2019 Volvo V60 Cross Country

In 2019, its US launch year, the V60 Cross Country came only as the T5 AWD, a 250-hp 2.0L turbocharged four, so the volume figure is also the range maximum. 2019 is the first model year of the SPA-based second-generation Cross Country.

The T5 makes 258 lb-ft over a broad plateau, which is mid-pack for a luxury wagon.

A test of the 2019 T5 AWD Cross Country recorded 0–60 mph in about 6.6 seconds, with the quarter mile in 16.1 s at 86.4 mph. That is adequate for a lifted wagon with a curb weight of about 4,100 lb, but it is not quick.

The T5 four is quiet at cruise and has adequate mid-range pull. Reviewers fault its turbo lag from a stop, its coarse note at high revs and an abrupt conventional auto stop/start system, which predates the later 48V mild hybrid.

The Aisin 8-speed Geartronic shifts smoothly in steady driving. Reviewers say it is slow to kick down when you ask for passing power and that it sometimes hesitates at low speed.

AWD is standard on every 2019 V60 Cross Country, along with a raised ride height, an Off Road drive mode and hill descent control. It misses the top band because the system is a front-biased on-demand setup with no low range or torque vectoring.

There is a single powertrain: the T5 AWD gas four, with no electrification. Nothing else was offered on the 2019 Cross Country.

The EPA rates the 2019 V60 Cross Country T5 AWD at 25 MPG combined, which is mediocre against the gas wagon band.

The EPA city rating is 22 MPG. There is no hybrid assist to help in stop-and-go driving.

The EPA highway rating is 31 MPG. That is its best figure, but it is still in the lower third of the wagon band.

The EPA record lists no range figure for this gas model, so range is calculated from the 60 L (15.9 gal) tank and the 25 MPG combined rating: about 398 miles.

The EPA estimates $3,300 a year in fuel at its standard assumptions, using the premium fuel it lists. That is beyond the expensive end of the wagon band.

The EPA lists premium fuel, and Volvo recommends 91 AKI for the T5 while allowing 87 AKI at reduced output. Premium is recommended rather than required, which puts it in the middle band. It is still a real ongoing cost compared with regular-fuel rivals.

NHTSA lists the 2019 V60 CC T5 AWD as its own vehicle but did not rate it, because the car was new for 2019. The 2020 V60 CC T5 AWD, which is the same second-generation SPA body with no structural change, earned 5 stars overall. That 2020 result is carried here as the latest tested year of this generation.

IIHS rated the V60 Good in every crashworthiness test, and those ratings apply to 2019–21 models. The 2019 car earned no Top Safety Pick, because both of its headlight variations were rated Marginal. From 2020 on, the car won TSP+ after the headlights were revised.

City Safety AEB, Lane Keeping Aid, BLIS and Cross Traffic Alert come on the 2019 T5 AWD Cross Country. Adaptive cruise and Pilot Assist are not standard; they are part of the optional Advanced Package. NHTSA's 2019 record does not list FCW or LDW as standard.

IIHS rated the standard City Safety system Superior for vehicle-to-vehicle and Superior for daytime pedestrians. It has no nighttime pedestrian rating, which keeps it just below the top band.

BLIS with Cross Traffic Alert is standard on the Cross Country. On SPA-platform cars, Volvo's BLIS adds a steer-assist intervention, which goes beyond alert-only systems. Equipment documentation for the launch year is thinner, so confidence is lower.

Lane Keeping Aid is standard, but true lane centering through Pilot Assist is only in the optional Advanced Package. Reviewers call Lane Keeping Aid abrupt, and say Pilot Assist disengages readily when lane lines fade.

Full-speed adaptive cruise with stop-and-go and Pilot Assist works well but is optional, through the Advanced Package. Reviewers also note cautious gap-keeping and a slow resume.

There is no hands-free driving option. Pilot Assist is a hands-on Level 2 system.

