Volvo India has officially launched the S60 Cross Country sedan in the country priced at 38.9 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi & Mumbai; without octroi). Last year Volvo impressed us with its luxury SUV, the XC90. And now the Swedish car maker is set to bring another new offering to our shores, this time in the mid-sized luxury sedan class. First unveiled at the 2015 Detroit Motor Show, the high riding vehicle is called a cross between an SUV and a sedan and gets plenty of rugged bits that make the unconventional model stand out compared to the current offerings in the luxury sedan space. The Volvo S60 Cross Country is based on the standard S60 and also largely looks the same. With the S60 Cross Country, Volvo is targeting the growing demand in the crossover segment. And make no mistake, this ain’t just a butched up sedan, the all-wheel-drive configuration ensures that.
Talking about the exterior, the S60 Cross Country looks identical to its front-wheel drive sibling. The S60 is a good looking car; its handsome character lines are extended on the Cross Country as well with SUV-like body cladding, faux brushed silver skid plates and a different grille. It’s only when you see it in profile that you realise that the S60 CC boasts of higher ground clearance of 201mm, a good 65mm more than the standard S60 and bigger 18-inch or optional 19-inch alloy wheels. At the back the only noticeable difference is the addition of the AWD badge. In the Indian market, there is no direct competition to the S60 Cross Country.
Moving inside, its a familiar affair with the S60 Cross Country with the interior being similar to other Volvo models already on offer. So, the digital instrument cluster is rich to the eye and also indicates details very effectively, whereas the centre console retains the keypad design that makes the Swedish cars stand out. The centre infotainment display screen in embedded into the dashboard and comes loaded with all vitals including Bluetooth connectivity, navigation, reverse camera with parking sensors; ergonomically designed sports seats with leather upholstery.
Hiding under the bonnet is a 2.4-litre 5-cylinder D4 diesel unit that pumps out 190PS of power and 420Nm of torque. This is a slightly down-tuned version of the D5 engine that also works on the standard model. The Volvo S60 Cross Country comes mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission that can be controlled using the paddle shifters behind the steering wheel which helps the luxury sedan top 210 km/hr.
Quite contrary to convention, Volvo attempt with the S60 Cross Country makes for a pleasing proposition. In the world of sporty or luxurious sedans like the Mercedes Benz C-Class, BMW 3-Series, Audi A4 and now the Jaguar XE, the Volvo S60 Cross Country offers something unique and practical too, especially once you factor in our deplorable road conditions at times. Brought in as a CBU, the S60 Cross Country just might find a connect with the affluent Indians.
Stay tuned for more updates!