2019 Volvo V60 Cross Country unveiled, uncertain for Australia

Volvo Cars has revealed another addition to its Cross Country 4×4 wagon range at the 2018 Paris motor show in the form of the 2019 Volvo V60 Cross Country. Not yet confirmed for Australian sales, the newest Cross Country is based on the latest V60 wagon, which is due to go on sale locally in the next year.

Riding 75mm higher than the standard V60, the Cross Country also features off-road bumpers and front and rear skid plates for extra off-road protection. The Cross Country features the same turbocharged four-cylinder engine range as the standard V60.

“With the new V60 Cross Country, we take our Swedish family estate from one natural habitat to another,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars.

“We invented the Cross Country segment over 20 years ago and with this car, we reinforce our long-standing pedigree in safe, capable and versatile family cars.”

Utilising Volvo’s new SPA platform, the V60 Cross Country is 146mm longer, 16mm narrower and 57mm lower than its predecessor. Its overall length measures 4,781mm, whilst its width and height measure 1,850mm and 1,427mm respectively. Volvo claims a 529-litre bootspace is on offer as well, which opens up to more than 1,364-litres with the rear seats folded flat.

Initially available in Europe will be three drivetrains – a T5 petrol, D4 diesel and T8 plug-in hybrid, all with all-wheel drive as standard. Later on, entry petrol and diesel drivetrains will be made available. Australian models will likely have the T5 and D4 engine options, with the T8 plug-in hybrid possibly joining the range in future considering the company’s push for part-electrification.

The V60 Cross Country will offer the same range of technology as the standard V60 wagon. This means that Volvo’s excellent Pilot Assist adaptive cruise control with active lane keeping will be offered, as well as autonomous emergency braking that detects pedestrians, cyclists and large animals. The standard tablet-style Census infotainment system also offers Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite navigation with live traffic and 4G hotspots for passengers to use.

Like the larger V90 Cross Country, the V60 Cross Country’s styling is familiar and uses the same Cross Country formula that the brand has been using for more than two decades. Taking the standard wagon and adding front, side and rear cladding with front and rear scuff plates for extra off-road protection, the V60 Cross Country looks tough in competing with the Subaru Outback, Volkswagen Golf Alltrack + Passat Alltrack and Audi A4 allroad.

Priced from $60,990 plus on-road costs, the current Volvo V60 Cross Country has so far sold 23 examples to this point in 2018 – about half of what the model sold last year to the same point. This is thanks to the success of the car’s larger sibling, the XC60, which has sold 1,832 units so far in 2018, and the introduction of the smaller XC40.

Stay tuned to Chasing Cars for Volvo news and reviews.