Review - Volvo V60 Cross Country

Going up against the likes of the Audi A4 Allroad, Mercedes C-Class Estate, and the BMW 3 Series Touring, the Volvo V60 Cross Country has a great option on paper for those looking for a premium wagon without a huge pricetag. 

Just how good is the latest Volvo V60, then, and how does it stack up against its competitors in terms of value, equipment, and driving comfort? Let’s find out. 

Starting Price: $64,990

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Volvo V60 (B5 CROSS COUNTRY MHEV) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Volvo V60 car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

The Volvo V60 is available here in Australia in a single variant, with the V60 Cross Country B5 priced at $64,990 before on-road costs. 

How Much Can OnlineAuto Save You? 

Using OnlineAuto’s car purchasing service, one of our car specialists can help you save and find the best value model for you.

What Features Does the Volvo V60 Have?

The Volvo V60 Cross Country comes riding on a set of 19-inch alloy wheels, and receives features like LED headlights, fog lights, keyless entry & start, a powered boot lift, leather upholstery, driftwood interior highlights, four-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera, 12.0-inch digital driver’s display, and a 9.0-inch infotainment system with DAB+, sat-nav, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as wireless smartphone charging. 

Range Features: 

• 19-inch alloys

• LED headlights

• Fog lights 

• Keyless entry & start 

• Powered boot lift

• Leather upholstery 

• Driftwood interior highlights 

• Four-zone climate control 

• Surround-view camera 

• Adaptive cruise control with steering aid 

• 12.0-inch digital driver’s display 

• 9.0-inch infotainment system 

• Apple CarPlay & Android Auto 

• DAB+ Radio & satellite navigation 

• Wireless smartphone charging 

• Panoramic sunroof (optional extra)

• Harman Kardon sound system (optional extra) 

Volvo V60 Cross Country Colours 

The Volvo V60 Cross Country range is available in a number of exterior colour finishes, including Birch light Metallic, Crystal White Pearl, Denim Blue, Fusion Red, Ice White, Onyx Black, Osmium Grey, Pebble Grey and Pine Grey. 

Is it Comfortable to Drive? 

Volvo has become famous for its remarkably smooth and comfortable vehicles, and we’re pleased to report that the latest V60 Cross Country has received much the same treatment. 

Under the bonnet, there’s a 2.0-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a 48-volt hybrid system, with power sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic. The end result is smooth and effortless acceleration up to speed, with buttery gear shifts from the torque-converter automatic that makes the V60 a pleasure to drive at all speeds. 

The V60’s platform has been raised slightly to add to its light off-roading performance, similar to that of the Subaru Outback or the Audi A4 Alltrack, although the suspension more than handles the added ride height and makes the V60 feel agile yet supremely comfortable on most surfaces, while it does prefer smooth city streets. 

Around town, the steering column does require a fair bit of driver input, meaning at low speeds you’ll be moving the steering wheel quite a bit to navigate roundabouts or tight car spaces, but the rack is relatively lightweight and still easy to pilot around town. 

As a complete package, though, the V60 is a pleasure to drive through town and on long-distance trips, thanks to the smooth powertrain it’s a pleasure to drive, although the suspension is more suited to the urban environment. 

Is it Practical and Spacious? 

Stepping into the front of the Volvo V60’s cabin treats the driver and front passenger to a wonderfully-crafted and minimalist-style interior. 

Volvo is renowned for its interior designs, and the front cockpit of the V60 is a wonderful place to sit that doesn’t over-complicate the driver with dozens of buttons, while there is still a heap of width and headroom in the front of the cabin, making for a lovely place to sit. 

Practical elements in the front of the cabin include a set of door bins on either side of the cabin, storage inside the folding armrest, a sliding storage area beside the gear lever that houses a pair of cupholders and some added storage, as well as a small folding tray for loose items. 

Sitting atop the transmission tunnel is a portrait-oriented 9.0-inch infotainment system that looks and feels modern to use, offering a high-definition display that works seamlessly with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, as well as satellite navigation, which remains user-friendly.  

Move to the rear and you’ll find an exceptionally comfortable benchseat with acres of legroom for rear passengers, while headroom is still impressive even with the optional panoramic sunroof installed, making for a surprisingly family-friendly cabin. 

Those seated in the rear gain their own climate control settings, as well as a power outlet and a folding armrest with storage inside, as well as a pair of ISOFIX anchors and top tether mounts for installing child seats. Thankfully, the V60’s doors open nice and wide, so it’s easy to install a pair of child seats in the rear of the cabin. 

To cap off the family-friendly nature of the platform, the V60 has a boot with 529L of cargo space that also features a hands-free boot lift and no load lift to reach over while you’re loading up bags into the boot. 

All up, the V60’s platform is perfectly positioned as a comfortable and practical family wagon. 

Is it Safe? 

The Volvo V60 has been awarded ANCAP’s maximum five star safety rating, scoring 96% for adult protection and 88% for child protection, as well as 74% for pedestrian protection and 77% for its clever safety assistance technologies. 

As standard, the V60 comes feature-packed when it comes to safety equipment, with autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assistance, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alerts and a surround-view camera included as standard.

This makes the V60 one of the most well-equipped vehicles in its price bracket when it comes to clever active safety technologies. 

Is it Fuel Efficient?

The Volvo V60 Cross Country has an official fuel economy score of 7.4L/100km on a combined cycle, making it relatively fuel-efficient for a vehicle of this size, although some of the hybrid powertrains in its class offer even more impressive fuel economy scores. 

In the real world, you can expect to average around 8.0L/100km on a mix of town and highway driving. 

Our Verdict: Is the Volvo V60 Cross Country Worth it?

For buyers looking for a comfortable, practical and undeniably premium European package, the Volvo V60 Cross Country is very much worth a closer look.

With its single-variant lineup here in Australia, buyers can expect a generous amount of entertainment and safety features as standard, making the value-for-money proposition even more impressive when comparing the V60 to its major rivals.

As a result, we highly recommend adding the Volvo V60 Cross Country to your shortlist. On that note, if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925.

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited KM warranty 

2. 12-month/15,000km service intervals 

3. Five star ANCAP safety rating 

4. Turbocharged four-cylinder engine with mild 48V hybrid technology 

5. All-wheel-drive platform with eight-speed automatic 

Pros 

• Smooth engine and transmission combination 

• Sleek interior design filled with features 

• Comprehensive safety equipment included as standard 

• Spacious and practical cabin 

Cons

• Firm ride quality on B-roads 

• Some features left as optional extras 

• Acceptable, but uninspiring engine performance

OnlineAuto Rating: 9/10

Volvo V60 Cross Country Competition