LOOKS

The 2021 Volvo V60 Cross Country is a very long vehicle (188.3 inches to be exact).

It has an attractive exterior design, and features 18-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires, LED headlights with daytime running lights, and LED fog lights with cornering. The vehicle offers keyless entry and a hands-free power tailgate.

Tinted windows are included, as are integrated roof rails, an attractive but not in-your-face front grille, and black wheel arches. You can sense Volvo’s Swedish tradition of elegant but not overly bold design (compared to more out-there luxury designs like the newer Lexus models).

What’s great about this wagon is it competes very well with many SUVs in terms of cargo space, with a capacity of 50.9 cubic feet. This allows people who want cargo space for road trips and everyday hauling to choose something other than an SUV.

Its panoramic moonroof with power sunshade is a standout feature, and leather seating is offered, along with a leather-wrapped tilt and telescopic steering wheel. You also get heated front seats, power front seats with driver seat memory, 2-zone automatic climate control, auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors, retractable side mirrors, and dual integrated tailpipes.

The Climate Package offers heated windshield wiper blades, heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel.

The Lounge Package offers Nappa leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, front and rear scuff plates, 4-zone automatic climate control, 4-way power lumbar on front seats, power passenger seat memory, tailored dashboard, power cushion extensions in the front seats, and exterior side scuff plates.

Metallic paint job is offered as an extra option, and massaging seats are an option in front.

HOW’S THE RIDE?

The 2021 Volvo V60 Cross Country is powered by a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbo-charged engine, paired with a 8-speed automatic transmission. Output is 250 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque.

To boost its capability for road trips and the various terrains you may find, the V60 Cross Country only comes in All-Wheel Drive. This is necessary for it to properly compete with the SUV onslaught. There is also an impressive 8.3-inch ground clearance.

There is a standard version of the V60 that, unlike the Cross County, comes in FWD, so I would recommend opting for the Cross Country if you are exploring Volvo wagons. Compared to the standard V60, the Cross Country offers a higher ground clearance, softer suspension, and adds some body cladding.

Adjustable drive modes are offered, including: Eco, Comfort, Individual, Dynamic and Off-road. The vehicle features a double wishbone front and integral link rear suspension, as well as anti-lock brakes, hill start assist, advanced electronic stability control and electric power assisted steering.

In terms of the driving experience, I found the V60 Cross Country to be a relatively fast, powerful and fun-to-drive vehicle, especially in Dynamic mode. The experience was better than I’ve had in many SUVs. Its 0-to-60 time clocks in at roughly 8 seconds, which is not mind-blowing but adequate for urgent merging or passing situations.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY

Volvo is all about safety innovation in its vehicle designs and inclusion of safety features on its vehicles. Evidence of that is the nearly perfect government safety ratings on the V60 Cross Country — 5-star ratings in all but one category. 

A blind spot information system offers steer assist and cross traffic alert, as well as auto brake. The Collision Avoidance by City Safety system features both low and high speed collision mitigation — and impressively detect vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and large animals, something not all vehicles can do.

Lane departure warning and a lane keeping aid are also very helpful features, you get a bevy of air bags, and there is a whiplash protection system for those in the front seats.

To keep the kids safe, there are rear power child locks, and the rear park assist camera helps in tight parking situations.

Optional safety features include a graphical head up display to help keep your eyes on the road, and the Pilot Assist driver assistance system.

Moving on to the technology, the hub of the infotainment system is a 9-inch Sensus Connect touchscreen — featuring smartphone integration, Sensus Navigation Pro, and compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It’s a system I love at times, and other times I am frustrated with it. Voice commands work very well, but it remains overly complicated in the touch controls setup, and can sometimes load slowly at vehicle startup.

Volvo On Call is included with a 4-year complimentary subscription, including a mobile app with remote start and the ability to send destinations to the car’s navigation system.

Bluetooth connectivity allows for streaming of audio and phone calls to the vehicle, and a trial subscription to SiriusXM satellite radio is included. A total of four USB ports are included in the vehicle. There are also some apps built into the vehicle’s tech system, including Spotify and Pandora.

A powerful audio system is included, and an even more impressive Bowers and Wilkins premium sound system can be added for roughly $4,000.

MPG

Official fuel mileage numbers on the 2021 V60 Cross Country are 22 city/31 highway/25 combined. In a small class with few competitors, these are good numbers.

In my real-world experience driving the V60 Cross Country, my average was only around the 22 mpg mark, but to put that in perspective I drove mostly in Dynamic mode. It would have been higher had I been more conservative in my approach.
 

PRICE

The 2021 Volvo V60 Cross Country I tested was priced just over $57,000; base price starts about $46K. This is roughly on par with its main competitor in the luxury wagon segment — the 2021 Audi A4 Allroad.

Warranties on the V60 Cross Country include 48 months/50,000 mile limited warranty; 144-month corrosion protection with unlimited mileage; and Volvo On Call roadside assistance. You also get complimentary factory scheduled maintenance for the first three years or 36,000 miles.

BOTTOM LINE

The 2021 Volvo V60 Cross Country is a stylish, practical and fast luxury wagon that has the versatility to be a strong competitor to the endless SUV options available. It’s a great marriage of the memories many have of their family’s wood-paneled wagons of yesteryear with a modern, sleek and tech-savvy vehicle.

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Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.