A SORT-OF SUV
Mild hybrid tech is set to appear in the Swedish high-riding estate as part of the brand’s electrification future.
Mild hybrid tech is set to appear in Volvo’s high-riding V60 Cross Country estate.
Hmm, what’s the actual definition of an SUV?
There really isn’t an exact definition, though it’s safe to suggest that any vehicle billed as one should have all-wheel drive and some generous ground clearance for enhanced off-road ability.
Although Volvo already has the XC models acting as SUVs, there are Cross Country variations based around traditional estates but with higher ride heights.
The new V60 Cross Country you see here in official pictures, for one, bridges the gap between the XC60 and the V60. Like the SPA platform, the cabin in the V60 Cross Country is familiar.
This brings the number of 60 Series models to four if you count the S60 sedan as well. The bigger 90 Series family is also available with all four body silhouettes.
Does it merely have a pumped-up suspension?
The V60 Cross Country has a 75mm-higher ride height than the regular V60, though Volvo says the more mud-friendly of the two has a modified chassis and standard all-wheel drive to cope with off-road conditions.
There are two conventional 2.0-litre engines to choose from at first: a 190hp D4 diesel and a 252hp T5 petrol, both mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Volvo says mild hybrid and plug-in versions will follow at a later stage. Volvo hasn’t said what mild hybrid is like, but the tech seen in other brands is usually based around a 48V system that doesn’t provide for electric-only driving.
In fact, Volvo was among the first makers globally to announce its electrification future for 2019: all models will have an electric system of some sort to help reduce CO2 emissions.
But it isn’t tax-privy in Thailand …
Well, if the mild hybrid is capable of returning a combined figure of no more than 100g/ km of CO2 — which is unlikely given the current state of other brands — then it can enjoy a low excise tax in Thailand.
Makers based in Thailand are more interested in plug-in variations because they easily dip below that crucial CO2 level, explaining the presence of the semi-electric T8 models in today’s XC90, S90 and XC60.
Whether the new V60 Cross Country will be sold in Thai showrooms is another thing, even though some past models of the same genre did appear on local roads.
Volvo Thailand doesn’t sell the V90 Cross Country, which might be the same case for the smaller brother in the 60 Series family. The last model of this kind to grace local roads was the V40 Cross Country.