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Lifted Volvo V60 Cross Country lands in the UK in D4 diesel guise. We see how well it fares on British tarmac

What is it?

The last time we got our hands on Volvo’s new V60 Cross Country, we happened to be in the north of Sweden, just south of the Arctic Circle. Not exactly the warmest place on Earth, then; and in late January, with snow and ice covering the frozen roads, and the temperature dropping as low as -30C, it’s not exactly the ideal environment to put a new car through its paces, either.

However, despite the harsh conditions we still had our suspicions that when the jacked-up estate car made its way to the UK, we’d find it to be a refined and impressively comfortable family wagon. Now, on what is an unseasonably warm February day in Suffolk, we’re finally able to put that hypothesis under the microscope.

It’s worth pointing out at this point that the particular strain of V60 Cross Country being examined today is different to the one we encountered out in deepest, darkest Scandinavia. Where that model was the petrol-powered T5 version, this is the £38,270 oil-burning D4 - which is currently the only derivative of the V60 Cross Country available here in Britain. The T5 will arrive at a later date, mind.

That four-cylinder diesel engine develops a modest 189bhp, while a torque figure of 295lb ft - spread from 1750-2500rpm - ensures this most handsome of Volvos isn’t short on pulling power. This is all then boxed up and delivered to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic 'box.

3 Volvo v60 cross country 2019 uk fd hero rear

What's it like?

Wearing optional 19in alloys instead of the studded winter tyres fitted previously, the V60 Cross Country’s secondary ride is indisputably improved, but not quite to the extent we hoped it might be. Don’t mistake that for us writing it off as poor; the reality is far from it. But there’s an underlying sense of brittleness about the manner in which it deals with pockmarked patches of road that does encroach on the Volvo’s overall ride refinement. Were our test car equipped with the standard 18in alloys, maybe these judders and jolts might not have been quite as pronounced. Maybe. 

Anyway, until we’re able to try one of the smaller-wheeled variants, that 'maybe' will have to stand. Which is a bit annoying really, because the rest of the V60 Cross Country’s ride is very impressive in a soft-edged, wafty sort of way. And when you think about it, that’s exactly what you’d want from five-seater family estate with a large boot (529 litres to the glass line), and the ability to journey a bit further from the Tarmac than its regular estate car competition. 

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On rolling rural roads and lanes, the V60 Cross Country walks the tight-rope spanning the gorge between cushioned, pillowy comfort on the one side; and tight, controlled body movements on the other with impeccable balance and finesse. It’s soft and forgiving enough to smooth out fast compressions in near-graceful fashion, but not so spongy that it becomes a rolly-polly liability in the bends. Rotation around its longitudinal axis is at all times doled out in a progressive, restrained manner.

The effect is that the V60 Cross Country never really feels anything less than resolutely surefooted. As with the regular Volvo V60, its steering rack is still a touch too light and by no means talkative. But given the fact the athletic expectation isn’t quite as high on an estate wearing protective black cladding and whose ride-height has been jacked up by 60mm compared with the car on which it’s based, it’s a less poignant criticism.

The D4 powerplant is a less endearing part of the V60 Cross Country’s mechanical make-up, though. As in other Volvo models, it makes its presence known by way of a clattery, rough-edged soundtrack that’s a shade too bucolic in nature to feel truly at home in what is a near-£40,000 upmarket estate car. Nevertheless, it pulls in a strong enough fashion to dispatch overtake manoeuvres on tight country roads briskly, while its agrarian tones fade into the background at a steady cruise.

Its eight-speed 'box hooks up in a smooth enough fashion at low speed, but left in Comfort mode it hesitates to select a lower gear on kickdown. Dynamic mode largely quells this reluctance, while also introducing an added level of heft to the steering rack.

7 Volvo v60 cross country 2019 uk fd dashboard

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Should I buy one?

So, from a dynamic point of view the V60 Cross Country remains a highly likeable thing. That it also comes equipped with an impressive roster of equipment as standard (think satellite navigation, automatic LED headlights, a suite of active safety technology); has an interior that’s not only spacious, but appealing in both a material and visual sense; and should be more than capable of returning a touring economy figure in the mid-40s, add to its appeal as a well-rounded family wagon.

