[CAR REVIEW] Volvo V60 B5 AWD Cross Country – The Ultimate Blend of Style and Adventure

Volvo – The long-standing estate expert

Just by looking at the distinctive design of the Volvo V60, you will realize that this is not a car with a traditional design. Volvo’s models are a range of cars with elongated cabins, known as estates in Europe. No matter where you are, estate cars have their own loyal customer base. For them, the combination of practicality, spaciousness, and impressive performance cannot be found in a sedans or pure crossovers.

When it comes to estate cars, few car manufacturers are as steadfast as Volvo. Volvo not only represents the iconic image of the estate design, but also continues to maintain the “flame” of estates while many other car manufacturers have given up. The Swedish car brand claims to have sold over 6 million estate cars worldwide, more than any other brand.

Volvo PV445 Duett

The history of Volvo’s estate cars began with the PV445 Duett, which was born in 1953. This was Volvo’s first model to be imported into the North American market and served as the brand’s first impression in the eyes of discerning consumers here. The name “Duett” implies that this is a versatile car that can carry goods and serve work duties throughout the week, yet comfortable and smooth like a sedan when you want to go out on the weekend. With a range of accessories for carrying goods and a spacious luggage compartment, the Volvo PV445 Duett served its American customers well – those who are always looking for a spacious car – and laid the foundation for future Volvo estate models.

Volvo P220 Amazon

Volvo P220 Amazon was a major step forward compared to the PV445 model. Introduced at the 1962 Stockholm Motor Show, the Volvo P220 Amazon received great attention and went beyond Sweden’s borders. The car was designed based on the platform of the Volvo 112 sedan, so it had better amenities and driving experience than its predecessor, the PV445 model. The P220 Amazon also officially established the concept of a 4-door estate car in the subconscious of consumers. Since then, 2-door estate cars like the PV445 quickly became “outdated” because they were less practical. With newer estate models like the P220 Amazon, parents with two young children can do everything with just one car!

Volvo 245 DL

Other estate models like the 200 Series and 700 Series have deeply embedded in the minds of the American people as safe and convenient family cars that their parents or they themselves have owned at least once. The 900 Series also holds a special place in the hearts of Volvo enthusiasts with its array of new safety features while still delivering an emotional driving experience with its 6-cylinder inline engines and rear-wheel drive.

The 900 Series was replaced by the Volvo 850 in 1991 – the brand’s first front-wheel drive estate car. However, Volvo fans have no reason to be too saddened as the Swedish automaker abandoned the RWD configuration because the Volvo 850 was still capable of disrupting the BTCC racing with its turbocharged i5 engine. Off the streets, the Volvo 850 estate car is more spacious because the cabin does not need to reserve space for a prop shaft anymore. The Volvo 850 also introduced new safety features such as ABS brakes, reinforced door beams, and integrated child seats.

First-generation Volvo V70 Cross Country

The Volvo V70 was the first commercial vehicle with the brand’s fourth-generation all-wheel drive system. In the late 1990s, Volvo took a gamble by raising the ground clearance and adding cladding to the V70 to create the Volvo V70 Cross Country to serve customers who prefer high-riding cars. The Volvo V70 Cross Country variant quickly accounted for half of the V70’s sales and since then, Volvo has known that an estate car is already practical, but a high-riding estate is even more practical. Practicality is what customers desire in their “all-in-one” cars.

Unique design

Thus, the Volvo V60 Cross Country 2022 in today’s article is the crystallization of decades of experience in estate car production. So what makes it so appealing? The first thing is the unique design. The Volvo V60 is for those who find traditional sedans like the S60 inconvenient and CUVs like the XC60 too “boring”. Yes, each product line has its own place, and Volvo understands what its customers need.

The 2022 Volvo V60 Cross Country still exudes the essence of simple Scandinavian beauty, but the car has been enhanced with more personality and dynamism to cater to the younger group of customers who value uniqueness. That is the large shield-shaped grille with starry chrome mesh and the more precise front bumper to create a difference from other Volvo models. The contemporary design elements of Volvo such as the LED headlights with Thor’s hammer daytime running lights or the elongated bonnet are also present on this estate model. However, if you look at it head-on, you will easily distinguish the V60 Cross Country from other Volvo models because the ground clearance is very high.

From the side, you can’t mistake the V60 Cross Country for any other car! The elongated design like a bullet makes this estate car stand out wherever it goes. The V60 Cross Country has dimensions of 4,784 x 1,916 x 1,504 mm, and a wheelbase of 2,875 mm. Thus, this estate car is longer than the Volvo S60 by 20 mm and the XC60 by 76 mm. Compared to the standard V60, the Volvo V60 Cross Country has a ground clearance raised by 60 mm, reaching 203 mm. Good ground clearance combined with approach and departure angles of 19.4 degrees and 25.7 degrees respectively make this car capable of handling light to medium off-road terrains. Of course, if your preference is rock climbing or stream-crossing, a body-on-frame SUV would be more suitable.

Other notable design features of the V60 Cross Country include the 18-inch alloy wheels with strong design, wheel arch cladding and side cladding to protect the paintwork better when driving on rough roads. The rear end has a design similar to Volvo’s SUV models with a boomerang-shaped LED taillights, chrome exhaust tips, and a roof-integrated spoiler. Overall, the Volvo V60 Cross Country has a distinctive and eye-catching exterior design to attract customers who are looking for a luxury car that is not of German or Japanese origin.

The most spacious interior in its segment

I use the term “spacious” because in the price range of around 2.5 billion VND, there are almost no other luxury high-riding vehicles in Vietnam equipped with the most advanced features and top-quality materials. The Volvo V60 Cross Country is almost a “lone wolf” with its unique estate design and an interior filled with premium materials, making this car even more special.

