Anthony on Auto’s: 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country B5 AWD Ultimate

by Anthony Fongaro - photos by Volvo - 10/04/2023

How often do you see new wagons on the road? I’ll bet not a lot. As it's been for over two decades, Americans don’t like wagons. SUVs have been king and every major automaker has at least two. Even when you see a wagon, there probably will have some body cladding to make it look “like a crossover”.  This is the same for Volvo. Although their most popular vehicles are SUVs, they still allow Americans to buy wagons. Their smaller wagon is the V60 and that’s what I tested! This week was the Volvo V60 Cross Country. Is it worth getting over the XC60? Let’s find out.

As I will say many times, almost every aspect of the V60 Cross Country is shared with the rest of the Volvo lineup. Starting with the exterior, you’ll see the familiar Thor’s Hammer lights and a large Volvo badge. The silhouette showcases a handsome wagon shape wrapped in Onyx Black paint and optional 20-inch 7-Spoke wheels. Looking at the rear, the V60 looks like a slightly smaller XC60 with Volvo written across the hatchback. You’ll notice similar wrap-around taillights albeit with a V60 and AWD badge. To make it look more rugged, the Cross Country has body cladding. This is a stylish wagon and one that many may not see. 

If the exterior is a wagon copy of other Volvos, the interior is exactly the same. This isn’t a bad thing, since Volvo makes a plush interior. I enjoyed the “Blond Ventilated Nappa Leather in Charcoal” interior. Going a little deeper, this means that the seats were white while the steering wheel and other trim were black. The front seats were heated and ventilated with plenty of support and comfort. While I like the size of the steering wheel, there are some hard-to-identity buttons. Included with the Ultimate is a head-up display with your speed, speed limit, and navigation. Volvo’s regular dials are starting to look dated compared to fully digital competitors. 

Looking next to the driver is Volvo’s Google-based infotainment system. When I would turn on the car, it kept saying “There is no connection or signal”. I have no idea why it would say that when I first turn on the car. There are four files for maps, media, phone, and Google. Volvo now includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. At the bottom of the infotainment system are the climate controls, which are too small to use. Other than random buttons, there’s the large volume dial. Look at the gear shifter, and you’ll see it’s crystal! This also had an optional Bowers and Wilkens sound system, which was excellent.

Special shoutout to the seats, which I found very comfortable. The front seat’s ventilation is quite strong which helped during the warm summer days. Both rows of seats have plenty of room with high-quality materials. Getting to the rear, the electric hatch reveals a large trunk. This interior has been around since 2019 and it still looks good. It’s the same as the Volvo S60 but with added utility.

Under the hood is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 247 horsepower/182 kW and 258 lb-ft/350 Nm. The V60 Cross Country has an all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic. Combine all of this, and the V60 Cross Country gets from 0-60 in around 7.1 seconds. I have a few critiques about the engine and transmission. First, the engine is quite loud, especially if the engine revs more than 3,000rpm. Second, the transmission felt a little clunky and slow to shift. Third, while pulling away from a stop, the engine’s power felt inconsistent. Volvo says that its mild hybrids aren’t available with different drive modes, which seems odd. Other mild hybrids have different drive modes. It’s not as much as complaint as an oddity.

Thankfully, the engine is calm when you’re cruising along. Since the V60 Cross Country is a slightly taller wagon, it isn’t the best at handling. Granted, that’s not what the V60 Cross Country is made for. This is a comfortable wagon with great safety features. These include adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and emergency braking. The suspension is soft and creates a comfortable ride. While testing, there were main roads under construction and the V60 Cross Country soaked up a lot of the holes. I was surprised that the fuel economy was only between 20-22 MPG.

Time to talk about money! Volvo’s V60 Cross Country starts at $50,000. Jumping to the Ultimate trim costs an extra $5,300. Some of the features of the Ultimate trim include the heads-up display, ventilated seats, Harman Kardon sound system, and upgraded wheels. Funny enough, this V60 Cross Country had even more upgraded 20-inch wheels for $3,200. That upgraded Bowers and Wilkens sound system was another $3,200. The Cold Weather Package with heated seats and a heated steering wheel costs $750. 

When you include the $695 for the paint and other items, this V60 Cross Country is around $64,000. Is it worth the money? I’d say so. This had a great color combination and I would recommend upgrading to the Ultimate trim for its features. Would I get the upgraded wheels? No, the 19-inch wheels in the Ultimate are just fine. I always like a good Bowers and Wilkens sound system and I would tick that box. Even though it’s the only package here, the Cold Weather Package is a must for those in the north or in Chicagoland. 

Should you take a look at the V60? Yes, you should. First off, you’ll probably never see another on the road. It’s a handsome wagon and feels unique. I like how comfortable is, but the infotainment system takes a little bit to get used to. For those who would never consider a wagon, the V60 Cross Country makes a compelling argument against the SUV. It is a nice wagon and I would take a look at it if you have a family or want more space.