Volvo turned a profitable world automaker primarily by its station wagons, however we now stay in a world the place crossovers and SUVs reign supreme. But, Volvo nonetheless insists on ensuring it has some wagons in its lineup, and we love the Swedish model for it. The Volvo V60 is the automaker’s smaller wagon in comparison with the V90, and the Cross Nation trim is the place Volvo offers it a raise and an all-wheel-drive system to provide it the power to go, properly, cross-country. Not off-roading, simply cross nation for the outdoorsy varieties with at the least one canine. What Volvo hasn’t executed with the Cross Nation trim is lower down on its magnificence and standing as a premium wagon; the Cross Nation can be the one fuel V60 within the secure now.
For 2023, the V60 as a complete will get a light-weight styling refresh and Volvo’s new Google-based infotainment system. The V60 Cross Nation is powered by a spritely 250-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an unnoticeable gentle hybrid help and all-wheel-drive for if you need to get the canine out into the countryside.
Styling: Extra Highway Presence
Whereas the 2023 V60’s styling refresh is mild, it is efficient and primarily within the new wheels and reworked entrance and rear bumpers. We preferred the extra dose of street presence whereas retaining the delicate understatement frequent by Volvo’s vary. Even including plastic physique cladding would not harm the V60’s understated presence and elegance. It is not exhibiting off as a result of it would not want to indicate off, and that offers you an enormous clue to Volvo’s key demographic – folks with some cash that needn’t shout about it. There isn’t any huge grille, no outsized wheels, simply good proportions, and chic traces.
Inside: Maintaining Issues Upscale
One factor about Volvo’s V60 inside that exhibits it is a lower above is the carpeting your hand brushes if you clip the seatbelt into place. It is a small factor, however the type of factor that is missed by so many automakers charging premium cash for automobiles and crossovers. You’ll be able to put all of the costly wooden throughout the dashboard and stick flashy badges in every single place, however the second the again of your hand brushes plastic, someplace deep in your mind, it registers that you just simply touched low cost supplies in your costly automotive. And sure, that is a complete paragraph on the carpet between the seat and middle console moderately than the crystal gear shifter by Orrefors. That is how crucial small touches are to the premium expertise in a automotive. Add that to issues like the superb air purification system, real leather-based, and Driftwood inlays, and you’ve got an inside that feels dearer than it’s. The inside as a complete has one thing to it that is greatest described as being in an unpretentious however stylish espresso store.
Regardless of being the smaller Volvo wagon, everybody has loads of area, together with sufficient room within the again for a six-foot grownup to not complain about. Then, if you happen to suppose a crossover could have extra cargo area, that is not the case; the 35.2 inches of rear passenger legroom would not come at the price of its 60.5 cubic toes of cargo area.
Drivetrain: A Minor Letdown
The two.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder B5 engine produces 250 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, which is loads for the automotive. Much less would do it a disservice, and extra could be wasteful. Nevertheless, like all of Volvo’s four-cylinder engines, it is a bit of extra unrefined within the noise division than we count on – even with its 48V mild-hybrid system. We all know Volvo has leaned into downsizing its fuel engines and would moderately use a supercharged and turbocharged four-cylinder than a V6, however the model ought to look into some sound deadening underneath the hood and further alongside the firewall.
It is a minor quibble, although, because the driving expertise is clean, and the V60 Cross Nation feels easy to drive. Even when going cross nation, the place the all-wheel-drive system retains every part balanced. After some heavy desert rain and with on-road tires, we had an opportunity to check the Hill Descent Management. We did not slide down the hill, so we’ll name {that a} profitable piece of engineering.
Infotainment: A Studying Curve
There’s a studying curve to utilizing Volvo’s infotainment system residing behind its vertically-oriented nine-inch touchscreen, and that is primarily all the way down to the HVAC controls being accessed by the display screen. The remainder is not an enormous deal to choose up on, and the brand new Google-based system is a step up over the outdated system. You’ll be able to add apps, however an important one, Google Maps, is baked in and works excellently whether or not you hyperlink your Google account or not. You can even put the map and navigation onto the digital gauge cluster, and all of it comes collectively as a slick consumer interface. Apple CarPlay and Android are commonplace however much less obligatory than earlier than. Extra obligatory is the onboard Wi-Fi hotspot utilizing a 4G LTE knowledge connection.
Should you like music in any respect, do possibility the Bowers & Wilkins system, because it’s as immersive as it’s spectacular. Significantly, it’s a must to tread into Bentley or Rolls-Royce cash to discover a higher manufacturing unit audio system.
Driving: Gentle And Straightforward
Regardless of its minor raise, the V60 Cross Nation drives like a sedan – a purposeful sedan with compliant suspension and a scarcity of physique roll in corners. The steering is mild and simple however not mild sufficient to encourage jerky inputs. The engine has pulling energy for freeway entries and overtaking painfully gradual visitors, aurally supplemented by consumption noise from the engine. When cruising, the engine noise goes away, and the Volvo turns into a stress-free surroundings that may solely be invaded by different drivers appearing erratically.
The Cross Nation mannequin drives nearly as properly as another V60, nevertheless it has that additional trip top, all-wheel-drive, and software program that helps optimize traction and grip. We took the V60 Cross Nation onto dusty and moist, slippery floor, and located its controllability near our benchmark, which is the soft-roading Mazda CX-50 in its higher trim ranges. Mazda’s tuning for off-road is best, however the V60 Cross Nation feels simply as completed until you begin pushing it round.
Conclusion: Not Loopy Costly
The Volvo V60 Cross Nation begins at $50,095, and manages to justify its price, however we’d add the Bowers & Wilkinson sound system. Significantly, it is the cherry you need on the cake of the V60’s inside. The one criticism is that the V60 deserves a extra refined powertrain, whether or not that is hybrid or a bigger engine that does not must rev as much as get to cruising velocity. In any other case, it is one of many extra nice methods we are able to consider to spend over $50,000 in a single hit and does every part a crossover does simply as properly, if not higher. For folks extra eager about having enjoyable whereas driving, the identical cash will get you to the high quality of the Mazda CX-50, which is our yardstick for the soft-roading section. Nevertheless, as good because the Mazda’s inside is, it would not have carpet between the seat and the middle console. Simply bear that in thoughts.