Volvo S60 Cross Country Review

The Volvo S60 Cross Country is a four-door sedan that has all the aspects of an SUV, including all-wheel drive, a taller ride height, and tough-looking cladding on the fenders and body. All that's missing is the wagon-style body. This isn't a new idea: AMC tried fielding the four-wheel-drive Eagle in the late 1970s, and Subaru tried an Outback sedan in the 2000s. Neither was particularly successful, but perhaps the third time will be the charm for Volvo.

No question, the Volvo S60 Cross Country offers several advantages over a conventional sedan. With all-wheel drive and 7.9 inches of ground clearance (2 inches more than the standard S60 sedan), the S60 Cross Country is fantastic in the snow (we know, we've tried it) and can even handle some light off-roading. The taller stance makes ingress and egress easier and gives the driver a commanding view of traffic. Still, the S60 Cross Country has a smaller than normal trunk, and when you compare it to the cargo capacity of competing SUVs — or even Volvo's own high-riding wagon, the V60 Cross Country — the argument in favor of the sedan becomes harder to make.

Current Volvo S60 Cross Country
Volvo sells the S60 Cross Country in a single well-equipped trim level, complete with leather, adaptive cruise, automatic lights and wipers, and other luxury-themed features. Skid plates, a premium stereo with navigation, and a collision mitigation system with automatic braking are also included. Options are few, but they include a Climate package and blind-spot monitoring.

Power for the Volvo S60 Cross Country comes from a 240-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine coupled to an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. The EPA rates the S60 Cross Country at 25 mpg combined.

The S60 on which this car is based is one of Volvo's older designs, and though the cabin is handsome, it's beginning to show its age, especially compared to newer Volvo models with their nifty tabletlike interface. Volvo's front seats are among the most comfortable in the business, though backseat space in the S60 Cross Country is very tight.

We've always found the ride of the regular S60 to be a bit on the firm side. The S60 Cross Country's more SUV-like suspension smooths out the ride nicely, making it a good choice for those who find the S60 a bit too sporty. That said, the retuned suspension and higher center of gravity do affect handling, allowing it to pitch and roll more than an ordinary S60.

Used Volvo S60 Cross Country Models
The Volvo S60 Cross Country was first introduced for the 2016 model year. For 2017, the 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine was replaced by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Read the most recent 2018 Volvo S60 Cross Country review.

If you are looking for older years, visit our used Volvo S60 Cross Country page.