The 2024 Volvo V60 Cross Country runs into collateral damage as the brand charges full-speed into a full-electric lineup by 2030
The 2024 Volvo V60 Cross Country is a raised, all-wheel-drive wagon with a ‘mild hybrid’ 48-volt powertrain and eight-speed transmission. Starting prices range from $52,000 to $57,000. (Photography by Mark Maynard)
Jump To Special Features
The Winter of EV Discontent
V Is for Versatile
V60 Pricing
From Suburbs to Skogen
Volvo Safety
Mild Hybrid Powertrain
Cross Country Ride and Handling
Interior Function
Why Buy the Volvo V60 Cross Country?
Specifications
It must be lonely on death row for the Volvo V60 Cross Country. This adaptable midsize wagon has nothing terribly wrong, but the company is leaving it behind. Volvo is charging full speed into a full-electric lineup by 2030.
According to a recent report in Automotive News, “Volvo will not sell a single car that is not full-electric after 2030, regardless of market,” said the brand’s chief commercial officer, Björn Annwall. “There’s no ifs, no buts.”
Vehicles in Volvo’s fossil-fueled lineup will limp along, but “we’re not investing in their base technology; there is no deep R&D,” Anwall said. “But we can upgrade infotainment, software [and] some exterior, interior design.”
Annwall’s tone is absolute when many automakers have backed off on a full transition to full-electric lineups. There are just too many variables in building a pure EV business plan. Too many regions of North America (and Europe) do not have an established infrastructure for public charging, and there won’t be in the immediate future. Developing reliable public charging stations has been a struggle in the U.S.
V60 Ultimate features include a Harman Kardon audio system, tailored (stitched) leather dashboard, crystal Orrefors shift knob, and 10-way power-adjustable, heated and ventilated front seats.
The Winter of EV Discontent
Many EV-intending motorists hit the pause button after the winter’s deep freeze. Blame the well-televised reports of EV owners left in the cold at traffic-jammed charging stations. Couple that unpleasantness with the electric vehicle’s reduced range in cold weather and the typically dismal upkeep of charging stations. Public chargers are often poorly maintained, grimy, and faulty. At least gasoline stations have an attendant who might occasionally wipe down the pumps and hoses.
Public charging will get better. But countless apartment and condo dwellers have no access to “home” charging. The high MSRP of electrics is yet another steep step to mainstream EV adoption.
To paraphrase Mr. McGuire’s one word of encouragement to Dustin Hoffman (Benjamin) in the classic 1967 film “The Graduate:” Hybrids. And Volvo has several plug-in and mild hybrids, including the V60 Cross Country. However, the larger mild-hybrid Volvo V90 Cross Country is also on its way out, likely next year.
The Swedish automaker has told dealers that it expects to launch seven new and redesigned electrified models, including five battery-electric vehicles. On the doorstep are the large EX90 and subcompact EX30. And among the battery-electrics could be a crossover-like electric replacement of the V60 Cross Country in late 2027.
The 48-volt, “mild hybrid” V60 Cross Country would be an ideal “electrified” choice in cold regions without public charging. A 48V hybrid system is complex but almost required for powering the many electronics in a new vehicle. A mild hybrid goes beyond reduced fuel consumption and emissions, it gives notably better performance than a full hybrid system. But it also is more expensive.
The 9-inch vertical touch screen combines car functions, but the rearview image is too small.
V Is for Versatile
Volvo’s lineup of Cross Country wagons began with the 1998 V70 XC, or Cross Country. The 2024 V60 Cross Country and larger V90 Cross Country models are their descendants, each based on a Volvo station wagon.
The Volvo V60 wagon (V for versatile, 60 for the midsize body style) was first released in 2010 and given a facelift in 2014. The V60 Cross Country, with a body lift of 2.4 inches, came out in 2015, and the redesigned second-generation model came out in 2018 for the 2019 model year. The second-gen V60 was a full redesign based on the then-new Volvo Scalable Product Architecture, or SPA.
From 2021, the V60 is only available as the Cross Country. Then, in 2022, Volvo refreshed the styling of the V60 Cross Country and platform partner S60 sedan. But it was just a new front grille design and updated rear bumper inserts. New colors, wheels, and interior options, such as leather-free materials, were made available across the range in almost every model.
