Most of us would rather be alive than dead, intact rather than injured, but safe things are rarely considered exciting.
Maybe that’s why Volvos, vaunted for their safeness, haven’t ranked among the majors in premium brands, whose buyers want more from their cars than just getting from one place to another without perishing. Well, maybe Volvo’s conservative styling has had a hand in it, too.
The safety issue in new cars today centers around all the driver assistance and collision avoidance technology we have available. Cars can now warn us of other vehicles in our blind spots, nudge us back into our lane if we stray, actively keep us from encroaching on the car ahead, and stop us if we’re about to crash and haven’t noticed.
This is all great stuff, but it can’t repeal the laws of physics. If you’re driving a lightweight car and a hefty car slams into you … um. The stuff that keeps you from making mistakes won’t protect you from being mistaked-upon by someone else.
The 2015 Volvo V60 Cross Country wagon I drove was packed with driver-assistance and collision-avoidance technology, so I was pretty much protected from myself. But with Volvo, super-sturdy construction joins forces with safety systems to provide added protection against outside sources.
This all-wheel-drive compact wagon, with seating for five and 43.8 cubic feet of cargo space, is sporty and stylish. The build quality of its body is matched by a passenger cabin consisting of first-rate materials conjoined with precision. Volvo has obviously made tranquility one of its top priorities for passengers, because the V60 Cross Country has one of the quietest cabins I’ve encountered. Acoustically, it’s practically a mobile recording studio, ideal for relishing your favorite music booming from the premium Harmon Kardon audio system.
I guess I should mention that the Harman Kardon Premium Sound System was part of a $3,650 Platinum group of added features on my tester. Volvo treats the V60 Cross Country Platinum as a model unto itself, separate from the base Cross Country model whose pricing starts at $41,940. The Platinum model starts at $45,590. Both prices include a $940 destination charge. In support of the Platinum version, it also includes generous Convenience and Technology packages.
Volvo’s proven 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbocharged engine provides the power – 250 horses’ worth, with a 0-to-60 mph time of 7 seconds. A flawless six-speed adaptive automatic transmission with manual shift ability is standard. Drivers can expect to get about 20 mpg during city driving and 28 mpg on highways.
Along with all-wheel drive, a reassuring Hill Descent Control system is standard. When faced with the dicey situation of a steep downhill in slippery conditions, push a button and the V60 Cross Country does the intricate work required to get you safely to the bottom. If you can’t help micromanaging but aren’t confident enough to take over completely, you can still use the brake pedal and accelerator with Hill Descent Control activated.
Volvo is designating the model year for the new V60 Cross Country as 2015.5, so if you see that number on a window sticker or elsewhere, don’t get confused. It’s the same thing.
2015 VOLVO V60 T5 AWD CROSS COUNTRY PLATINUM
Base price, including destination charge: $45,590
Price as driven: $49,350
Mary Lowry is an independent automotive writer who lives in Snohomish County. She is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a board member of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. Vehicles are provided by the manufacturers as a one-week loan for review purposes only. In no way do the manufacturers control the content of the reviews.
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