LIGHT HYBRID VAGN EARLY ELECTRIFICATION PLEDGE: Only the most solemn promise comprises a pledge. This year Volvo is keeping a solemn promise, a first for legacy carmakers: all model T vehicle designations have been replaced with either B (light hybrid 48V battery), Recharge (plug-in hybrid) or Recharge EV. Like it or not, both brick and mortar or virtual showrooms for the Swedish luxury automaker now exclusively display electrified new product, but with various degrees of electrification.
Roadblazing.com , in declining order of wattage, has already filed thorough impressions of both the Scandinavians’ first pure zero tailpipe emissions Volvo C40 Recharge Twin EV crossover and the cordable S60 T8 Recharge PHEV sport sedan. Rounding out the lower end of the brand’s battery voltage, the 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country B5 AWD Ultimate compact off-road Svensk Vagn arrives for a Re-Drive Review.
2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country B5 AWD Driving Hits: (vs. 2020 Volvo V60 T5 Cross Country in parentheses)
- New for ’23: 247 horsepower @ 6500 r.p.m. redline B420T2 w/ start/ stop idle
- New for ’23: 258 pound-feet torque @1800 r.p.m.
- 48V, 10Ah, 18 cell, 0.5 kWh, 20 kW regenerative charge speed Li-Ion battery
- Mild Hybrid electric Integrated Starter Generator Motor = +13 hp, +30 lb-ft
- Net hybrid power / torque: 260 hp / 288 lb-ft
- Very composed and adequately fleet outdoor active lifestyle wagon
- On demand viscous clutch differential all-wheel drive, 90:10% nominal to 10:90% maximum F:R torque split w/ torque vectoring
- Off road drive mode (in infotainment menu)
- 8-speed automatic planetary transaxle; 3.20:1 final drive ratio
- 25 combined miles per gallon, 420 miles highway range on 18.8 gallons of 91 AKI premium unleaded fuel
- Fully independent suspension
- F: double wishbone; R: multi-link axle w/ lower A arm + transverse leaf spring
- well composed, jostle-free, buttoned down ride
- Off-Road: 17.0° approach/ 22.4° departure/ 18.4° break-over angles, 8.0″ ground clearance, 11.8″ water fording
- Astounding build quality w/ tomb-like cabin silence
2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country B5 AWD Driving Misses:
- Off Road drive mode and steering resistance adjustment accessed from infotainment menu
- Center console toggle transaxle shift lever lacks manumatic capability,
- Transaxle resists downshifts absent mashing pedal to floor
- Steering wheel feedback numbed
- Engine sounds strangled
- Premium unleaded gasoline recommended
- Light hybrids don’t help fuel economy a lot on the highway
- No B6 variant and the 455 hp Polestar Engineered Recharge PHEV only available on the non CC V60
- 112 miles per hour governed maximum speed (applies to all Volvos)
What the 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country B5 AWD Has Got:
- Pricing: from $55,185 (incl. destination) for an 8-speed automatic 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country B5 all-wheel drive. As tested top-trim 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country B5 AWD Ultimate all-wheel drive trim priced at $63,585 .
- Style: Subtly lifted low profile rising tapered greenhouse body slight Kammback sport wagon, adorned by the tell tale wide slim hexagon striated grille, Thor’s Hammer lateral front DRLs & directionals, upright boomerang taillamps, darkened pillars, full body & wheel arch lower cladding and front + rear aluminum bash plates.
- Space: Compact executive class wagon takes on 4.75 grown adults but pales in Row 2 knee-room
- Utility: Can gulp a home office’s worth of Swedish furnishings – i.e. IKEA run
- Low load floor cargo bay grows from 23 to 51 cubic feet
- 60/40% split folding 2nd Row seatbacks w/ center pass-through, chrome tie down anchors, cargo roll shade, load brush plate
- Fit & Finish: Aluminum cabin & door bezels and audio speaker covers, piano black soft touch switchgear & housings, beige Scandinavian ash wood panels w/ split rolling center console storage lids, tightly pebbled soft plastics, tight webbed headliner & pillar covers, felt lined door pockets and glove-box, minimized premium acting switches, retaining single oversized knurled audio volume and selection advance knob below infotainment screen, hammered aluminum edged center console twist keyless ignition knob.
