2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country Review – Quiet Luxury

The word “quiet” in the headline applies in two different ways to the 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country wagon. It means quiet in the literal sense – the cabin of this car isolates noise nicely, as befits a luxury car – but also in the more abstract sense. This is a car that seems to fly under the radar, even as it’s one of the last wagons left on the market.

That’s too bad, because it’s a comfortable commuter, though a bit lacking in the sort of sport that draws enthusiasts’ dollars.

The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder puts out 247 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque and has a mild-hybrid setup that includes regenerative braking. It’s a strong enough package that you’ll be fine in urban traffic, but this is a car meant to get you to grandma’s house instead of being hustled down the PCH, and that is quite apparent.

Similarly, the handling is just fine, maybe with just enough of a touch of sport to keep your playful side happy, and the ride is generally comfy though a bit stiff on occasion. Credit a double-wishbone suspension up front and an integral link setup in the rear.

This is a car meant for ferrying you and your passengers from point A to B in comfort, and it does that well. Wagons have often been stereotyped as boring – especially before the shift to minivans and later, SUVs, which made them seem cool again – but boring isn’t always bad. Sometimes it’s nice and peaceful.

The cabin helps. The materials are generally nice and price-point-appropriate. The vertical infotainment screen looks good, though the learning curve for its use is a bit steep, especially if you aren’t steeped in the Google ecosystem. The clean design can’t help but make me think of stereotypes about Swedish design and minimalism. Maybe the small Swedish flag tags on the seats subtly implanted that thought in my brain.

Volvo keeps the simple design going on the outside – it’s boxy and simple in style. Handsome in a plain way. The only splashes of spice are a rear spoiler and some silver trim, such as around the grille or on the bottom of the rear bumper.

Speaking of price points, this is not a cheap car. To that end, the standard features include a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, the 9-inch infotainment screen that essentially runs on Google apps, remote start, Bluetooth, satellite radio, uplevel audio, four USB-C ports, LED headlights, LED fog lamps, blind-spot alert with steering assist, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, collision-avoidance assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist, and rear park assist.

Other standard features include a panoramic sunroof, leather seats, heated front seats, cooled front seats, keyless entry, four-zone climate control, and a 360-degree camera.

Opt for the Ultimate, the way my test car was optioned, and you get Harman Kardon audio, 19-inch wheels, and a head-up display. A Climate Package ($750) added headlamp cleaners, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. Other options included a luggage cover ($345), the metallic paint ($695), and a power tailgate ($200). A 20-inch-wheel kit replaced the 19s and cost $3,200. Another $3,200 replaces the Harman Kardon audio with a Bowers and Wilkins system.

All that plus destination ballooned the car’s $54,100 base price to $63,585. Fuel economy is listed at 23 mpg city/30 mpg highway/26 mpg combined.

The driving dynamics here are mostly bland and commuter-friendly with a touch of sport. That’s OK. This car’s selling point is that it’s going to get you from place to place with little fuss and even less muss. It’s also meant to coddle you, and it does.

Cars like this can be hard to talk about. They don’t offer sexy, head-turning styling or the kind of performance that sends scribes like me diving deep into the dictionary looking for the appropriate superlatives. They offer luxury but not the kind of distinctive features that a ride with a six-figure sticker would.

What they do offer is solid utility for the moneyed person who is often carrying passengers and/or cargo about town. Oh, and comfort.

You won’t turn many heads, but you’ll get more than a few to nod at your sensible taste in automobiles

[Images © 2023 Tim Healey/TTAC.com]

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