Volvo S60 Cross Country - a variation of the Swedish car concern on the theme of an off-road sedan. The S60 model has been available for quite some time and competes with cars in the C-class. All sedans and station wagons in this segment are very similar to each other on the technical side, they differ only in appearance and price. Volvo decided to stand out and create a truly new class of car. None of the competitive brands have similar models.
Idea Volvo S60 Cross Country
Cross Country is based on the usual S60 and is available only in all-wheel drive version. The body of the new S60 has two options: sedan and station wagon. If the station wagon in its class has a similar competitor in the face of the A6 Allroad, then the automotive world has not yet seen an off-road sedan. Of course, various companies provide their customers with services for the transformation and tuning of their cars. But the mass production of such began only Volvo. The idea to make a crossover sedan Volvo Cross Country S60 has become at least interesting and fresh. What came out of this venture with the Volvo company can be found in this article.
Appearance
To describe the exterior and interior of this car is to repeat the words about the usual S60. Therefore, we briefly note the main points and changes that have affected the exterior and interior.
Cross Country almost completely repeats the forms of its road brother. The same modern and stylish body of a new generation, the same convex headlights and grille. But the car began to look completely different. If the road version of the S60 is a down-to-earth and low car with a rather calm design, then the off-road version evokes very different feelings and emotions. The elegance of the car disappeared, but instead appeared purposefulness and sportiness.
The model has become as much as 65 mm higher, so the Volvo S60 Cross Country has a ground clearance of 200 mm. This clearance can be envied by many modern crossovers. Rising significantly above the ground, the car received huge 19-inch wheels. Bumpers and wheel arches received additional plastic protection in the form of a body kit. These elements give the car a combat look - now it’s not that calm city sedan. The S60 by all appearance shows that it will cope with any purpose of the owner and will bring passengers comfortably.
The rear of the car also remained without visible changes, except for the plastic pads that protect the body from dirt, stones and snow. At least that's what manufacturers say. But it all depends on the driving style and conditions - in Russia you can find places in which not a single plastic protection can stand it.
Interior S60
The salon also does not become any kind of revelation - it completely repeats the interior of the usual S60 Cross Country.
At first glance at the dashboard, its severity and ergonomics are immediately noticed. Each element, each button is in its place and is not satisfactory. One gets the impression that Volvo has spent years specially conducting surveys of owners and figuring out the preferred location of all controls - everything is so well done and does not raise questions. The color scheme is plain and restrained. Inside, nothing hints at luxury and pretentiousness - Volvo companies do not need to prove their elitism, everyone knows everything. The interior is sheathed in leather and expensive materials, the build quality of the panels and sound insulation does not cause complaints. In the middle of the center console is a touch screen that is responsible for the operation of the multimedia system and navigation. The dashboard and steering wheel are identical to those in the road sedan.
But the seats are different from strictly interior design. They have very pronounced lateral support and a lot of adjustments. When boarding the car, it seems that this is not an SUV with high clearance, but a sports coupe.
Electronic systems
A Volvo without numerous auxiliary systems is not a Volvo. This concept is not spared and Volvo S60 Cross Country. The sedan is crammed with a set of all conceivable and inconceivable systems, assistants and functions. Thanks to these systems, the safety and functionality of the car is at a very high level. Of the standard elements, it is worth noting parking sensors, heated seats and mirrors, dual-zone climate control.
It will not take too long to understand how to manage them: the creators finally took care of the customers and made clear and intelligible controls.
Also available are Torque Vectoring and Corner Traction Control. These systems monitor safety in sporty driving mode. Even if you want to move around, Volvo, as an older brother, will follow all movements and stop dangerous or unfaithful people.
Volvo S60 Cross Country: specifications
Now a little about sad things. Only one Volvo S60 Cross Country is available. The V60 station wagon is more diverse in this regard: it offers three engines. The sedan is only in one configuration with a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine. Engine power is 249 horsepower. The gearbox is a six-speed automatic.
The sedan-crossover is available in both all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive versions for thrifty customers. Models with front-wheel drive have the same clearance, which is important for buyers.
The sports potential of the car is revealed on the road. After depressing the pedal, the Volvo reaches 100 km / h in 7 seconds. 5 cylinders growl powerfully under the hood and try to show all their power in business. However, for security reasons (the same "Volvo"), the creators have limited the maximum speed to 210 km / h using electronics. According to manufacturers, the car consumption does not exceed 9 liters per 100 kilometers.
Good performance also complements the cross-country Volvo S60 Cross Country. Owner reviews speak about the practicality of this car. He will cope with a small off-road, accelerates well, which is suitable for long trips. In addition, the S60 remains a four-door sedan, in which you can put your family and go on vacation.
Advantages and disadvantages
Volvo S60 Cross Country is a bold and successful experiment of the company. To combine so many positive qualities, not a single model has yet succeeded. S60 boldly wipes the nose of all crossovers at once due to its cross-country ability and clearance. On the highway, the sedan can also compete thanks to a powerful engine. Car behavior in urban conditions and traffic jams is beyond praise. Sometimes it begins to seem that at low speeds and city streets a car can drive on its own and without the help of a driver. So competently and clearly “Volvo” keeps a trajectory and responds to commands.
The appearance of the car does not cause any negative emotions. According to many, the Cross Country version is a modified and brought to mind S60 sedan.
The negative side can be attributed only one thing - this is the lack of equipment options in our market. But if you wish, you can order a model with European equipment.
The cost of the Volvo S60 Cross Country also bites. For the sedan you need to give 2 million 269 thousand rubles. Wagon V90 costs a little cheaper - 1 million 984 thousand.
Competitors
This car has no one to compete with yet. Neither BMW nor Mercedes are planning to produce such models in the near future. Only Audi can oppose the A6 Allroad against the V60 Cross Country. Who will win this confrontation will show time and sales. Audi's model has been on the market for a long time, and Volvo is a newcomer in this segment. A separate review may go into considering the qualities and comparing these models.
To summarize
Volvo has taken the right course. At a time when all concerns are chewing the same models, presenting the rest of the world with restyling and more, Volvo went along its path. The most important thing is that the creators did not have to change almost anything in the car to create a truly different unit. The design has remained the same, with the exception of a few overlays. And these minor changes immediately gave the car a new character. Changed the suspension and clearance - the car immediately opened new roads and ways. This model is perfect for Russia and the nearest countries. It is a pity one - it is delivered in a limited edition and only in one configuration. Therefore, the owners of the S60 Cross Country are really lucky - they own a unique and nothing like a vehicle.
S60 and V60 are only the first models with the Cross Country prefix. The Swedes are happy with their car and are likely to transfer other models to this platform.