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We have a whole lot of time for Volvo's MK2 V60 estate and getting it in the Cross Country crossover-style form that was sold between 2019 and 2023 further broadened this car's appeal. Buyers get a choice of mild hybrid petrol and diesel engines, with eight-speed automatic transmission and permanent all-wheel drive as standard, plus an off-road driving mode. It's not cheap, though.
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History
Be honest with yourself. Do you really need an SUV? Chances are you don't. You might just be buying one because you like sitting up high, or you think you're going to come off better in a crash or maybe just because you think you ought to have one. Now, you're clearly within your rights to choose exactly whatever you've earned the money to afford, but buying an SUV comes with a whole bunch of downsides that their manufacturers don't want you to know about.
The laws of physics being what they are, nothing comes for free. Added size is added weight, extra fuel thirst, compromised handling and less effective braking. If only there was a smarter way to get that rugged, go-anywhere look without all of the lard. Volvo delivered just that in 2019 in the shape of this second generation V60 Cross Country model, arguably a smarter solution than the average mid-sized premium-branded SUV. It sold in petrol and diesel forms until late 2021, with just the petrol version continuing until late 2023.
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What you get
The base MK2 V60 was always a handsome car, but the Cross Country version amped up the attitude a good few degrees with the addition of robust bodywork protection elements. Finished in charcoal grey, these include wheel arch extensions, lower sill mouldings and a rear bumper embossed with the Cross Country logo. With the lower grille adopting the same finish, extra visual ruggedness was added right around the lower part of the car, referencing its ability to tackle more challenging conditions. It also got five-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels, which were specific to the Cross Country.
Inside, there was much borrowed from the brand's V90 and XC60 models, the interior boasting Volvo's paired back interior design language with a 9.3-inch portrait orientated touchscreen infotainment system. Plus there was a digital instrument panel, with virtual dials separated by a customisable central space that could display a navigational map, trip computer info or your chosen phone or media settings. Out back, boot space came in at 529-litres with the rear seats in place, outstripping rivals in this segment from this period like the Audi A4 allroad, BMW 3 Series Touring xDrive and the Mercedes C-Class Estate 4MATIC. The rear bench splits 40/20/40 and drops down flat to the floor.
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What to look for
There aren't many major issues here, other than a few electrical and software issues; go thoroughly over all the powered and infotainment functions of the car you're looking at. We've come across various powertrain and fuel system issues.
We've come across a few V60 issues. Most of these related to non-engine electrics and the sat nav and infotainment systems. Check all of these thoroughly on your test drive. A software update was required for early models built at the beginning of 2019 to correct an issue with the autonomous braking system. There was also an issue with the installation of a part of the supplementary restraint system for models made in September 2020. As usual, check out the luggage bay for loading scuffs. And the cabin for child damage. Inspect the wheels for scrapes. And insist on a fully stamped-up service history.
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Replacement parts
(approx based on a 2020 V60 Cross Country D4 ex VAT) Front brake pads sit in the £70-£76 bracket; rears will sit in the £35-£128 bracket. Front brake discs sit in the £61-£128 bracket; a pair of rear discs are about £91-£105. An oil filter is around £2.
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On the road
Volvo offered two choices under the bonnet of this MK2 model V60 Cross Country, the 197hp B4 mild hybrid diesel engine being the unit most chose. It endows the Cross Country with a braked towing capacity of 2,000kg. An alternative B5 mild hybrid petrol unit with 250hp is also on offer. Permanent all-wheel drive comes as standard, along with 60mm more ground clearance than you'd get in an ordinary V60. Plus this Cross Country version also gets Hill Descent Control and an Off Road Drive Mode setting. So it's much more suitable for rough road treatment than the previous generation V60 Cross Country model. Hill Descent Control automatically controls the car's speed down a steep slope, while the Off Road setting alters the operation of the constantly variable all-wheel-drive system and the responsiveness of the engine, gearbox and accelerator pedal to help when negotiating tricky terrain below 25mph.
The previous V60 Cross Country couldn't really match the sharp handling reactions of its premium German rivals but there's a significant improvement in that area with this MK2 version thanks to the installation of the stiffer, more sophisticated 'SPA' 'Scalable Product Architecture' platform that by 2019 we'd also seen used in the company's XC60, XC90, S90 and V90 models. As usual with Volvos, there's a standard 'Drive Mode Settings' system, one of those set-ups now familiar in this segment that can tailor throttle response, steering feel and - if you've a self-shifter fitted - auto gearshift timings to suit the way you want to drive. For original owners, there was the option of adding in Volvo's 'Pilot Assist' system. This is a set-up that at cruising speeds of up to 80mph can effectively drive for you.
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Overall
There has to be a better way, something smarter than the legions of soft-roader SUVs. They're inefficient, lumbering and have become a bit of a cliche. Volvo reckons that the answer's been there all along. Its Cross Country brand has a long heritage, dating all the way back to 1997 when this Swedish brand was the first to take an ordinary estate (then the bigger V70 model) and give it extra all-road capability and chunky off road styling.
Over twenty years of experience since culminated in this second generation V60 Cross Country model, a superior example of its genre. Yes, the price is quite high and you could get a quality premium SUV for the same amount, but if that's not what you really want, this this countrified Volvo just might be.
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