IIHS rated both 2019 headlight variations Marginal: the base LED reflector lamps and the curve-adaptive LED lamps in the Advanced Package. High-beam assist is standard on both. The improved lamps that earned the 2020 car its award came only on cars built after May 2019.

The large rear glass and raised Cross Country seating position give good natural sightlines. Only cars with the optional Advanced Package get the 360-degree camera to offset the thick D-pillars and high beltline; a rear camera is standard.

IIHS rated LATCH ease of use Acceptable. The compact-wagon rear doors and legroom are tighter than in crossover-shaped rivals.

The 2019 V60 Cross Country is a two-row, five-passenger wagon sold in the US as a single T5 AWD trim. 2019 is its US launch year on the SPA-based second generation.

37.4 in with the panoramic roof is below the middle of the wagon band. The panoramic roof is standard on the US car, so the sunroof figure is the representative one.

42.3 in of front legroom is above the middle of the wagon band. The 2019 body is identical to the 2020 car.

The wagon roofline gives generous rear headroom on paper.

35.2 in of rear legroom is tight for the class. Two adults fit, but a middle passenger is hampered by the transmission tunnel and a hard center seatback.

23.2 cu ft behind the rear seats is above the top of the wagon band, with a low, practical load lip.

Storage is competitive for a premium wagon: a power liftgate, a 60/40 split rear seat with pass-through, a grocery-bag holder and an underfloor bin. Console storage is modest, there are only two USB ports and there is no onboard power.

Volvo's SPA front seats are praised as some of the best in the business for long trips. The rear is comfortable for two but limited by legroom.

The taller Cross Country suspension rides solidly and stably, but sharp impacts come through on the larger wheels.

Wind and road noise are well suppressed. The T5 four sounds grumbly at low speed and coarse when revved.

Heated front seats, two-zone climate control and a panoramic roof are standard. The heated steering wheel ($750 package), heated rear seats and four-zone climate are optional, and ventilated seats were not offered.

The second-generation V60 Cross Country reached the US for the 2019 model year as a single T5 AWD model, with content added through option packages. Its entry price sits in the upper third of the $22,000–$55,000 wagon band.

With only one trim, the typical dealer-stock car is the T5 AWD plus the $2,500 Advanced package (Pilot Assist, 360° camera, LED headlights, HUD), the heated rear seats and steering wheel option, and metallic paint. That comes to about $50,000 including destination.

European luxury labor rates, plus repair exposure after the 4-year warranty ends, put the cost mid-band for a wagon. Free scheduled services for the first 3 years/36,000 miles offset part of that. It uses the same T5 powertrain as the 2020–2021 cars.

At about 7.5 years old, a 2019 V60 trades in for roughly a third of its original sticker. Backing out the later depreciation, and allowing for the 2021–2022 used-car price spike that hit at year 2–3, puts 5-year retention near 47%, just under the 2020 car.

Volvo's New Vehicle Limited Warranty runs 4 years/50,000 miles, the luxury-class norm.

Volvo offers no separate, longer powertrain warranty in the US. The T5 engine and 8-speed automatic are covered only by the 4-year/50,000-mile basic term, the floor of the 5–10 year band.

The 2019 model includes Volvo's free factory scheduled maintenance for 3 years/36,000 miles (the 10k/20k/30k services), 4 years of unlimited-mileage roadside assistance, and a Volvo On Call connected-services subscription. That is multi-year included maintenance with meaningful perks.

$49,990 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (47% retained, or about $23,495) leaves about $26,495 in depreciation. Add the projected $5,800 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $32,295 in total.

2019 is the first US model year of the SPA-based second-generation V60 and its Cross Country, a launch year with no prior history to draw on. Consumer Reports and U.S. News rate the 2019 V60 below average for its model year. Owner-reported ratings are more favourable, and most complaints concern Sensus infotainment and electronics rather than mechanical parts.

