2025 Volvo V60 Cross Country Driven: The Car Nobody Cares About Is Actually The Coolest

I opened the V60 Cross Country’s hatch and hop-bounced my dog. She slightly ducked her tail as the tailgate electronically closed shut behind her. But as I strapped myself inside the driver’s seat, it took me a moment to realize that this wasn’t the usual SUV I have in my possession for reviews. This Volvo, rather, has the low-to-the-ground feel and driver-centric cockpit of a car. This wagon almost feels old-school, but also slightly sporty.

I then gazed through the rearview mirror, and there stood Billie, my three-year-old, blond Husky staring back at me enthusiastically with wide brown eyes. “This is a cool car”, I remember thinking. Yes, the V60 Cross Country is, indeed, very cool. Sadly, it’s about to go because nobody really cares.

2025 Volvo V60 Cross Country First Impressions: It’s A Swedish, Lifted Wagon. Need I Say More?

From a design standpoint, the V60 Cross Country is pretty self-explanatory. This compact Scandinavian wagon is as conservative as it gets yet still somehow manages to remain modern and relevant. That’s because the sedan on which it’s based, the now defunct S60, was a beautiful car from the get-go. The V60 simply stretches its roof and gives us a more vertical, Volvo-traditional, LED taillight treatment. This car looks clean, understated, and plain gorgeous.

Although I was a fan of the regular V60’s hunkered-down look and sportier wheels – especially on the Recharge model I drove around the same time last year – the Cross Country has some elegant details of its own. Volvo integrates the lifted ride height and plastic cladding in such a clean way, that it all blends seamlessly into this car’s design. The Cross Country also immediately states its purpose as the more adventure-seeking alternative. I just wish Volvo had a bit more fun with it and gave us brighter color options here in Canada. At least the U.S. market gets Fusion Red.

2025 Volvo V60 Cross Country Exterior Dimensions

2025 Volvo V60 Cross Country: Differences Between The U.S. And Canadian Market

Generally speaking, the U.S. and Canadian V60 Cross Country lineups are relatively identical, except for the fact that Canada gets an additional trim level called Core. It’s a more basic and stripped-down version because, apparently, Canada is still more interested in wagons than the U.S., especially in the province of Quebec. Something to do with that province’s French roots. But, the U.S. market does get eight available colors, while Volvo Canada only offers four.

U.S. Versus Canada Lineup Breakdown And Starting MSRP (model tested in bold)

Driving Impressions And Performance: Rock Solid And Surprisingly Agile, But Deserves B6 Engine

The sole available powertrain for the entire V60 Cross Country lineup is the one Volvo calls B5, which replaced the old T5 nomenclature. It’s essentially a turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder mated to a 48-volt mild hybrid system. The total combined output of this drivetrain is 247 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. It’s mated to a standard all-wheel-drive system, as well as an eight-speed automatic transmission.

And you know what? It performs rather well. I’ve always liked this engine for its peppiness and more than ample torque. It allows the V60 Cross Country to be quick off the line, also providing great pickup for overtaking. But it’s a thrashy engine, one that, once it’s revving close to its redline, doesn’t sound all that refined. I would also have liked to see Volvo offer the more powerful B6 option here, which effectively adds a supercharger for increased horsepower and torque. That would have really given this wagon the performance edge we enthusiasts are continuously hungry for. Blame low wagon demand for this decision.

I’ve always said that the S60 was one of the most underrated sports sedans on sale, and the V60 Cross Country carries over much of that car’s dynamic abilities, even if it’s a tad higher off the ground. The chassis is rock solid, and hyper-quiet at all times. There are absolutely no cabin rattles, and tire roar is kept to a minimum, impressive considering the size of my tester’s wheels. There’s also a surprising amount of feedback coming through the steering wheel, which is nice. The V60 is nimble, playful, and actually rather fun to drive.

2025 Volvo V60 Cross Country Technical Specifications

Perhaps its only real letdown on snow-covered roads is how the CC’s front-biased, reactive-type all-wheel-drive system constantly defaults back to understeer. That’s because the car is essentially front-wheel-drive until loss of grip is detected. So in order to get the rear to kick out, you kind of first need to let the car plow forward, at which point a stab of the throttle will activate the rear wheels. It’s a counter-intuitive way of sending a car sideways, for sure, but it works. That’s until the Cross Country’s electronic nannies immediately get you back in a straight line. Sadly, they can’t be turned off.

