When you run out of any ideas you have to go with that what market analysis told you to go with. In this case Volvo had to go with the introduction of the rather strange S60 Cross Country, which is, basically, a light off road sedan closely related with the V60 Cross Country revealed a few months earlier.
Not even one manufacturer offers a similar car to the S60 Cross Country. Yes, there are many D segment off road vehicles but every one of them is a wagon (Insignia Cross Tourer, Passat Alltrack, A4 Allroad Quattro and so on). This really was a gap in the market and with the S60 Cross Country, Volvo filled it. Do we like it? It is hard to say or to think anything about it. It might be a hit, or a flop, but the most important thing is that this actually isn’t the first car of this kind. Subaru once sold an off road sedan and if we go back long enough we will find a similar sedan in the AMC lineup too.
Nevertheless, the Volvo S60 Cross Country is a vehicle that has 6,5 centimeters higher ground clearance in comparison with the “normal” one. Also, the Swedes integrated known wheel arch covers and skirts which act as a protection when off roading. Even the underbody protection can be ordered. This, of course is not a Defender or anything similar. It is a light off road vehicle that doesn’t even come with the standard all wheel drive. For those who want it, they have to order it. The engines available are T5 (turbocharged petrol engine), with the maximum output of 250 HP and, in Europe, D5 2.0 and D5 2.4. The S60 Cross Country managed to capture the spirit of a small off road car, but it is hard to guess if this is going to be a sales hit, or an absolute disaster.