Over several years Volvo has ranked below the industry average for dependability, mostly because of software and electronics faults on the SPA electrical architecture. It ranks just below Subaru but well above Audi and Mercedes-Benz in J.D. Power's dependability study, and sits in the lower half of Consumer Reports' brand rankings.

Four NHTSA campaigns cover the 2019 V60 CC, and each is fixed with a software update, a fuse swap or, rarely, a part replacement. None involves fire. Even so, a stall risk, an AEB detection fault and an e-call GPS error are a typical but not clean launch-year record, and this year has one more campaign than 2020.

The 2019 T5 AWD uses the conventional 250-hp 2.0L turbo four from the VEA/Drive-E family, in US service since 2014, with no hybrid hardware. It is paired with the high-volume Aisin 8-speed automatic, a mature combination with no systemic failure pattern. The score is reduced for oil-consumption complaints on earlier Drive-E units and for the 2019-2020 fuel-pump fuse recall.

The cabin is a clear strength: open-pore wood, quality leather, metal-mesh and knurled switchgear, and a minimalist Scandinavian design that reviewers rate at or above German compact-luxury rivals for the price. The main criticism is scratch-prone piano-black console trim.

Reviewers describe the 2019 V60 CC as tightly assembled and solid, and there is no widespread pattern of rattles or misalignment. As a launch year, and with Volvo's below-average J.D. Power initial quality, it stays out of the top band, though those complaints are mostly about infotainment rather than physical build.

Volvo has about 280 US retailers, a thinner network than BMW, Mercedes-Benz or Audi, and concentrated in coastal and metro markets. Service satisfaction is mid-pack among luxury brands. Because the car shares SPA mechanicals with the XC60 and S60, technicians know it well.

Volvo repair costs are above the industry average but below the German brands. Mechanical parts are shared with the high-volume XC60 and S60. Body, glass and trim parts for this low-volume wagon are mostly dealer-only, and SPA electronic modules need dealer software commissioning.

The 9-in portrait Sensus touchscreen is the only center display on the 2019 Cross Country, which comes in a single trim.

Sensus looks good, but vehicle functions are buried in layered menus that distract from the road, and swipe response is inconsistent.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, but only over a cable. Wireless projection was not offered.

Sensus Navigation and the built-in voice control work but rely on rigid commands, so most owners use phone projection. It is well short of the Google built-in system that arrived later.

The standard 10-speaker system is adequate, and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon upgrade is available. Bowers & Wilkins availability on the 2019 Cross Country was not confirmed for this year.

A digital driver display is fitted. Auto123's Canadian-market spec lists an 8-in display with a 12.3-in screen optional, while US cars generally carried the 12.3-in display, so the figure is uncertain.

Sensus-era Volvos received map updates, but infotainment and vehicle software were updated mainly at the dealer. There were no feature-adding OTA updates.

Volvo On Call came with a four-year subscription and offers remote lock/unlock, location, pre-conditioning and remote start. It is clunky, and there is no phone-as-key.

There are only two USB ports and no USB-C. Wireless charging is optional, and there is no household outlet.

A power liftgate and push-button start are standard, and remote start is available through Volvo On Call. Full keyless entry and the hands-free liftgate sit in option packages, and there is no phone-as-key.

A rear camera and rear parking sensors are standard. The 360-degree camera is in the $2,500 Advanced Package, and Pro Park Assist is a small extra-cost option.

A head-up display is available on the single trim through the $2,500 Advanced Package, so it is reachable on the volume car but not standard.

The low load height and 23.2 cu ft cargo bay suit strollers. 35.2 in of rear legroom crowds rear-facing seats, and only the two outboard positions have full LATCH.

AEB, blind-spot warning and Volvo's safety structure are standard. The 2019 earned no IIHS award because both headlight configurations rated Marginal. Pilot Assist and the 360 camera cost extra.