An upgrade to the infotainment system starting in 2023 included the capability for over-the-air updates. New Volvo vehicles can receive and install software upgrades remotely. As software updates roll out, Volvo says each car will continue to improve over its lifetime.
The Swedish automaker has told dealers that it expects to launch seven new and redesigned electrified models, including five battery-electric vehicles. On the doorstep are the large EX90 and subcompact EX30. And among the battery-electrics could be a crossover-like electric replacement of the V60 Cross Country in late 2027.
Interior plastics are durable but not completely premium in appearance or feel.
2024 V60 Cross Country Pricing
There are two versions of the V60 wagon: the Cross Country and the high-performance, 455-hp Polestar-engineered V60 Recharge plug-in hybrid. At $72,645, the latter is $10,000 more expensive than today’s tester, a top-line V60 Cross Country Ultimate.
In 2022, Volvo reduced the V60 Cross Country trim-level choices to Plus and Ultimate and trimmed the optional extras to streamline the production process.
All 2024 V60 Cross Country models have standard all-wheel drive and a panoramic roof. Free factory-scheduled maintenance is included. Coverage is for the first three services at 10,000, 20,000, and 30,000 miles, up to 36,000 miles. The following retail pricing includes the $1,195 freight charge from Torslanda, Sweden.
V60 Cross Country Plus pricing starts at $51,695. Standard features include a power tailgate, leather upholstery, 12-inch digital gauge display, 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control and Pilot Assist, blind-spot monitor, cross-traffic alert, and 18-inch wheels.
The Orrefors crystal gear selector knob is by the Swedish glass design company.
Ultimate pricing starts at $56,795. Its features build on the Plus, with such extras as a Harman Kardon audio system, tailored (stitched) leather dashboard, crystal Orrefors shift knob https://www.orrefors.us/ , air purifier, power-folding rear headrests, and 10-way power-adjustable front seats that are heated and ventilated.
And how refreshing that the nine metallic or pearl paint colors are all a no-cost choice.
A three-year lease was available for the V60 CC Ultimate at the time of publication. With a $4,035 down payment, the monthly payment would be $685. But annual mileage is limited to just 10,000 miles and .25 cents a mile afterward.
Find current Volvo pricing here.
Volvo-specific 19-inch Pirelli P Zero all-season tires, 235/45, on five-spoke diamond finish wheels.
Suburbs to Skogen
The V60 Cross Country personifies the Swedish family crossover utility vehicle. Volvo’s V60 catchphrase is from the suburb to the skogen (Swedish for forest).
The V60 is a comfortable and functional wagon born for the mean city streets to snowy roads to the mountains for outdoor fun. Its off-road ability is not at the SUV level for the rutted track.
This attractively styled wagon does many things right in its midsize footprint. Its electronic features were state-of-the-art six years ago, and its interior function is good but not great. The cabin is due for a major remodel (which it will not get) to carve out more interior space and improve storage areas.
My Ultimate tester totaled $62,780 with five options:
- Climate Package $750, which adds headlight washers, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats;
Trailer hitch $1,650; - Luggage roller cover $385;
- 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system with 1,410-watt output $3,200;
- Power tailgate with kick sensor $200.
No buyer in this price segment would NOT want the cargo roller cover as a safety feature from thieving eyes. And $200 for a tailgate with a kick sensor is gratuitous upsell when it should be included for $57,000.
All Ultimate features are in the specifications chart at the end of this story.
Luxury Wagon Alternatives
There are a couple of luxury alternatives to the Volvo V60 Cross Country:
Audi A6 allroad, $70,000-$75,000;
Mercedes-Benz E 450 4MATIC All-Terrain Wagon, $80,000-$85,000.
Volvo Safety
Volvo has long been a vehicle safety advocate. It was Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin who invented the modern three-point safety belt in 1959. Volvo then gave the patent to the world for free, and now the three-point belt is found in every vehicle, including tractors.
The V60 Cross Country continues that advocacy by thoroughly integrating advanced safety technologies. Standard V60 safety features include seven airbags, blind-spot information with steering assist, cross-traffic alert with auto brake, lane-keeping aid, forward collision warning, and post-impact braking.
Volvo’s standard City Safety with Autobrake is a collision-avoidance system with camera eyes to recognize pedestrians, cyclists, and large animals.
