2026 Volvo V60 Cross Country Review

Please, dear reader — a moment of silence, for this marks the end of the road for Volvo’s wagons.

Yes, just a year after the regular models met their demise, the slightly lifted (and correctly clad) 2026 Volvo V60 Cross Country, as well as its larger sibling, are in their final days. And it’s a shame, since wagons have been an iconic part of the brand’s lineup since the 1960s, while rugged ones like this have carved out a nice little niche of their own.

Practicality: 9/10

Part of what makes the departure of great wagons such a head scratcher is that they typically give up little to nothing in terms of perceived practicality compared to their crossover counterparts. Case in point: the equivalent XC60 offers slightly less cargo space than this V60’s 519 L behind the rear seat, and 1,431 L with it folded flat. And despite the XC60’s boxier profile, it offers no more rear headroom than the decently spacious V60 (although it has a bit more rear legroom).

With both machines propelled by the same drivetrain, putting power through standard all-wheel drive systems, and offering a decent amount of ground clearance, there’s no mechanical reason to avoid the wagon, either — unless you’re looking to tow a small trailer. In that case, the crossover’s 1,580-kg (3,483-lb) rating betters the V60’s 907-kg (2,000-lb) limit.

Fuel Economy: 7/10

With a combined fuel efficiency rating of 8.9 L/100 km (10.1 in the city, 7.6 on the highway), the V60 Cross Country offers reasonable efficiency for such a practical machine, too. However, when fitted with aggressive winter tires and navigating some gnarly winter weather during this week-long test, the indicated average came in slightly higher at 9.1 L/100 km over several hundred kilometres of mixed driving, which depleted the modest 60-L fuel tank quicker than we’d have liked.

Power: 7/10

Where Volvo once offered the V60 with a number of different drivetrain options, now only the turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder remains. It’s backed by a mild-hybrid system that helps make the V60 Cross Country feel lively for around-town driving, but with a modest 247 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque tasked with motivating its curb weight of 1,843 kg (4,063 lb), the little engine runs out of breath pretty quickly at highway speeds. Its power is adequate if not exhilarating.

Driving Feel: 7/10

The other presumed benefit of a wagon versus a crossover is the wagon’s lower centre of gravity that translates into less body roll and more stable handling. With the Cross Country trim, the V60’s elevated ride height and winter tires offset much of that handling benefit, making it feel like many of the better, car-based crossovers on the market these days. The V60’s steering isn’t as quick or sporty as expected, either, and it lacks feedback, which is typical of so many vehicles these days. The steering is also strangely weighted, feeling neither heavy and sporty nor light and aloof; it’s just sort of there, but feels like the car has been engineered for utility and not sportiness.

The brakes offer decent bite and good, linear modulation, but again, they don’t have the same sort of stopping power that some sportier SUVs have. In all, the V60 Cross Country’s driving manners are fine, but don’t seem to offer any advantage versus a typical crossover.

Comfort: 7.5/10

We’ve never met a set of Volvo seats we didn’t like, and the thrones in the V60 are no exception. Being both supportive yet supple for long-haul comfort, the front seats also offer cooling and heating elements with enough power to broil your buns. The rear seats are also comfortable and reasonably spacious for adults in the two outboard positions, while the middle of the rear seat is better left for occasional use.

The V60 Cross Country’s platform and suspension tune have been stiffened to help maintain some handling capability, which would feel worse if it weren’t for having such long travel in the lifted suspension. This means that encountering pavement craters will send shudders through the stiff body, but never those cringe-worthy crashes or bangs through the car.

Features: 8/10

Volvo is offering the 2026 V60 Cross Country exclusively in range-topping Ultra trim. This means features like a panoramic sunroof, fancy interior lighting, and nice leather upholstery are all standard fare. The V60 also has hands-free operation of the tailgate, four-zone climate control, and an advanced air purifier that takes out the nastiest of airborne pollutants and smells.

