The V60 Cross Country is a luxury wagon that doesn’t get enough credit for how functional and easy-to-life-with it really is. It rewards the people who actually drive their cars and keeps them safe.
Seems like every parking lot in 2026 looks roughly the same. Rows of tall, round, colourless SUVs sitting next to other tall, round, colourless SUVs. If they didn’t have a badge signifying the brand, it seems like they might all blur together. The Volvo V60 Cross Country stands out and for the right reasons. Not because it’s loud, flashy or have bold colours only reserved for hypercars or EVs.
It sits lower, stretches longer, and acts sportier.
That low, stretched silhouette is more than cosmetic. It translates directly to how the V60 Cross Country drives, handles fuel, and eats up highway kilometres. It feels planted. Something you can take your kids to the school drop-off while having fun on country roads on the way back.
This is a car built for people who appreciate all the driving dynamics of a sedan or sports coupe but don’t want to compromise being safe, useful and versatile aspects of daily life. It’s even hidden in plain sight in the name, city crosses into country and it takes both with ease.
The Volvo V60 Cross Country On The Road Of Prince Edward County
The powertrain is a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder paired with a 48-volt mild hybrid system.
Combined output is 247 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, sent through an eight-speed automatic to all four wheels. The mild hybrid piece recovers braking energy and stores it in a small battery, no plug-in or garage set up required. It shaves fuel consumption quietly in the background, and you’ll never think about it. That’s the point.
Zero to 100 km/h takes just over 6.5 seconds. It’s not fast, but it’s power is shown throughout the acceleration smoothly.
Highway merges, passing on two-lane roads, pulling away from stoplights, it always feels like it’s more than enough. The eight-speed shifts cleanly, and the AWD system distributes power without any drama.
Where the V60 Cross Country Separates Itself
The lower centre of gravity (compared to an SUV at this price) keeps the car stuck to the ground through corners and feels very solid at highway speeds. It’s noticeably quieter on the highway than most crossovers, too. The steering is light and easy but you feel very connected to the tires and where you want to go.
Ground clearance sits at 197 mm, which is enough for unpaved cottage roads, snow-packed side streets, and the occasional fire road without feeling like you’ve climbed into a truck. Off-Road mode adjusts traction and activates Hill Descent Control for steeper terrain.
Inside The Volvo V60 Cabin
This is where the Volvo V60 Cross Country punches hardest. Volvo has been doing interiors at this level for years, and the cabin here is one of the strongest examples I have seen in many years (after owning two Volvos myself). The design is clean without being cold. Scandinavian minimalism that still feels like a place you’d want to sit. And tech that adds to the driving experience but doesn’t interrupt it.
Material choices are real. Nappa leather is available in Charcoal, Blond, Amber, and Maroon Brown, paired with either genuine wood or metallic trim inlays. Nothing feels fake when you run your hand across it. The leather has a nice plush depth to it. The seats, in particular, deserve attention.
Volvo’s reputation for long-distance seat comfort goes back decades, and the V60 Cross Country upholds it. After a couple of hours on the 401, you won’t feel like the trip is longer than it feels.
The 9-inch portrait touchscreen runs Google built-in, which means native Google Maps, Google Assistant for voice commands, and the Google Play Store for downloading apps directly to the car. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both supported for those who prefer to stay in their phone’s ecosystem.
For audio, the available Bowers & Wilkins 15-speaker system is the upgrade worth considering. It offers four room modes. Studio, Individual Stage, Concert Hall, and Jazz Club. On a long highway stretch with Jazz Club selected, the cabin becomes a surprisingly convincing listening room. A 14-speaker Harman Kardon system is also available on the starting trim models.
Not to mention and I think this is a great feature, an air purifier filters particulate matter from outside air before it enters the cabin, which is a small detail that matters more than you’d expect on city commutes or during wildfire season. With so much city driving and construction, this goes under the radar as a feature but I think it is a very useful one.
Practical Considerations
The V60 Cross Country sport wagon body gives you just about 50 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. That’s less total volume than you’d get in a comparable SUV, but the shape of the space is more usable. The load floor is low and flat, which makes sliding heavier items in and out far easier than lifting them up and over a tall SUV cargo lip. A built-in ski hatch carries longer items without folding the entire back row. Roof rails, a power tailgate, hidden under-floor storage, and a sliding cargo cover are all part of the package. A car that’s ready when you are.
Five adults fit comfortably. Rear headroom slightly tighter than in a crossover, but legroom is generous enough for most passengers. I was able to sit comfortably and I am 6’2″, so that could help make your choice. The lower door height also makes it considerably easier to load dogs, which sounds like a small thing until you’ve watched a golden retriever try to jump into or jump down from the seat of a tall 7-seater SUV.
Safety and Technology
Volvo loads the V60 Cross Country with standard safety equipment. The list includes a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control with Pilot Assist (semi-autonomous highway driving), blind spot monitoring with steering assist, cross-traffic alert with auto brake, and a collision avoidance system that covers vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and large animals. The higher trim levels adds a head-up display that projects speed and navigation onto the windshield. It’s all designed to keep you out of harm’s way and keep your eyes on the road, which I appreciate.
Park assist covers front, rear, and sides, and the 360 camera makes tight downtown parking less of an ordeal than it has any right to be.
Who The V60 Cross Country Is For
The V60 Cross Country makes the most sense for someone who’s been defaulting to compact luxury SUVs and wondering why the driving experience always feels floaty and a little dull. The Volvo V60 Cross Country for the person who wants all-wheel drive confidence in a Canadian winter without giving up the road manners of a sedan.
It is fun to dive and rides beautifully, looks better than anything else in a parking lot, and reminds you that driving is supposed to feel good. That’s a harder thing to find than a spec sheet would suggest.
The 2026 model year is the final production run for the V60 Cross Country, with manufacturing ending in spring 2026. If the wagon body style appeals to you, now is the time to visit a Volvo retailer or check available inventory.
I would like to thank Volvo Canada for the opportunity of driving the V60 Cross Country.
Learn more about the 2026 Volvo V60 Cross Country on their website.
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