Maybe it’s the Scandinavian blood in me, but I really took a liking to Volvo’s second-year, 2016 V60 Cross Country Platinum T5 all-wheel drive.
What is it, you ask? The translated Swedish – in this case – is a luxury wagon that espouses the virtues of comfort, safety and utility, sporty style and increased ground clearance. Dare we say it’s an ever-popular sport utility vehicle?
It’s the perfect fit for Northwesterners with active adaptive automatic transmission with Sport Mode. Volvo’s electronically controlled All-Wheel Drive lifestyles who want their vehicles to project a sense of purpose and freedom. The V60 delivers all-road, all-weather driving capability that will take you virtually anywhere – worry free.
The V60 is endowed with an impressive ground clearance of 7.9 inches.
My tester was powered by Volvo’s signature 2.5-liter, five-cylinder, turbocharged engine that produces 250 horsepower at 5,400 rpm and 266 lb.-ft. of torque with the 1,800 to 4,200 rpm range. The engine is mated to an efficient, six-speed “Geartronic” driver adaptive automatic transmission with Sport Mode.
Volvo’s electronically controlled All-Wheel Drive with Instant Traction is standard and provides the best possible grip in all situations – on wet, slippery, or completely dry roads. The advanced AWD system delivers power to the wheels with the best grip. When one tires loses traction, power is reduced to that wheel and instantly transferred to the more sure-footed wheels.
The V60 cuts an elegant yet athletic swath thanks in part to a honeycomb grille, lower skid plate, and 19-inch BOR matte black wheels that contrast nicely with its “Crystal White Pearl” coat of paint. Glossy black window trim and outside mirror covers are an added touch.
My tester came with platinum ($3,650), climate ($1,555) and BLIS ($925) packages that slather on more goodies to an already extensive list of standard luxury features.
The platinum package is highlighted by a 160-watt Harman Kardon premium sound system, dual Xenon headlights with washers, rear park-assist camera, adaptive cruise control, collision warning with full auto-brake, accent lighting and lane-departure warning.
Climate amenities (less needed these days) include heated front seats, heated windshield, heated steering wheel, and heated windshield washer nozzles. The BLIS package adds a blind-spot information system, cross-traffic alert, front-brake assist and a lane-change merge aid.
Standard appointments include a navigation system with seven-inch LCD display, high-def radio, Bluetooth, leather sport seats with lumbar support (driver) and electronic parking brake.
Volvo is world-famous for its focus on safety. The V60 is no exception. In addition to the aforementioned, the car benefits from dynamic stability and traction control, roll stability control, corner traction control, pedestrian and cyclist detection and a security system.
VOLVO V60 CROSS COUNTRY PLATINUM T5
BASE PRICE: $41,000
AS TESTED: $49,775
Base price includes destination charge. Vehicles are provided by the manufacturer. Prices may vary at local dealerships.
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