Of course, with an extensive options list, it’s possible to push its £38,270 asking price north of £50,000. That said, such extravagance will be entirely possible on four-wheel-drive offerings from rival German manufacturers, too. The Volvo is also expected to hold its value well. Over three years and 36,000 miles, the V60 Cross Country should retain 46% of its asking price. An Audi A4 Allroad, on the other hand, should hold 44%.

There are sharper-handling family estates out there, and more mechanically refined ones too. But few can match the Volvo for its laid-back, composed aura of cool - in both a dynamic and aesthetic sense.

Volvo V60 Cross Country D4 AWD

Where Suffolk; Price £38,270; On sale Now; Engine 4 cyls, 1969cc, turbo, diesel; Power 189bhp at 4250rpm; Torque 295lb ft at 1750-2500rpm; Gearbox 8-speed automatic; Kerb weight 1792kg; Top speed 130mph; 0-62mph 8.2sec; Fuel economy 42.8-47.9mpg (WLTP combined); CO2 155-174g/km (WLTP); Rivals Audi A4 Allroad, BMW 320d xDrive M Sport Touring

2 Volvo v60 cross country 2019 uk fd hero side

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Join the debate

Comments
6
Add a comment…
tuga 28 February 2019

Add one of their Twin Engines...

... and this is pretty much all the car i'd ever need.

Sundym 28 February 2019

No mention of other rivals

Passat Alltrack ? Insignia country thing? An Octavia Scout? etc . All with much bigger boots but cheaper . All drive pretty well also and are well made . I wouldn't think the Volvo would hold its value that well either , currently 2 year old V90s have shed more than £20k ... ouch.
The Apprentice 28 February 2019

Sundym wrote:

Sundym wrote:

Passat Alltrack ? Insignia country thing? An Octavia Scout? etc . All with much bigger boots but cheaper . All drive pretty well also and are well made . I wouldn't think the Volvo would hold its value that well either , currently 2 year old V90s have shed more than £20k ... ouch.

Volvo would probably prefer comparision with an A4 allroad or a 3 series touring X drive, which it is quite competitively priced against. Certainly interiors are right up there now but engines and dynamics? not so sure yet. But certainly a league above those you mention in overall premium-ness... whatever that really is.

 

Citytiger 1 March 2019

Sundym wrote:

Sundym wrote:

Passat Alltrack ? Insignia country thing? An Octavia Scout? etc . All with much bigger boots but cheaper . All drive pretty well also and are well made . I wouldn't think the Volvo would hold its value that well either , currently 2 year old V90s have shed more than £20k ... ouch.

I dont think those looking at a V60CC will be looking at a Skoda Octavia or a Passat, and why anyone would want a VAG badged diesel is beyond me.  

Sundym 1 March 2019

Trying to impress the curtain twitchers

Citytiger wrote:

Sundym wrote:

Passat Alltrack ? Insignia country thing? An Octavia Scout? etc . All with much bigger boots but cheaper . All drive pretty well also and are well made . I wouldn't think the Volvo would hold its value that well either , currently 2 year old V90s have shed more than £20k ... ouch.

I dont think those looking at a V60CC will be looking at a Skoda Octavia or a Passat, and why anyone would want a VAG badged diesel is beyond me.  

My point was people don't just look at 1 or 2 other choices , particularly for 'sensible' vehicles like this (they'd buy a 4x4 if it was all about image ) it IS important to mention the other choices , we all know the A4 for example is just a Passat in drag . The folk that buy these vehicles may have looked at Legacy outbacks also or a Superb 4x4 ? I'm one of them , I don't want a 4x4 SUV ... value and driving dynamics are important to me not just what the neighbour's think.

xxxx 1 March 2019

4 Pot 2.0

Citytiger wrote:

Sundym wrote:

Passat Alltrack ? Insignia country thing? An Octavia Scout? etc . All with much bigger boots but cheaper . All drive pretty well also and are well made . I wouldn't think the Volvo would hold its value that well either , currently 2 year old V90s have shed more than £20k ... ouch.

I dont think those looking at a V60CC will be looking at a Skoda Octavia or a Passat, and why anyone would want a VAG badged diesel is beyond me.  

Volvo 2.0 4 pot is no better or worse than the VAG 2.0 4 pot diesel.  But if I was spening nearly £40k I'd want 6 cyclinders otherwise you'll get nothing more than a hum-dum 2.0 pot from a £20k hatchback that's been chipped, effectively.