Exclusive: Volvo S60 Cross Country Review
Siddharth Vinayak Patankar
1 min read
Mar 04, 2016, 12:33 PM
The Volvo S60 Cross Country is what some would call an ingenious idea and yet others might think it completely bizarre. But that is how most disruptive products are seen when they first come around. First let me answer the question - is the S60 Cross Country disruptive? Maybe it is too early to say that in a global context - but here in India I have to say it can be. If this were coming from a bigger player it would have been easier to judge. But Volvo is still fairly small in India, so it will be that much tougher to say. Okay so what is the car all about?
In the interest of disclosure I have to say that when Volvo first revealed plans for the S60 Cross Country at the start of 2015, I was one of the sceptics. A crossover sedan? Really? The idea seemed preposterous to me, and even when I saw the pictures in January 2015, I was not convinced. Then I saw the car in the flesh for the first time at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, I started to cross over to the other side! The car had presence, looked surprisingly rugged, and certainly unique enough to warrant bragging rights for Volvo.
And now that I have driven it, I can say that Volvo Cars CEO Hakan Samuelsson's idea to do a crossover sedan is not entirely crazy! The S60 sedan is a very sporty car to begin with - with a taut and upright look. So when you throw in the SUV-like cladding, skid plates and a different 'Cross Country' front grille, it doesn't look entirely out of place.
The regular sedan has a ground clearance of 136mm. Now compare that to the rivals and it is not the highest number, with others like the BMW 3 Series breaching the 150mm mark at 157mm. The S60 Cross Country though has a ground clearance of 201mm - a whole 65mm more than the sedan! Compare that to the compact SUVs and it's going to sound even more generous - the new BMW X1 has 193mm, while the Audi Q3 has 170mm of ground clearance. Let me put that into perspective for you - the V40 has a ground clearance of 136mm while the V40 Cross Country bumps that up by 9pmm at 145mm. When you compare the difference in the two, the S60's looks like lipstick on a pig, doesn't it? The S60 Cross Country also has 18-inch alloys by the way as opposed to 17 on the sedan version.
So okay what does all this mean for the driving dynamics of the car? Now, the S60 was always a sporty and fun car to drive - and I like the tight sense you get from it. The Cross Country variant loses some of that tautness due to the extra height - and so it isn't as sharp or sporty as the regular sedan. But the good news is that while it may lose that handling character, it seems to gain on the fun quotient by providing a very nice ride quality that swallows up any undulations or broken roads. It also gives you the sense of driving an SUV. This means that it's not like once you get in, you are transported into a sedan like drive feel. The S60 Cross Country provides more SUV-like seating and a commanding driving position, and gives you a slight sense of that height when you're on the road. Now if you compare all this to a regular sedan you may come off thinking less of the car. But compare it to a crossover or SUV and you will love the response from the car.
The 2.4 litre, 5-cylinder diesel does feel a touch clunky - especially when you compare it to the more modern and newly designed VEA (Volvo Engine Architecture) range. But while the S60 has the new VEA diesel powerplant, the reason the Cross Country does not get, it is because it cannot be mated effectively with the car's optional AWD system. In India Volvo has played it smart and has gone with the AWD as standard on the Cross Country. This will be a big differentiator because that is one of the other reasons why the car has such a distinct character - and I think I might shudder a bit as I say this - I liked it! Yes I did, because it is distinct, different even. And also because I really do believe the car works for Indian conditions!
Inside the cabin you will find the usual kit to be expected from a luxury segment offering. The infotainment screen could have been bigger, but comes loaded with navigation, Bluetooth, music, car computer and reverse camera with parking sensors. There's also the characteristic virtual instrument cluster, sunroof, leather all around and lots more. The S60 Cross Country gets a different seating position than the sedan, and the front seats are the sports kind - which hug you better, are very ergonomically designed and give you great ride comfort. The seats are a carry over in a sense from the XC range to add to the SUV-ness of this car! They also come in dual leather with a double stitching motif that looks very upmarket.
Okay so bottomline - is it the most practical and therefore a logical sedan choice for India? No, of course not. But for those who want to pull up at a 5 Star's portico for an evening out, and also be able to head to their construction project sites or farmhouses - this is a good blend of two cars in a sense. It will never be as satisfying to drive as say a 3 Series, or heck even the S60 itself, but it sure will offer something unique that neither a sports sedan nor an SUV could. And then there is the fact that Volvo has played the value card on this car - despite offering a fairly well loaded trim. At Rs 38.9 lakh the car will not just appeal to S60 buyers who will need to stretch just about Rs 3 lakh or so. But more so to buyers of both the rival sedans and the premium compact SUVs that I have mentioned above..
In the interest of disclosure I have to say that when Volvo first revealed plans for the S60 Cross Country at the start of 2015, I was one of the sceptics. A crossover sedan? Really? The idea seemed preposterous to me, and even when I saw the pictures in January 2015, I was not convinced. Then I saw the car in the flesh for the first time at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, I started to cross over to the other side! The car had presence, looked surprisingly rugged, and certainly unique enough to warrant bragging rights for Volvo.
And now that I have driven it, I can say that Volvo Cars CEO Hakan Samuelsson's idea to do a crossover sedan is not entirely crazy! The S60 sedan is a very sporty car to begin with - with a taut and upright look. So when you throw in the SUV-like cladding, skid plates and a different 'Cross Country' front grille, it doesn't look entirely out of place.