User-Friendliness: 6/10

With the V60 Cross Country now seven years into its model run, it is showing its age in some of the technology. There’s no wireless smartphone charging or even connectivity, however the infotainment’s native operating system is Google-based, which means those who prefer Google Maps can have it nicely integrated into the system, including the digital instrument and head-up displays. While we appreciate the volume knob, pretty well every other control is activated through tapping on the screen, which can become tedious and distracting, especially at speed.

The seating position and outward visibility are both very good, but it’s tough to avoid dragging one’s pant leg over the side skirts that extend out from the bottom of the door openings when getting in and out, which seems a strange oversight for a car designed for Swedish winters.

Safety: 9/10

Unsurprisingly given Volvo’s reputation for safety, the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the V60 Cross Country a top five-star rating. The V60 is equipped with the active and passive safety features expected of modern luxury models, and Volvo’s system seemed to be effective even amidst sloppy winter road conditions that can render most systems useless. The automatic emergency braking remains vigilant for both vehicles and pedestrians, and the lane departure mitigation system doesn’t act as abruptly as some other systems do.

There are parking sensors and helpful surround-view cameras that are displayed when the car is put in reverse. The driver attention monitoring system isn’t as over-eager as some other systems we’ve experienced, too. Having reasonable, well-sorted active safety features like these is key to preventing users from switching them off in frustration.

The only hang-up we had was with the road speed sign reading system that rarely displayed the correct speed for the location, and we wouldn’t recommend paying much attention to it if you’re worried about speeding tickets.

Value: 7/10

Commendably, Volvo offers all those safety features as standard equipment, and since the V60 Cross Country comes only in Ultra trim, it’s very well-equipped right out of the gate. Still, that didn’t stop Volvo from adding another nearly $7,000 in options to this tester’s $62,250 base price.

With so few wagons left on the market, the V60 Cross Country occupies a fairly unique space. It’s priced roughly $15,000 more than the top-of-the-line Subaru Outback, which has become far less of a wagon than it used to be, while the Mercedes-Benz E 450 All Terrain is a competitor in spirit, but starts $30,000 dearer than this Volvo. That means it’s really competing against the multitude of premium compact crossovers like the Mercedes GLC-Class, BMW X3, Lexus NX, and, of course, Volvo’s own XC60, each of which are typically priced slightly higher when comparing equipment levels.

Styling: 9/10

If none of the V60 Cross Country’s other attributes have you thinking you’d better snatch one up before they’re gone, its styling should seal the deal. There’s not a blobby, ubiquitous, run-of-the-mill premium crossover that can come close to looking as sharp as this. Long, low, and wide simply conveys a sportier and more sensual profile than a tall, frumpy crossover. The V60 continues to look as crisp and appealing as it ever has, which is a testament to a strong, timeless design not caught up in frivolous trends.

Inside, again, while showing its age in terms of the screen size and technology, the V60 Cross Country is luxurious but purposeful. The dashboard, too, makes space for chrome-adorned vents and accent pieces that complement the variety of materials used, and the crystal gear selector is always a touch of style without hindering its functionality.

The Verdict

Normally, it wouldn’t be something as subjective as styling that becomes the defining reason to buy a vehicle, let alone a practical family machine. But in the 2026 Volvo V60 Cross Country’s case, it’s a match for its XC60 sibling in nearly every respect, which makes its significantly better appearance a worthy deciding factor. We’ll be sad to see the last of Volvo’s wagons disappear, and will appreciate the attributes this car has while it’s here.

Specifications

Trim Tested

2026 Volvo V60 Cross Country Ultra

Base Price

$62,250

Options

$6,945 — Bowers & Wilkins stereo, $3,750; 20-inch wheels, $1,475; Protection package, $890; Rear camera washer, $510; Cargo cover, $320

A/C Tax

$100

Destination

$2,770

Price as Tested

$72,065

Displacement

2.0L

Cylinder Count/Configuration

Turbo I4

Horsepower

247 hp @ 5,400-5,700 rpm

Torque

258 lb-ft @ 1,800-4,800 rpm

Fuel Economy

10.1 / 7.6 / 8.9 L/100 km cty/hwy/cmb

Cargo Space

519 / 1,431 L seats up/down