DRIVING Cross Country in a class all its own
First Drive: 2017 Volvo S60 T5 AWD Cross Country
VAIL, Colo. – It’s been tried before: a sedan with an all-wheel drivetrain, increased ride height and a hardier look. The results have been less than inspiring. Those with long memories will recall the 1980-87 American Motors Eagle sedan, a less successful offshoot of the Eagle wagon, itself derived from the conventional Concord model. More recently, for a few years in the early 2000s, Subaru gave consumers the choice of Outback in both wagon (very popular) and sedan (not so much) body styles.
And now Volvo. At the 2014 North American International Auto Show inDetroit,theautomakerannounced it was taking a shot at an off-road sedan with the new S60 Cross Country, calling it “the first premium sedan with the same level of capability and rugged design cues” of the Cross Country wagons.
“We want to further explore the market with our Cross Country brand. We did this back in 1997 with the V70 Cross Country and it led to the birth of a whole new segment,” said Lex Kerssemakers, president of Volvo Car USA, explaining the automaker’s rationale at its launch. “We have included all the capability-driven benefits of the Cross Country brand in (the S60 Cross Country), while offering a completely unique expression of adventure and all-road readiness in a distinctly sporty and stylish package.”
But since the reveal of North American-bound 2016 models in topline Platinum trim and powered by Volvo’s 250-horsepower, five-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, the company has been very circumspect regarding the “bold step forward” that is the S60 Cross Country. Yes, it has been available at dealerships for about a year; it’s just that there’s been little if any marketing done on it, the result being kind of a surprise that it exists.
Here in Vail, Colo., people know about snow, adventure and all-road readiness. They also know all-wheeldrive vehicles. At an elevation of 2,445 metres, the town gets its Rocky Mountain high naturally. Home of the massive Vail Ski Resort, the town is not nearly as hoity-toity as nearby Aspen, where the rich and glamorous go to frolic. There’s money here, but less flash. Subarus abound, naturally, along with just about every other kind of sport ute, crossover and car, which makes it fertile ground for Volvo and its line of AWD vehicles, including a certain sturdy, premiumpriced, jacked-up compact sedan.
About the S60 Cross Country’s aforementioned sporty and stylish package: Starting with the S60 sedan, Volvo designers added styling cues and a higher stance, similar to that of the V60 Cross Country. Along with the 200 millimetres of ground clearance, the car is dressed up with a honeycomb grille and lower skid plates front and rear. The side is accented with scuff plates while black fender extensions frame unique 18inch alloy wheels. Glossy black window trim and outside mirror covers provide the finishing touch. It’s all very subtle. With the exception of the increased ride height (65 mm), only the most observant will discern any real difference between the Cross Country and a regular S60.
More important, though, are the mechanical changes to the car for 2017, with the S60 CC — like the rest of the 60-series T5 models — getting a powertrain swap. Gone is last year’s turbo five-cylinder and sixspeed Geartronic transmission. In its place, a 240-hp 2.0-L turbo four mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It might be a little lethargic off the line, but once going the new Drive-E engine is a gem, smooth and efficient, delivering reserves of power when needed. The turbo 2.0 L offers up 258 pound-feet of torque at just 1,500 rpm, which came in handy as we rolled along the twisting roads through the San Isabel National Forest to the skyhigh (elevation 3,109 m) town of Leadville.
The previous day’s drive from Denver to Vail along busy Highway 70 — through ever-changing weather conditions including fog, rain and sun, not to mention construction and traffic — had already put the S60 CC in a very positive light. The car feels solid, with a superb steering feel and excellent communication with the road. It’s quiet and exceedingly comfortable as well, thanks to Volvo’s renowned seat expertise, though front-seat passengers fare better than back-seat occupants; legroom in the rear is at a premium for the long and leggy.
The cabin as a whole is a case of form following function, the S60 Cross Country, like all of its 60-series sibs, focusing on clean and uncluttered rather than total luxury. There is premium content, though, with a full range of modern conveniences. The car comes with Volvo’s Sensus system, which manages information from the audio unit, navigation and other functions, displaying them on a seven-inch colour LCD monitor at the top of the centre console. The controls on the centre stack — the ones activating the navigation, radio, media, camera and HVAC — are a bit of a muddle, being too close together and requiring the driver’s vision to be diverted from the road ahead.
Ultimately, the S60 Cross Country is defined by its uniqueness. Clearly, the overwhelming popularity of crossovers relegate it to curiosity status. So, too, does the lack of marketing. Yet for those wanting the ruggedness and four-season traction abilities of a crossover in a sedan body style, the S60 CC is in a class of one. Not really a sport sedan though certainly sporty, not truly luxurious though upscale, it wears its individuality well.
Pricing for the 2017 model starts at $50,700.