Swedish car manufacturer Volvo has launched the S60 Cross Country at Rs 38.9 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai). The Swede will go up against a trio of German rivals, viz. the BMW 3-Series, Mercedes C-Class and the Audi A4.
The saloon is based on the Volvo S60 and gets a few changes for it to flaunt the ‘Cross Country’ badge. The most noticeable change is definitely the raised ground clearance, which now stands at 201 mm – a full 65 mm more than the standard version. It also gets a different set of alloy wheels wrapped in fatter rubber. Aesthetically, the Cross Country looks identical to the standard S60 sedan, save for the black cladding that envelopes the lower portion of the car. To complete the ‘cross’ look, it also gets matte silver scuff plates at either end.
We like the balanced proportions and the no-nonsense design. While it isn’t as aggressive as a BMW 3-Series, nor as posh-looking as the Mercedes, the Cross Country has enough to make it stand out in a crowd. The slender headlamps, honeycomb grille and the L-shaped tail lamps look really nice. The design isn’t something we see every day on a premium sedan, but, considering India’s affinity towards all things SUV, the Cross Country might just be able to carve a niche for itself.nmj
The interiors are standard Volvo fare – a cut-paste from the standard S60. You get all the goodies you would in a top-spec S60. While it isn’t the best in terms of design (or even equipment, for that matter) – everything remains strictly functional. You do get all the creature comforts you would expect from a car that costs as much, though. Leather upholstery, electric seats, dual-zone climate control, a stellar audio system -– all come standard. Mechanically, the S60 Cross Country gets Volvo’s 2.4-litre, 5-cylinder diesel motor.
However, the company has detuned the motor to make 190PS and 420Nm instead of 215PS and 440Nm that you’d get with the standard saloon. The drop in power, however, should not bring a drastic difference in performance. The Swede can crack 0–100 in a respectable 8.8 seconds and go on to hit a top speed of 210 km/h. The biggest mechanical difference is the inclusion of an All Wheel Drive System.
Source: CarDekho