But as a safe, comfortable, and refined apparatus to plow through a robust winter blizzard, it honestly doesn’t get much better than this. Because of their Scandinavian roots, Volvos are tremendously well adapted to northern climates. The seats and steering wheel heat up fast, defrosters act up quickly, and the heater doesn’t mess around when you ask for hot air. Together, along with the comfortable seats and well-built cabin, it all adds up to feeling like you’re being wrapped in a warm blanket.

2025 Volvo V60 Cross Country Fuel Consumption

What’s interesting about the Cross Country’s wagon format is that you’re essentially getting the same practicality as some SUVs (more on that later), but with the lower fuel economy of a sedan. The EPA’s 27 MPG combined average is a perfect case in point as it’s only 1 MPG more than the S60 sedan on which the car is based. Since I was driving the V60 CC during a very cold week in February, the best I could come up with was a 23 MPG average.

EPA And As Tested Fuel Consumption

Interior Design And Comfort: Classic Volvo Stuff, Comfortable And Well Built, But Lacks Storage

If you know your Volvos, you’ll admit that the V60’s interior is essentially a carbon copy of everything else in the lineup, except, of course, the more recent stuff like the EX30 and EX90 electric crossovers. Simply put, this is an aging cabin design, one that’s still plagued with the S60’s shortcomings, such as a total lack of storage, a barely usable center console, and the irritating absence of a wireless charging tray for your phone.

But, at the same time, this remains a beautiful cabin, one that elegantly blends typical Swedish minimalism with functionality. It’s also very well put together, with tight panel gaps and clever use of premium materials and colors to give this interior a welcoming and expensive feel. The transparent glass gear selector remains a unique Volvo trait. So are the tiny Swedish flags embroidered on the seats. The always crystal-clear Bowers & Wilkins sound system makes sure to be seen through the delightfully styled speaker grilles and central tweeter.

I have already mentioned the comfort of the front seats, but the V60 is also comfortable in the rear, where a plush seatback cushion helps for long road trips. There’s also plenty of headroom due to the car’s wagon shape. As a matter of fact, when you take a moment to compare the numbers, you realize this V60 offers 0.1 inch more rear headroom than the 2025 Acura ADX I drove not long ago. Rear legroom, however, remains a little tight in the V60, especially if a tall passenger is sitting up front.

2025 Volvo V60 Cross Country Interior Dimensions

Technology And Ease Of Use: Relatively Straight Forward, But Lacks Wireless Android Auto

Again, like its interior, the V60’s technology is getting rather old. Sure, Volvo recently overhauled the infotainment system by incorporating a new Google-based interface, as well as a fully digital instrumentation. But this is definitely more conservative than what we’re now accustomed to seeing in the industry.

The good news is that most of the technology is rather subtle, meaning the V60 doesn’t flood you with massive screens and bright, ambient lighting. The relatively small nine-inch vertical tablet operates a bit like a smartphone, requiring you to swipe or pinch in order to get things done. I like that, as it’s not too intrusive. And since it’s Google-based, all you need to do is log into your Gmail account to have access to your own Google Maps settings. Sadly, though, there’s no wireless Android Auto, which, again, is a huge letdown for a car of this price bracket.

The digital instrumentation carries with it the typical simplicity of Volvo’s interfaces. There’s really not much going on in there, except for an RPM gauge and speedometer. The only element that can be changed is the center display where Google Maps can be added for extra convenience.

Cargo And Storage Space: You’re Actually Getting More Than In A Volvo SUV

Now here’s where the V60 Cross Country truly shows its worth. I mentioned earlier how my dog fits effortlessly back there, but what’s actually more revealing is how this wagon offers more default cargo space than Volvo’s own XC60 crossover (17.1 cu-ft), which, ironically, rides on the same platform. As a matter of fact, when all the seats are folded flat in this thing, you’re getting just as, and in some cases, more cargo space than in some SUVs.

2025 Volvo V60 Cross Country Cargo Space

One Of The Last Great Wagons Left

It definitely doesn’t help that Volvo sells its XC60 crossover for about $10,000 less than this wagon, to say nothing of the automaker’s decision to remove the also amazing Polestar Engineered plug-in hybrid model from its North-American lineup. Volvo also recently made it pretty clear that wagons are not part of its future roadmap.

In other words, the 2025 Volvo V60 Cross Country is one of those rare birds, hidden deep inside a Volvo dealership and that’ll soon simply disappear as yet another great wagon nobody cared about. But if you know, you know. This one is pretty special. So, if you’re still interested in this sort of car, the Cross Country is both a formidable family-hauling, all-weather-conquering appliance, and a dynamic, fun-to-drive sports sedan all in one elegant Scandinavian package.