The three-point seatbelt was designed by Volvo in 1959. (Volvo photo archives)
Driver assistance technologies include Pilot Assist with adaptive cruise control for Level 2 semiautonomous driving; collision avoidance system of low- and high-speed collision mitigation; vehicle-pedestrian-animal detection; oncoming lane mitigation braking; and run-off road mitigation.
The Pilot Assist system does a respectable job of highway centering without drifting across the white lines in cornering. When engaged, the system can steer, accelerate, and brake on well-marked roads up to 80 mph. “Well-marked” is key because these systems tend to flake out on roads with crumbling surfaces and poorly marked lanes.
I experienced the absolute slam-stop of cross-traffic alert with autobrake when just backing into my driveway. The system thought it saw something. It was nothing, but such quick driver support can be appreciated. In tight parking situations, bumping a car or a wall is so easy.
Cross Country Interior Function
Volvo’s interior design is artful and mostly functional. The front-seat area feels roomy with headroom of 38 inches, with the panoramic roof. Sightlines are unobstructed at the side mirrors or over the shoulder.
The raised ride height allows comfortable entry and exit. The front seats, with 10-way power adjustment, conform to tall drivers with a seat-cushion extender.
The starter switch on the shift console is odd, but owners will adapt. And another uniqueness is the crystal Oreffors shift knob, made by the Swedish glass design company.
The driver faces a 12-inch-wide digital gauge display with two display modes. The Nav choice displays the map, and the “calm” mode shows black space between the left speedometer and the right tachometer.
Of questionable function and safety is the 9.0-inch vertically oriented touch screen. The tablet-like touchscreen combines car functions, navigation, connected services, and entertainment apps such as Spotify and Pandora.
Volvo likes this vertical screen arrangement, claiming the portrait view gives easy and fast access to features. But like a tablet device, it works well when sitting at home. On the road, it takes eyes from the road to hunt and peck. There is a dial for volume control at the base of the screen, but changing temperature and fan speed requires a tap or two on the screen.
Worse, the camera view is narrow and low on the screen, and the image is convex and rounded at the corners.
There is also no wireless charging pad or dedicated place to lay or prop a phone except in the cup holder. The shift console has a slim, covered storage tray, but it is best for spare change.
Back seat legroom is short at 35.2 inches, and the transmission tunnel is awkwardly tall and wide.
Back Seat and Cargo Space
If the V60 were to be redesigned, a couple of inches of cargo space could be sacrificed to add legroom to the back seat. Back seat space is compact for adults, with just 35.2 inches of legroom, and shoe tips are stuffed under the seat ahead. The very wide and tall transmission-exhaust tunnel obliterates center seat foot space.
Cargo space is plentiful behind the 60/40 folding back seat, with 25.5 to 60.5 cubic feet stacked to the headliner. Unlike most SUVs, the load height is a manageable 26.7 inches from the ground to the cargo floor. The entry opening is wide at 43.7 inches, with almost 41 inches wide between the wheel housings. There are a couple of bag hooks and a corner nook with a net.
A full-size temporary spare with all the jacking tools fits neatly below the cargo floor. This is a much better spare tire location than the typical SUV, which carries the spare under the vehicle.
The 247-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder 48-volt mild hybrid engine. (Note how upright the hood raises.)
The Mild Hybrid Powertrain
No Sport mode, no steering wheel paddle shifters, no problem.
Volvo’s V60 Cross Country powertrain consists of a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and eight-speed Geartronic transmission. It is a sophisticated powertrain that integrates a 48-volt motor and battery. The so-called “mild hybrid” system is a half-step toward full gasoline-electric hybridization. It is an elaborate and expensive setup but with worthwhile assets. The system provides auto start-stop at idle and gives some instant acceleration boost from a stop. There is no turbo lag on takeoff, and the acceleration fills strongly into the mid-RPM range.
According to Volvo specs, the 48V system helps clock a 0-60 mph launch in 6.6 seconds. That is a reasonably responsible pull for the 4,100-pound all-wheel-drive V60 Cross Country.
The 48-volt mild hybrid powertrain has fuel economy ratings of 24 mpg city, 31 highway, and 27 mpg combined. But achieving those numbers requires premium fuel. I observed 24 to 27 mpg in my week of driving. With that range, the 15.9-gallon tank should provide well over 400 miles.
