Volvo S60 Cross Country India review, test drive

What’s it like to drive?

The only engine you get in the S60 Cross Country is the 2.4-litre D4 – a detuned, 189bhp, 42.83kgm version of the five-cylinder diesel you get in the standard S60; we were hoping for one of the new four-cylinder Drive-E motors, but it’s not on the cards. It puts its power down through a six-speed automatic gearbox and standard all-wheel-drive, in keeping with its soft-roader USP.

It’s not a thrilling motor, but it’s actually pretty quick. We clocked an 8.2sec 0-100kph time, which is really not too bad for this sort of car. It’s very refined at idle, but the moment the revs climb to about 1,800rpm, you get an ugly diesel clatter. At full chat, the five-cylinder thrum is quite unique sounding, but of course, it’s not what you’d call sporty. Similarly, the car doesn’t leap off the line ferociously when you punch down your right foot, but instead, builds its speed in a smooth and measured manner. The gearbox can be a bit slow to react in kickdown situations, but because of the lack of urgency from the motor, it’s pretty easy to manage.

As you might have expected, Volvo has had to stiffen up the suspension with the ride height increase, and yes, you can definitely feel an inherent firmness as you go over a poor patch of road. However, it’s not as bad in the ride department as you might think, and it’s got a really nice soft edge to it. That might have something to do with the generous 50-profile tyres. So yes, while it can bounce you around a little bit over particularly rough sections, overall, the ride is actually quite good. Moreover, the benefits of super flat high-speed cruising composure can’t be ignored. No, AWD hasn’t transformed this inherently front-wheel-drive car into a handling legend either, but it’s tidy enough going around a corner. Where this car actually feels at home is on a dirt track, which is what Volvo expects many of the S60 Cross Country’s customers will have to encounter often enough, and you can even feel the AWD kick in to pull you back into line from time to time.

Should I buy one?

Unlike its competitors, Volvo doesn’t currently have a compact SUV in its range; its most affordable one is the XC60, which rivals the BMW X3 and Audi Q5, not the X1 and Q3. However, while this is no direct solution to that gap in the line-up, some potential buyers might just consider it. So, what is this oddball car, and what’s it for? Honestly, it seems like a contradiction of ideas that shouldn’t work, but somehow it just does. The awkward height is made up for by the rugged details and it has this strange, rally-car-like coolness about it – people initially thought the BMW X6 was weird too, remember? The S60 CC really does serve up the best of both worlds – the comfort and prestige of a sedan with the rugged appeal and more practical ground clearance of an SUV. More than anything, it’s a truly unique proposition, and that alone makes it worth checking out. If that's not reason enough for you, its knockout price of Rs 38.9 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai) surely should be.

GAVIN D’SOUZA