- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
2.4T, 5 cyl.
- Engine Power
142kW, 270Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 8.9L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4WD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
NA
- Ancap Safety
NA
Cross Country gets serious
Good: Luxury interior, features, size.
Bad: Heavy to drive, numb driving feel.
Rating: four stars out of five).
There's barely a car maker in the world that isn't making - or at least planning to make - a four-wheel drive for off-road work. Heck, even Porsche is gearing up to show us how performance and off-road can somehow be blended.
For now, though, the luxury end of the market once dominated by Range Rover is being quickly populated by less familiar off-road makes such as Lexus, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
Volvo was another brand to dip its toe in such unfamiliar water, when a few years ago it unveiled the V70 XC, or Cross Country. It was little more than a V70 wagon with a 4WD system and some added ground clearance, as well as the usual "tough" bumpers and add-on bits and bobs.
With the latest incarnation of the Cross Country, Volvo has taken the idea a small step further, and in the process has dropped the "V70" tag to give the five-door wagon a more rugged appeal and in the process further distance itself from the car it's so obviously based on - the new V70 wagon. The move is in part setting Volvo up for a more serious attack on the off-road market, with a larger, unique-bodied model that's due in a few years.
From the outside, the Cross Country boasts subtle yet significant styling differences from the V70, such as chunky grey bumpers and higher suspension. There are also 16-inch alloy wheels and other mild touches all designed to give the car a taller stance visually.
Underneath, the Cross Country is pure V70, apart from the 4WD system, which works as front-wheel drive most of the time, until extra traction is needed from the rear wheels. That 4WD system, along with other modifications made to the Cross Country, adds a hefty 170 kilograms to the weight, pushing it to a relatively podgy 1700kg.
Given that the engine is identical, with five cylinders and a turbocharger pushing out 147 kilowatts, it means the car struggles a little with the extra bulk. It doesn't exactly dart off the line, instead taking its time to build momentum and rely on its big dollop of torque, or pulling power, that's well spread across the rev range.
A five-speed manual is standard fare but, really, most buyers in this market will not blink at spending the extra $2000 for a five-speed automatic. In the top-of-the-line SE model we tested here, it also comes with Volvo's Geartronic selection system that allows the lever to be pushed into a separate gate and manual changes made sequentially. The transmission does the job, but it sometimes hunts for the right gear, meaning it's occasionally caught out in the wrong cog.
As for road manners, the Cross Country lacks some finesse. From the minute you take a seat, it feels quite tall, more so than it looks from outside. The tall profile tyres and higher suspension add to body roll and make it less responsive in the steering department. That said, the steering is so remote and lacking in feel, anyway - as with so many Volvos - that in some ways it's not such a drama.
As an off-roader, though, the Cross Country is impressive in the way it sits on the road. It's just a shame the whole driving experience is overshadowed by a lack of communication between car and driver.
All Cross Countrys come with the same basic mechanicals, with the SE benefiting from extra equipment over the $61,950 entry-level, including an electric driver's seat, heated front seats, leather trim, mud flaps, roof racks (to complement the rails) and a great-sounding nine-speaker Dolby sound system and an in-dash four-CD changer.
Combine that with the standard power windows, remote locking, cruise control and steering wheel controls and it's a well-equipped vehicle, especially given the $69,950 asking price. That pricing is partly a product of the lower tax rate that 4WDs enjoy in this country.
In line with Volvo's long-standing reputation, safety is also high on the Cross Country's agenda, with anti-lock brakes (ABS) and traction control included. There's no shortage of airbags either, starting with the two at the front, a couple in the front seats for side impacts and an inflatable curtain down each side.
Of course, all seatbelts have a lap-sash fitting, and there are adjustable headrests all round, with the ones in the front designed to reduce whiplash in a rear-impact collision.
Inside, the Cross Country is certainly a comfortable place to enjoy some of Australia's less-travelled roads, although the bumpers are quite susceptible to damage if you get too adventurous, which ultimately limits how far you can go.
The seats are quite cushy and comfy, and there's plenty of room both front and rear. The driver's seat adjusts for height, which, combined with the tilt-and-reach-adjustable steering, makes it relatively easy to find an appropriate driving position. Being a big wagon, there's plenty of load space for those family holidays. The rear seat is a split-fold set-up and a three-way split-fold can be optioned for greater flexibility.
The latest Cross Country is certainly a huge step forward on the model it replaces, although it's still no work of art; it feels big and cumbersome and lacks some of the finesse of, say, a Subaru Outback. Still, the Volvo is well decked out, comfortable and offers a decent-sized luxury car for not too much money.
VOLVO CROSS COUNTRY
How much? $69,950 (man), $71,950m (auto).
Insurance: Premium $890, $400 excess (RACV wholly owned, driver 30-plus, rating one, medium-risk suburb).
Warranty: 2 years/unlimited km.
Engine: 2.435-litre 20-valve, DOHC, five-cyl, 147kW at 6000rpm, 285Nm at 1800rpm.
Transmission: Five-speed manual or five-speed automatic, four-wheel drive.
Steering: Rack and pinion, 3.0 turns lock to lock. Turning circle 10.9m.
Brakes: Ventilated discs front. Discs rear, ABS standard.
Suspension: MacPherson strut, coil springs, stabiliser bar, front. Independent by multi-link, coil springs, rear.
Wheels/Tyres: Alloy 16 x 7.0-inch, 215/65.
How big? Length 4733mm, width 1860mm, height 1562mm, wheelbase 2763mm.
How heavy?
1700kg.
How thirsty? 13.6L/100km, premium unleaded recommended. Fuel tank 70 litres.
Equipment: Airbags - yes, six; air-conditioning - yes, climate control; cruise control - yes; central locking - yes, remote; power mirrors/windows - yes; security - yes, immobiliser; sound system - radio, cassette, in-dash four-CD stacker.