The eight-speed Geartronic rolls easily through gear changes. The transmission has a manual shift mode but no paddle shifters or Sport mode.
The cargo space behind the 60/40 folding back seat is wide and low. Below it are the full-size temporary spare and jacking tools.
Cross Country Ride and Handling
Volvo does suspensions differently for its Cross Country ride and handling. The so-called Cross Chassis suspension refers to a single rear transverse leaf spring. Whatever it does, the ride quality is well-supported and gives flat handling in fast cornering. That is important when hefting two-plus tons on a lifted chassis.
The four-wheel independent suspension has front MacPherson struts and a rear multi-link. The setup smoothes broken road surfaces and limits road harshness from permeating the cabin.
A drag coefficient of 0.24.8 cd is remarkably low and slipperier than a Toyota Prius. However, there is noticeable wind noise at highway speeds.
Complimenting ride control are the Volvo-specific 19-inch Pirelli P Zero all-season tires, 235/45.
Large four-wheel disc brakes engage without grab or dive. The front rotors are 13.6 inches and 12.6 inches rear. Volvo cites a braking distance from 62 mph in 115 feet. That stopping distance is 19 feet shorter on average for midsized and luxury SUVs, per Consumer Reports.
The steering is comfortable and well-weighted, but it is not overly communicative to the driver. Volvo claims a curb-to-curb turning circle of 37.1 feet, which is nimble for a midsize sedan. The Ultimate’s 19-inch wheel package might push the distance a bit, but it was still handy in my experience.
Why Buy the Volvo V60 Cross Country?
The 2024 Volvo V60 Cross Country exemplifies “new-old stock.” You might not care if there is no wireless charging. It is the V60’s knife-edge styling and comfortable cabin that might have more meaning.
A three-year lease deal will make for an enjoyable skogen run, until there is an electric V60.
New owners can find online support through Volvo Forums.
The all-wheel-drive V60 Cross Country is on a suspension raised 2.4 inches.
2024 Volvo V60 Cross Country Ultimate Specifications
Body style: midsize 5-seat, 5-door all-wheel-drive raised wagon
Engine: 247-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder mild hybrid with 48-volt ; 258 lb.-ft. torque from 1,800 to 4,800 rpm; redline 6,200 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed Geartronic with start-stop at idle
Fuel economy: 24/31/27 mpg city/hwy/combined; premium fuel required
Coefficient of drag: 0.24.8 cd
0-60 mph: 6.6 seconds; 112 mph top speed
Trailering capacity: 2,000 pounds with trailer hitch ($1,650)
BY THE NUMBERS
Ground clearance: 8.1 inches* 7.8 in. w/1 occupant
Wading capability: 11.8 inches
Fuel tank: 15.9 gallons
Cargo space: 25.5 to 60.5 cubic feet
Front head/leg room: 39.1*/42.3 inches *40.1 w/o panoramic roof
Rear head/leg room: 38/35.2 inches
Length/wheelbase: 188.5/113.2 inches
Curb weight: 4,082 pounds
Turning circle: 37.1 feet
FEATURES
V60 Ultimate standard equipment includes: ventilated Nappa leather upholstery, front seat power lumbar and power side bolsters, driver power cushion extender, power passenger seat with memory preset, Driftwood trim decor, crystal gear selector knob by Orrefors, head-up driver display, 14-speaker 600-watt Harman Kardon audio system, 19-inch wheels with 5 double spoke diamond finish wheels, and side scuff plates;
Safety features include: 7 air bags, blind-spot information with steering assist, cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping aid, forward collision warning, post-impact braking;
Driver assistance technologies include: Pilot Assist with adaptive cruise control for Level 2 semiautonomous driving; collision avoidance system of low- and high-speed collision mitigation; vehicle-pedestrian-animal detection; oncoming mitigation braking.
PRICING
V60 Ultimate base price: $56,795, including $1,195 freight charge; price as tested $62,780
Options on test vehicle: Climate Package $750 (headlight washers, heated steering wheel, heated rear seats); trailer hitch $1,650; luggage roller cover $385; 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system with 1,410-watt output $3,200; power tailgate $200
Where assembled: Torslanda, Sweden
Warranties: 4-years/50,000-miles bumper to bumper and roadside assistance; 3-years/36,000-miles free scheduled maintenance