- Standard Feature Set:
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- √ Keyless approach entry, push button ignition; √ 4-zone automatic climate control w/ Row 2 digital touch control screen
- √ LED headlights & taillights, √ Rain sensing windshield wipers
- √ Auto dimming rear view mirror, √ Power folding side mirrors; √ Full express power windows x 4
- √ Nappa Leather 12-way heated power front seats; √ Leather tilt + telescoping steering wheel w/ integrated controls; √ Power moonroof
- Infotaiment Technology:
- New for ’23: STD. √ 12.3″ TFT twin dial Progressive Digital Driver Display w/ dual mode Calm & Navi map projection
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- √ Android Automotive 9.0″ portrait swipe and touch LCD media display w/ voice command + guidance Google Maps, Google Assistant & Google Automotive Apps via PlayStore; √ wireless App-Connect; √ USB-C x 2; √ Bluetooth and smart phone messaging
- +1 Excellent base 8-speaker, 320 W streaming audio with HD-radio
- √ wireless Apple CarPlay; √ Qi Wireless charging tray
- By Subscription:
- New for ’23: √ via Digital Services Package = Google Automotive Services: Maps, Assistant + Play Store, Remote Services: Climate pre-conditioning, vehicle lock + unlock, Wi-Fi (4 years trial); √ SiriusXM satellite radio ( 90 days incl.)
- Safety: +1 IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus,; 9 airbags; Rear backup camera w/ predictive grid + sonar park assist
- Driver Assist Technology:
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- STD: Pedestrian, cyclist, large animal forward traffic and oncoming traffic turn vehicle collision avoidance braking; Blind spot & rear cross traffic warning & avoidance braking; Post collision brake lock; Auto high beam lights; Swiveling headlamps; Park distance warning, fore and aft; Rain sensing windshield wipers; PILOT ASSIST: Adaptive cruise control; Lane Keep Assist w Travel Assist; Road sign recognition
- OPT: (Ultimate Pkg.) 360° Surround camera; Side park assist; HUD display
- Warranty: 4 year / 50,000 miles bumper to bumper warranty includes 3 years maintenance
What the 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country B5 AWD Has Not (or Not Preferred):
- Baked in Android Automotive by subscription excludes Android Auto projection
- Android Automotive Google Play Store limits apps
- While comprehensive the new Progressive Digital Display instrument cluster varies only by map inclusion
- Climate temperature settings are managed through the touch infotainment screen
- Scant center console storage
- Steering wheel limited telescoping range
- No USB-A port
- Media display remains glare prone & finger print showcase
- Merely one color of cabin ambient illumination
- Liftgate is heavy, power assist included only on pricey Ultimate model
Standout Feature(s) on 2023 VOLVO V60 CROSS COUNTRY B5 AWD ULTIMATE :
- Heated steering wheel; headlight spray washers, heated Row 2 seats
- Panorama moonroof, soft swipe controlled power shade
- Bowers & Wilkins reference audio
- ♦ Nappa leather seating, front heated & cooled, 12 -way power adjust w/ knee extenders; ♦ 2-position driver’s & front passenger seat & mirror memory
- Homelink remote garage transmitter
- Tailored dashboard
- Power folding outboard 2nd Row seat headrests
- Ambient cabin illumination (white)
- Orrefors of Sweden Crystal transmission shift lever
Roadblazing.com Says: The SVENSK VAGN of compact luxury sport Wagons technically fulfills a pledge of full product portfolio electrification.
Contributing Editor: S. Frissell