In terms of design, Volvo V60 continues to use a minimalist, square design, limiting unnecessary details. Every curve, straight line, and fold has its own purpose and is harmonious, without any forced elements. The dashboard of the Volvo V60 Cross Country has an elegant design with a wide wood panel that spans the width of the car, enveloping the center screen and the driver area. Volvo uses recycled Driftwood wood to minimize the impact on the environment, and the wood panels do not need to be polished to maintain their natural beauty.

The entire seats are upholstered in handcrafted Fine Nappa leather by Bridge of Weir, the world’s leading luxury car seat leather manufacturer. The seats of the V60 Cross Country are shaped based on the human spine, with adjustments made to details such as seat recline, side bolsters, lumbar support, headrest, and thigh support to provide the best seating position. The car in this review is upholstered in gray-white leather, giving a sense of spaciousness to the interior. However, it is advisable to choose black or brown leather if you don’t want to care for light-colored leather. Another competitive advantage of the V60 Cross Country compared to its counterparts in the same price range is the front-seat cooling and heating system – a useful feature in the winter or summer in Vietnam.

The panoramic sunroof is also a noteworthy feature of the V60 Cross Country. The sunroof is made of multi-layer glass, tinted, and has a sunshade. If you look at German high-riding models, the GLC 300 AMG has a smaller sunroof, while the Audi Q5 or BMW X3 even don’t have this feature. Volvo’s high-riding model also has all the luxury amenities that customers expect in a luxury car. These include a 4-zone independent air conditioning system, Clean Zone air filtration system, memory seats, electronic gear shifter, 9.7-inch center screen with Apple Carplay/Android Auto, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, etc.

The Bowers & Wilkins sound system is also a noteworthy feature of the V60 Cross Country. This audio system includes 15 separate hi-fi speakers, including the Tweeter-on-Top center speaker, which is integrated into the cabin structure to provide authentic, resonant, and realistic sound. A high-power D-class amplifier with up to 1,100W and the Dirac Unison sound processing system will provide a vibrant and authentic sound experience. In simple terms, the Bowers & Wilkins sound system of the Volvo V60 Cross Country is the best in its class under 3 billion VND.

Of course, cargo carrying capacity is still the strength of estate cars. The standard luggage compartment capacity is 658 liters and increases to 1,441 liters when the 2nd-row seats are folded. The luggage compartment of the car is equipped with many convenient features such as hooks, dividers, and a 12V power outlet. To serve an active lifestyle, the Volvo V60 Cross Country is also sold with a variety of diverse accessories, including a roof box, bicycle carrier, towbar, etc.

A unique driving experience

When experiencing any Volvo car, the first thing you get is peace of mind, a sense of comfort in your mind. You have that because you know that you are driving one of the safest cars in the world.

You can call safety a culture that Volvo has always maintained over the years. In 1959, Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin first applied the 3-point safety belt to the Volvo PV544. Volvo shared this patent with the world and since then, this simple safety feature has saved countless lives. In 1972, Volvo first introduced rear-facing child seats. In 1976, Volvo first applied the integrated oxygen sensor and catalytic converter to reduce significant emissions and protect the environment. In 1994, they introduced side airbags on the seats, in 1998 – whiplash-reducing seat design and curtain airbags, in 2003 – fog warning system, etc. That’s why when you mention the two words “safety”, many people immediately think of Volvo, especially in Europe.

It will take a separate article to carefully describe the active safety features of the Volvo V60 Cross Country. These features include the intelligent Pilot Assist driving support, City Safety active collision avoidance, BLIS blind-spot warning, Land Keeping Aid with active steering, Distant Warning front collision warning, and Rear Collision Warning rear collision warning. Real-life experience will show you that with Volvo, the safety of each car they sell has become a standard. So what about the driving experience, can this car take you across the country as its name suggests?

In terms of engine specifications, the Volvo V60 B5 has a power output comparable to its German competitors. The car is powered by a 2.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged engine, producing a maximum power of 250 horsepower and a peak torque of 350 Nm. The difference from previous Volvo models is the mild-hybrid system with an electric motor that serves as both the starter and the generator, helping the car to accelerate smoothly and save fuel. The electric motor also improves the operation of the Auto Start-Stop feature, contributing to fuel savings when the car is stopped at red lights. The motor uses energy recovered during the braking process and stores it in a 48V lithium-ion battery located in the rear compartment.

When driving in the city, this engine is powerful enough to make the car accelerate smoothly even when carrying 4 adults and a lot of luggage in the trunk. The Volvo V60 Cross Country may not accelerate as impressively as a BMW, but it handles daily commuting tasks with excellent comfort and impressive sound system. The difference of the V60 Cross Country compared to other high-riding models from other brands is its fifth-generation all-wheel drive system developed by Haldex, which can transfer 50% of torque to the rear wheels. In addition, there are off-road driving modes to conquer difficult terrains such as sand, gravel, or mud.

Especially, the Volvo V60 Cross Country has a double-wishbone front suspension system, which improves the grip of the front wheels better than models with a MacPherson front suspension. The double-wishbone front suspension + fifth-generation all-wheel drive system + electronic center differential helps the car go further than you think, as long as you don’t … scrape the underbody!

Conclusion

The Volvo V60 Cross Country combines the advantages of a traditional sedan and a high-riding SUV to create a unique and distinctive appeal. This is the car for you if you are looking for a comfortable and luxurious car for everyday commuting, but still can take you to explore new places on the weekends. True to the criteria of an estate car, the Volvo V60 Cross Country can be your only car, serving multiple purposes of transportation as long as you understand its limitations. The price of 2.55 billion VND is also attractive enough for you to confidently choose a Volvo V60 Cross Country to have new experiences.

Tu Truong (Tuoitrethudo)