision Avoidance, including Low and High Speed Collision Mitigation (Note: This system will detect vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and large animals)
- Pilot Assist Driver Assistance System (this semi-autonomous driving system works effectively when you want to let the vehicle take over the driving for a spell)
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Aid
- Front/side/curtain airbags plus driver side knee airbag
- Whiplash Protection System in front seats
- Automatic unlocking after collision
- Rear power child locks
- Rear Park Assist Camera (this was very helpful, and featured lots of angles from the optional 360 Surround View Camera so you can see all sides)
- Head-Up Display (option)
All of these systems did their job effectively, and were not overly sensitive. Like any Volvo vehicle, safety is not an area where you need to have any concerns.
The vehicle also offers LED headlights, and front fog lights with cornering ability.
MPG
The official fuel mileage numbers on the 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country are 23 city/30 highway/26 combined. And with a fuel tank of roughly 16 gallons, you get a range of more than 450 miles per tank on a full fill-up.
In my real-world testing, the listed numbers proved to be on target, and they also measure up well against the few direct competitors in the luxury wagon segment.
PRICE
The 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country that I tested was priced at $63,585. Its base price starts about $50K for the base model, and around $55K for the Ultimate trim level.
Base model will be adequate for most buyers, as it’s quite luxurious and loaded with standard features. Moving up to Ultimate will get you some extras including higher-end leather seating, and crystal handle for the gear shifter, but it’s not an essential upgrade.
In terms of pricing compared to rival wagons, the V60 Cross Country is on the same level as the Audi A4 Allroad, but less expensive than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class wagon. And it’s way less expensive than the ultra-powerful Audi RS6 Avant wagon.
Warranties on the 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country include:
- 48-month, 50K mile limited warranty
- 48-month, 50K mile powertrain warranty
- 144-month corrosion protection/unlimited mileage
- Volvo on-call roadside assistance
- Complimentary factory scheduled maintenance for 3 years/36,000 miles
BOTTOM LINE
The 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country is a fun-to-drive wagon offering fantastic looks, innovative tech and excellent safety features. While luxury wagons are a rare breed, anyone who takes home a V60 Cross Country will enjoy a smooth-driving, roomy and high-quality ride.
And while it’s lower to the ground than an SUV, the V60 Cross Country is still spacious and full of utility. It’s a strong non-SUV alternative for buyers who want to go in a different direction with their vehicle choice.
Matt Myftiu’s past reviews can all be seen online at autotechreviews.com. Follow AutoTechReviews on Instagram at @Autotechreviews.
