WASHINGTON — Ready for an off-road luxury sedan? Volvo has a new model: the new S60 Cross Country T5 AWD.
Volvo has been releasing new cars at a much greater rate than I can ever remember. Previously, we looked at the Volvo V60 Cross Country, a more rugged station wagon. In a few weeks, I’ll have a stretched S60 sedan with more space inside. But first, something very different — the S60 Cross Country, a rugged AWD sedan, which has higher ground clearance like a crossover, but in a true sedan body style.
This tall sedan looks like it’s ready for whatever you can throw at it, with a more rugged stance. Even the lower-body moldings and wheel wells look like they could take a little light off-roading. It would be very useful in deep snow and certainly stands out in the crowd with its extra ground clearance, but it still has that sleek body line, which is not something I’m used to saying about a Volvo. The large 19-inch wheels help its looks even more, so consider the extra $750 when ordering.
Inside the $48,390 S60 Cross Country is a normal S60 interior with very comfortable heated leather seats, good for an all-day trip or your commute. The tester was fitted with many options, and the Climate package is a very useful one for cold weather. It gives you heated front and rear seats plus a heated steering wheel. Also, keep that ice scraper in the car for thin ice, because the windshield is heated and so are the washer nozzles. The rest of the interior materials are nice quality. The wood trim is a classy touch — just enough in the center console without being overdone.
The HVAC system is easy to use, but I wish the NAV and audio screen was bigger than seven inches. There are many buttons in the center console that control most radio, telephone, NAV and other functions. After using it for a day or two, I preferred it to the countless menus on those one-button-does-it-all systems. The rear seats have decent space, but it’s not the roomiest in this midsize class of sedans. Still, getting in and out is a breeze with the extra ground clearance. The trunk space would be bigger, but there is a high floor, so it’s not very deep.
Behind the wheel, you don’t really notice the extra height most of the time — only going around some bigger corners at higher speeds do you experience any extra body lean. The five-cylinder turbo engine provides decent power, and the six-speed automatic shifts quickly when needed and is usually a smooth operator. The AWD system provides good grip and inspires confidence in the rain. The ride is also very quiet. This is a Volvo, so there is a reassuring firmness to the ride; it’s never jarring. It seems like a very solid machine. With a Volvo you expect safety features, and this has many.
From adaptive cruise control, collision warning with auto braking, normal Blind Spot Info. System, Cross Traffic alert to front and rear parking aid and even more, this vehicle aims to help make you a safer driver. Fuel economy is OK for an AWD sedan. I averaged 23.5 mpg over a week and 333 miles — right about what the sticker indicates for mixed driving, but nothing great.
The Volvo S60 Cross Country T5 AWD is a very interesting car: a handsome tall sedan with AWD and a rugged goes-just-about-anywhere personality. If you like the thoughts of having crossover capability without the crossover looks, Volvo has the ride for you and they pretty much corner the luxury off- road midsize sedan market with a lot of safety inside.
