Volvo V60 Cross Country T5 Drive-E (A) Review
30 Nov 2015|20,581 views
The last five years for Volvo have been a bumpy ride. In 2010, it was off-loaded by Ford and taken over by Chinese automotive conglomerate Geely.
Since then, the company has been busy reconstructing for the future and building up to an ambitious plan that will see an entirely new lineup by 2019, headlined by the new XC90.
At the same time, the Swedish carmaker is ramping up its Cross Country (let's just call it CC for short) sub-brand.
The name debuted on the V70 (badged as V70 XC) in 1997, but it was largely dormant until 2013 when it was revived for the V40 CC - a jacked up V40 hatchback.
The CC range has now grown from one to three models with new S60 and V60 versions, and the latter is the car you see here.
Exterior
Standing at 4,638mm x 1,899mm x 1,545mm (L x W x H), the V60 CC is 3mm longer, 34mm wider and 65mm taller than the regular V60, which makes it stand out.
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The V60 CC also looks a tad more aggressive than the V60, but both wagons benefit from wide shoulders, a high-beltline and rear-sloping roofline that give them an athletic shape.
To allow the car to tackle more rugged terrain, Volvo has added a raft of typically off-road body enhancements. So at the front there is the usual silver-coloured skid plate, a honeycomb front grille as well as black plastic wheel arch mouldings.
Round the back, integrated dual exhausts, a prominent roof spoiler and vertical taillights that follow the contours of its beefy haunches ensure that the rear end is well-put together.
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Interior
In typical Scandinavian fashion, the V60 CC's interior is crisp and clean, with designer touches, such as Volvo's floating centre console, that set it apart from mainstream luxury models.
Unfortunately, the 7.0-inch screen set at the top of the dashboard may be considered tiny as compared to the current standard, and the array of tiny buttons stands in stark opposition to the minimalist approach taken with the new XC90 that amazed us.
Nonetheless, the cabin is well-appointed with ample soft-touch materials and the seats are upholstered in fine leather.
Interestingly, the car comes with standard sport seats, which offer exaggerated bolstering on the back and bottom cushions for extra snugness.
The V60 CC, like most wagons, scores well on practicality, although its tapered cabin and sloped roofline does cut a little into interior space.
Front seat room is excellent for even those on the plus side of 1.8-metres, though rear headroom may be a bit of a challenge for the same tall folks.
With the second row in place, cargo capacity stands at 430 litres and this expands to 1,241 litres when you drop them. It may be a little less than some compact SUVs and crossovers, but it is sufficient for most needs - and quite functional with seats that really fold flat.
 |
The Drive
The V60 CC is equipped with Volvo's trusty 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged Drive-E engine that makes a respectable 245bhp and 350Nm of torque, which comes in at a low 1,500rpm.
Despite weighing 60kg more than the regular V60, the V60 CC accelerates keenly and you won't be left feeling shortchanged in terms of performance.
On the road, the car has ample power for overtaking and merging. All of this is also made possible thanks to the eight-speed Geartronic automatic transmission that adjusts nicely to aggressive or relaxed driving and always finding the right gear for the job at hand.
Volvo's engineers have managed to stretch an impressive 201mm of ground clearance out of the V60 CC and they have also equipped the car with stronger suspension components and hill descent control.
These enhancements don't transform the car into a trail-busting off-road machine, but they are more than sufficient to get to unsurfaced tracks or handle bad forest service roads up North.
In corners, there's naturally a bit more body roll than in a standard V60 due to the V60 CC's increased ride height, but it's apparent that this Volvo's road manners are fundamentally solid.
Contributing to this solidness is the firmer suspension, which also makes the ride a little stiffer than the standard wagon, but not unsettling enough to put occupants off.
Conclusion
If, in addition to smart looks, good handling and safety, you desire a slightly more athletic profile and additional ground clearance for your wagon, without the need of going the full SUV route, the V60 CC is ready, willing and able.
It looks like the next few years for Volvo may not be that bumpy after all.
The last five years for Volvo have been a bumpy ride. In 2010, it was off-loaded by Ford and taken over by Chinese automotive conglomerate Geely.
Since then, the company has been busy reconstructing for the future and building up to an ambitious plan that will see an entirely new lineup by 2019, headlined by the new XC90.
At the same time, the Swedish carmaker is ramping up its Cross Country (let's just call it CC for short) sub-brand.
The name debuted on the V70 (badged as V70 XC) in 1997, but it was largely dormant until 2013 when it was revived for the V40 CC - a jacked up V40 hatchback.
The CC range has now grown from one to three models with new S60 and V60 versions, and the latter is the car you see here.