Volvo S60 Cross Country Front Grille
So okay what does all this mean for the driving dynamics of the car? Now, the S60 was always a sporty and fun car to drive - and I like the tight sense you get from it. The Cross Country variant loses some of that tautness due to the extra height - and so it isn't as sharp or sporty as the regular sedan. But the good news is that while it may lose that handling character, it seems to gain on the fun quotient by providing a very nice ride quality that swallows up any undulations or broken roads. It also gives you the sense of driving an SUV. This means that it's not like once you get in, you are transported into a sedan like drive feel. The S60 Cross Country provides more SUV-like seating and a commanding driving position, and gives you a slight sense of that height when you're on the road. Now if you compare all this to a regular sedan you may come off thinking less of the car. But compare it to a crossover or SUV and you will love the response from the car.
The 2.4 litre, 5-cylinder diesel does feel a touch clunky - especially when you compare it to the more modern and newly designed VEA (Volvo Engine Architecture) range. But while the S60 has the new VEA diesel powerplant, the reason the Cross Country does not get, it is because it cannot be mated effectively with the car's optional AWD system. In India Volvo has played it smart and has gone with the AWD as standard on the Cross Country. This will be a big differentiator because that is one of the other reasons why the car has such a distinct character - and I think I might shudder a bit as I say this - I liked it! Yes I did, because it is distinct, different even. And also because I really do believe the car works for Indian conditions!
Inside the cabin you will find the usual kit to be expected from a luxury segment offering. The infotainment screen could have been bigger, but comes loaded with navigation, Bluetooth, music, car computer and reverse camera with parking sensors. There's also the characteristic virtual instrument cluster, sunroof, leather all around and lots more. The S60 Cross Country gets a different seating position than the sedan, and the front seats are the sports kind - which hug you better, are very ergonomically designed and give you great ride comfort. The seats are a carry over in a sense from the XC range to add to the SUV-ness of this car! They also come in dual leather with a double stitching motif that looks very upmarket.
Okay so bottomline - is it the most practical and therefore a logical sedan choice for India? No, of course not. But for those who want to pull up at a 5 Star's portico for an evening out, and also be able to head to their construction project sites or farmhouses - this is a good blend of two cars in a sense. It will never be as satisfying to drive as say a 3 Series, or heck even the S60 itself, but it sure will offer something unique that neither a sports sedan nor an SUV could. And then there is the fact that Volvo has played the value card on this car - despite offering a fairly well loaded trim. At Rs 38.9 lakh the car will not just appeal to S60 buyers who will need to stretch just about Rs 3 lakh or so. But more so to buyers of both the rival sedans and the premium compact SUVs that I have mentioned above..
Latest News
car&bike Team | Jul 28, 2026Honda XR 300L & Honda XR300 Rally: What We Know So FarBoth the XR300L and XR300 Rally are based on the same platform and will be part of Honda’s new made in India line-up with prices and full specifications to be announced soon.5 mins read
car&bike Team | Jul 28, 2026Mahindra Scorpio-N Facelift Interior Spied Undisguised Ahead Of DebutWhile a lot of the switchgear is carried over from the current SUV, the facelifted SUV gets a redesigned centre console with a larger touchscreen and a new digital instrument cluster.1 min read
Bilal Firfiray | Jul 28, 2026Skoda Slavia Facelift India Debut On 18th August; New Gearbox With Cosmetic ChangesSkoda Slavia facelift will be launched in India on August 18 with newer styling cues, additional features and an expected 8-speed automatic gearbox for the 1.0 TSI engine.1 min read
car&bike Team | Jul 27, 2026Honda CB500: What We Know So Far – Price, Launch Date, SpecsThe Honda CB500 is expected to be launched just before the festive season this year, possibly around September 2026 with prices beginning at around Rs. 3 lakh (Ex-showroom).4 mins read
Amaan Ahmed | Jul 27, 2026EXCLUSIVE: River Indie Rival Incoming? E3 Trion Electric Scooter Spied Ahead Of August 6 DebutMaiden scooter from E3 Electric.AI employs 14-inch wheels and a hub motor; new startup spearheaded by former TVS executive.2 mins read
Seshan Vijayraghvan | Jul 27, 2026Maruti Suzuki Brezza Variant-Wise Prices Revealed: Tops Out At Rs. 13.55 LakhThe 2026 Maruti Suzuki Brezza is offered in four key variants – LXI, VXI, ZXI and ZXI+, and based on powertrain and transmission choices, there are 13 different iterations to choose from.2 mins read
Jaiveer Mehra | Jul 27, 20262026 Maruti Suzuki Brezza Facelift Review: Bestseller Joins The Turbo ClubWhile Maruti’s facelifts have always tended to bring subtle updates over the outgoing models, the latest Brezza brings some heavy updates under the skin, including a new 6-speed manual gearbox and, for the first time, a turbocharged petrol engine option.1 min read
Bilal Firfiray | Jul 24, 2026Honda ZR-V Review: Who Is It For?Honda has brought the new ZR-V to India as their current flagship offering. It’s a CBU, it’s a hybrid, and it’s here for a limited few. Who is it for though?1 min read
Shams Raza Naqvi | Jul 15, 2026Ferrari 849 Testarossa Spider Driven: Rs. 11.25 Crore Meets 1,000 bhpWe got behind the wheel of the most powerful convertible from Ferrari. What makes the 849 Testarossa Spider Special? We tell you.1 min read
Bilal Firfiray | Jul 12, 2026Tata Sierra EV Review: Reborn In The Electric AgeThe Tata Sierra EV isn’t drastically different from its ICE counterpart when it comes to design. But being the seventh electric offering from the Indian brand, it has gotten a few things right, and very few things wrong. But is it a compelling package to buy?5 mins read
Jafar Rizvi | Jul 13, 2026TVS Orbiter Long-Term Review (Report 1): Settling In Takes TimeFirst impressions weren't the strongest, but the Orbiter has made a mark in its first month in the car&bike garage.5 mins read