2018 Volvo S60 Cross Country Review

The 2018 S60 Cross Country is Volvo's unusual cut-and-paste creation. The company has taken the elevated ride height, body cladding and all-wheel-drive system of its V60 wagon sibling and applied it to its S60 sedan. It's definitely an oddball vehicle with limited appeal. But it's also uniquely cool.

The Cross Country comes fully loaded in one trim level and with only one engine choice: Volvo's punchy and reasonably efficient turbocharged 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder. There's also only one exterior color available (gray) and interior color scheme. That reduces production complexity and makes the S60 CC financially viable for Volvo, though it also obviously reduces customer choice and overall appeal.

So, too, does the fact that neither the S60 sedan nor the V60 Cross Country is close to being class leaders. The S60 is now in its ninth year since a full redesign, which is an eternity in car terms, especially in the luxury segment. There have been two different Audi A4s in that time period. As such, other luxury sedans and raised wagons should in theory be more appealing. But then again, there is literally no other raised crossover luxury sedan available. So if that's your thing, this is without question the car for you.

The 2018 Volvo S60 Cross Country sedan comes with the extra ride height, body cladding and standard all-wheel drive of Volvo's mechanically related V60 Cross Country wagon. Unlike that model and the regular S60, however, the S60 Cross Country has only one trim level and powertrain available. The latter consists of a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (240 horsepower, 258 pound-feet of torque), an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

Standard equipment includes 18-inch wheels, a skid plate, forward collision warning with automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and intervention, adaptive xenon headlamps, automatic high beams, hill descent control, power-folding mirrors, automatic wipers, rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, and keyless ignition and entry.

Inside the cabin you'll find automatic dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable front seats, leather upholstery, a digital gauge cluster, a 7-inch infotainment display with dash-mounted controller, a navigation system, Bluetooth, one USB port and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.

Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert systems are bundled together as an option. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel can be bundled together. They can also be had with the Climate package, which also adds heated rear seats, an air purifying system and heated windshield washer nozzles. Stand-alone options include 19-inch wheels, a rear spoiler, and wood or piano black interior trim.