Why South Africans so overwhelmingly prefer SUVs to stationwagons remains something of a mystery to the CAR team. It’s a very American trait… which is odd because, as a nation, our automobile tastes lend toward the European in every other sense.
I’m an unashamed wagon fan – they have more than enough cargo space and I prefer the nimbler handling and less shouty road presence they come with. The last vehicle I actually owned was a wagon – Volvo too – which is why getting the keys to this particular new model was something I had been especially looking forward to.
What is it?
It’s the Cross Country version of the Volvo’s sleek V60 wagon. And that means it gets a ride height some 65 mm taller than the regular V60, roof rails, front, side and rear scuff plates, and an all-wheel drive system. In our market, the regular V60 only comes in FWD, which gives the V60 CC even more of a unique selling point.
What’s under the bonnet?
There are two 5-cylinder derivatives: a 140 kw/420 N.m D4 turbodiesel; and a 187 kw/360 N.m turbopetrol. And there are two spec levels – “Momentum” and the pricier “Inscription”. I drove both the D4 and the T5, each in Inscription spec, and would opt for the oil burner if it were my money. While not as quick as the T5, it’s still pacey enough and offers more torque a little earlier in the rev range, plus it’s cheaper and, of course, more economical (Volvo claim 5.7 L/100 km).
If you’re wondering why the V60 CC doesn’t have Volvo’s new-generation Drive-E powerplants, it’s because all Volvo’s AWD derivatives were the last to get these 2,0-litre engines. The V60 CC will get Drive-E engines from MY17 onward.
There’s only one transmission available – a six-speed Geartronic torque converter that proved smooth enough, but a little slow on kick-down when flooring the throttle. My D4 had the optional Sport Pack (R11 250) that, among other things, included gearshift paddles, which did help speed up the changes.
And inside?
Inside it’s typically Swedish – read minimalist – with a simple and neat fascia and enough leather and quality rubber/plastic finishings to impart a premium feel. Standard features include a multimedia USB/Bluetooth/aux infotainment system with eight speakers, 7-inch’ colour display screen, and rear park assist. The D4’s optional Sport Pack also included, heated front seats, a three-spoke leather steering wheel, keyless entry, headlamp cleaners, Volvo’s Dynamic Bending Lights, and Park Assist front and rear.
Does it have enough space?
I spent a few days with the V60 CC, ferrying my family to our weekend-away lodgings at the superlative Grootbos private nature reserve outside of Gansbaai. The V60 might not have the biggest boot – you pay a price for the svelte roofline – but it still easily swallowed the various pieces of luggage two adults and a couple of pre-teen girls might need for two nights.
What’s it like on the road?
The ride is somewhere between an SUV and a wagon, which means you notice the increased ride height both in your elevated view of the road and in the V60 Cross Country’s handling. The ride is supple and comfortable, but there’s just a little more body roll in the corners.
Being a Volvo, safety features abound and the V60 CC gets front, side and inflatable curtain airbags, as well as ABS, EBA, and Dynamic Stability Traction Control.
It gets the thumbs up then?
It certainly does. The Volvo V60 Cross Country is an interesting alternative to the swarms of SUVs and SUV crossovers we see every day. As a model in Volvo’s line-up, the V60 had been with us for some five years now and it remains, in my view, one of the best looking pieces of automotive design on our roads… and in Cross Country guise it looks even better.
R500k+ might seem a tad pricey, but consider that’s what you’ll pay the likes of the cheaper BMW X3s, Land Rover Discovery Sports, as well as the hugely popular Toyota Fortuners and Hilux double cabs.
Pricing:
Volvo V60 Cross Country D4 AWD Momentum – R499 900
Volvo V60 Cross Country D4 AWD Inscription – R519 900
Volvo V60 Cross Country T5 AWD Momentum – R533 500
Volvo V60 Cross Country T5 AWD Inscription – R553 000
Options:
Sport Pack – R11 250
19-inch matt black alloys – R7 000
Driver alert system, lane departure warning, front-facing camera – R9 600