Exterior
Standing at 4,638mm x 1,899mm x 1,545mm (L x W x H), the V60 CC is 3mm longer, 34mm wider and 65mm taller than the regular V60, which makes it stand out.
The V60 CC also looks a tad more aggressive than the V60, but both wagons benefit from wide shoulders, a high-beltline and rear-sloping roofline that give them an athletic shape.
To allow the car to tackle more rugged terrain, Volvo has added a raft of typically off-road body enhancements. So at the front there is the usual silver-coloured skid plate, a honeycomb front grille as well as black plastic wheel arch mouldings.
Round the back, integrated dual exhausts, a prominent roof spoiler and vertical taillights that follow the contours of its beefy haunches ensure that the rear end is well-put together.
Interior
In typical Scandinavian fashion, the V60 CC's interior is crisp and clean, with designer touches, such as Volvo's floating centre console, that set it apart from mainstream luxury models.
Unfortunately, the 7.0-inch screen set at the top of the dashboard may be considered tiny as compared to the current standard, and the array of tiny buttons stands in stark opposition to the minimalist approach taken with the new XC90 that amazed us.
Nonetheless, the cabin is well-appointed with ample soft-touch materials and the seats are upholstered in fine leather.
Interestingly, the car comes with standard sport seats, which offer exaggerated bolstering on the back and bottom cushions for extra snugness.
In typical Scandinavian fashion, the V60 CC's interior is crisp and clean, with designer touches, such as Volvo's floating centre console, that set it apart from mainstream luxury models.
Unfortunately, the 7.0-inch screen set at the top of the dashboard may be considered tiny as compared to the current standard, and the array of tiny buttons stands in stark opposition to the minimalist approach taken with the new XC90 that amazed us.
Nonetheless, the cabin is well-appointed with ample soft-touch materials and the seats are upholstered in fine leather.
Interestingly, the car comes with standard sport seats, which offer exaggerated bolstering on the back and bottom cushions for extra snugness.
The V60 CC, like most wagons, scores well on practicality, although its tapered cabin and sloped roofline does cut a little into interior space.
Front seat room is excellent for even those on the plus side of 1.8-metres, though rear headroom may be a bit of a challenge for the same tall folks.
With the second row in place, cargo capacity stands at 430 litres and this expands to 1,241 litres when you drop them. It may be a little less than some compact SUVs and crossovers, but it is sufficient for most needs - and quite functional with seats that really fold flat.
The Drive
The V60 CC is equipped with Volvo's trusty 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged Drive-E engine that makes a respectable 245bhp and 350Nm of torque, which comes in at a low 1,500rpm.
Despite weighing 60kg more than the regular V60, the V60 CC accelerates keenly and you won't be left feeling shortchanged in terms of performance.
On the road, the car has ample power for overtaking and merging. All of this is also made possible thanks to the eight-speed Geartronic automatic transmission that adjusts nicely to aggressive or relaxed driving and always finding the right gear for the job at hand.
Volvo's engineers have managed to stretch an impressive 201mm of ground clearance out of the V60 CC and they have also equipped the car with stronger suspension components and hill descent control.
The V60 CC is equipped with Volvo's trusty 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged Drive-E engine that makes a respectable 245bhp and 350Nm of torque, which comes in at a low 1,500rpm.
Despite weighing 60kg more than the regular V60, the V60 CC accelerates keenly and you won't be left feeling shortchanged in terms of performance.
On the road, the car has ample power for overtaking and merging. All of this is also made possible thanks to the eight-speed Geartronic automatic transmission that adjusts nicely to aggressive or relaxed driving and always finding the right gear for the job at hand.
Volvo's engineers have managed to stretch an impressive 201mm of ground clearance out of the V60 CC and they have also equipped the car with stronger suspension components and hill descent control.
These enhancements don't transform the car into a trail-busting off-road machine, but they are more than sufficient to get to unsurfaced tracks or handle bad forest service roads up North.
In corners, there's naturally a bit more body roll than in a standard V60 due to the V60 CC's increased ride height, but it's apparent that this Volvo's road manners are fundamentally solid.
Contributing to this solidness is the firmer suspension, which also makes the ride a little stiffer than the standard wagon, but not unsettling enough to put occupants off.
Conclusion
If, in addition to smart looks, good handling and safety, you desire a slightly more athletic profile and additional ground clearance for your wagon, without the need of going the full SUV route, the V60 CC is ready, willing and able.
It looks like the next few years for Volvo may not be that bumpy after all.
Photos by Regan Ong
Car Information
Volvo V60 Cross Country T5 (A)
CAT B|Petrol|15.2km/L
Horsepower
180kW (241 bhp)
Torque
350 Nm
Acceleration
6.6sec (0-100km /hr)
This model is no longer being sold by local distributor
All Used Volvo V60 Cross Country
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