2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country B5 Review

“So is it a car or an SUV?” During our week together, this was the question I heard most about the 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country B5.

I don’t blame folks—even if Volvo’s been at the rugged wagon game for longer than most everyone else. Those who aren’t familiar clock the handsome, low-roof shape and see car; but that cladding says SUV.

That question gets to the heart of why Volvo still offers this stylish long-roof. The V60 Cross Country blends the best of both worlds, with extra ground clearance and capaciousness, yet a refined and polished drive. If drivers are willing to look past the SUV swarm, they’ll find a stylish luxo-wagon that still offers plenty of capital-U Utility.

The V60 cabin is a treat. Effortless cool is something only the Swedes can really pull off, and it’s on full display in the elegantly curved dashboard trim and thin vent designs. Material quality is uniformly high, from the lime wood inserts to the sumptuously soft Nappa leather seating. In typical Volvo fashion, those thrones are supremely comfortable, with the right amount of support both horizontal and vertical. An adjustable thigh support ensures even the long-legged can be rested. The heating and ventilation work well, and the steering wheel can become genuinely hot.

A few Canadian-market notes here: while this pretty amber color is available in the US too, it can’t be paired with the Denim Blue exterior. Americans also can’t spec the front massage seats of our tester, which it goes without saying are excellent. Sightlines are generally good, thanks to the ample glass surface area.

Second-row riders get a good amount of leg- and headroom, with a lot of natural lighting by way of the panoramic sunroof. There is a chunky bump for the transmission, however, so going three-wide isn’t recommended. Out back, there’s a useful 23.2 cubic feet of storage; fold the second row and that becomes a spacious 60.5 cubes.

The tech suite is the V60’s one notable weak point. The move to a Google-based infotainment system has its perks: the short-film-length of loading time for Sensus is not missed, for example. The main menu of the new system is easy enough to distinguish too, with familiar tiles and groupings. And the Google pair-up pays huge dividends in the navigation.

But there are a lot of confounding design decisions. Adjusting the HUD requires a deep dive into the menus, for instance. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both still wired, and there isn’t even a wireless charge pad in this luxury car. Response times are still slow, especially when requesting the full climate controls. There’s a useful 360-degree parking camera, but the system would default to a simpler view on every power cycle.

There may not be a supercharger under the Cross Country’s hood, but there is a mild-hybrid setup, which allows for a smoother (and more prolonged, thus fuel-saving) start-stop experience. With 247 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, it’s not going to grab any headlines, but the power is smooth and consistent. There’s little turbo lag, and the eight-speed auto does its business without fuss. The run to highway speed takes about seven seconds.

That perfect stance suggests a confident, composed ride, and the CC doesn’t disappoint. There’s little road or wind noise, and the body stays relatively flat—it might ride high, but it’s still lower than a typical SUV, don’t you see. Flick the V60 into a corner and it’s predictable and neutral. Sure, there isn’t much feel from the leather-wrapped steering wheel, but it’s quick and consistent. The 20-inch wheels do introduce an scintilla of an edge over larger bumps—maybe the US has it better, then. You can’t miss what you can’t have…

The V60 Cross Country lineup kicks off at $49,895 for the B5 Plus trim ($60,565 CAD, both including destination). This Ultimate ($56,490 / $67,915 CAD) adds the goods, like the a Harman Kardon sound system, front seat ventilation, and the head-up display. From there, market offerings on either side of the border differ: while you can get the sweet Bowers & Wilkins audio ($3,200 / $3,750 CAD) in both the US or Canada, the massaging seats ($1,300 CAD) are a Canuck exclusive, as are those sweet 20-inch alloys ($1,475 CAD).

Canada has an even more affordable $55,515 CAD B5 Core trim, though it foregoes many of the modern driver assists of the Plus.

The 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country B5 is an incredibly hard vehicle to dislike—other than the infotainment. More than simply an Outback wearing Fjällräven, the Cross Country takes a remarkably composed luxury mid-sizer and blends in just a bit of extra off-road assuredness.

This long-roof blends so seamlessly into the daily grind, smoothly handling the worst roads, and even most of the trails connecting them. Every single time I got out of the CC, I felt a little less stressed. And really, isn’t that what luxury should be about?