Excellent front seats, a quiet cabin and ample luggage space help on long trips. Limited rear legroom, optional heated rear seats and only two USB ports hold it back with four aboard.

It is smooth and easy to drive, but the fiddly Sensus touchscreen and some turbo lag from a stop make daily driving a little harder.

About 25 MPG combined on premium fuel makes it expensive to commute in for a compact wagon.

A 37.1-ft turning circle and a modest footprint make it easy to place. The 360 camera is optional rather than standard.

The long, flat load floor helps, but a modest tow rating of about 3,500 lb and the luxury focus make it a light-duty helper at best.

It is a premium wagon with no fleet or work reputation, so its durability under hard use is unproven.

Integrated roof rails and an accessory hitch are available, but there is no onboard power and no work upfit ecosystem.

Excellent seats, a quiet cabin and roughly 400 miles of range make it a strong highway cruiser. Pilot Assist costs extra in the Advanced Package.

Standard AWD, about 8 in of ground clearance, roof rails and an Off Road mode with hill descent control handle gravel and trailheads, though it is not a true off-roader.

A long wagon floor, a split-folding rear seat, roof rails and an available hitch fit bikes and skis, but 50.9 cu ft of maximum space trails the Outback and SUVs.

It is solid and stable with secure grip for a lifted wagon, but the tuning favours comfort over sport.

Steering is smooth and stable on-center but light and short on feedback in the default mode. Dynamic mode adds weight.

The brakes are strong and predictable, and reviews raise no complaints. No instrumented stopping data for the 2019 Cross Country was found.

The 8-speed shifts very smoothly and the T5 pulls well once on boost. It lags from a stop, the stop/start system is abrupt without mild-hybrid assist, and kick-downs are slow.

The engine is quiet at cruise but sounds grumbly at low speed and coarse when worked hard.

A 37.1-ft turning circle is mid-pack for the wagon band.

The supportive, adjustable seat and slightly raised Cross Country seating position give a good driving position, but many functions are buried in Sensus menus that pull your eyes off the road.

It is a composed, characterful lifted wagon that a reviewer called more fun than an SUV, but numb steering and a modest four-cylinder keep it from being an enthusiast pick.

The single 2019 T5 AWD trim comes with standard AWD, a panoramic moonroof, a power tailgate, leather heated front seats, the 9-inch Sensus touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, and City Safety AEB. Pilot Assist adaptive cruise, the 360° camera, LED headlights and the HUD cost extra through the Advanced package, and comfort and audio upgrades are further options.

At about $46,100 with standard AWD and a lifted wagon body, it undercuts the Audi A4 allroad and Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain. Even so, adaptive cruise is a $2,500 option, it asks luxury money for 250 hp and compact-wagon space, and a Subaru Outback offers similar capability for far less.

Buyers take it or leave it: one trim, one powertrain (the T5 gas four), AWD only. The choices are limited to a handful of option packages, wheels, paint and audio. Buyers wanting the T6 or T8 had to step to the non-Cross Country V60.

This is a niche seller in a shrinking body style, and 2019 was a partial launch year for the Cross Country. Volume ran to only a few hundred units a month, while Volvo's XC60 and XC90 crossovers absorbed most of the brand's demand.

Volvo has a positive premium image built on safety leadership and Scandinavian design, with a loyal following among wagon buyers. It lacks the aspirational pull and resale strength of the German luxury leaders.

As a fresh launch in 2019, the Cross Country drew smaller discounts than later model years. Volvo still ran its usual lease and loyalty programs, and slow-turning luxury wagons were negotiable before the chip shortage.

2019 is the first US model year of the SPA-based second-generation V60 Cross Country, so it was brand new with current platform and safety tech.

Reviewers praised its styling, ride, seats and the rarity of a lifted luxury wagon. They criticized modest power, the touchscreen-centric Sensus interface and pricey option packages. It was well liked but rarely the pick of a comparison test.