Volvo's Cross Country AWD estate wagon, jacked up in the suspension and rigged with a permanently engaged all-wheel-drive device for trekking across rugged terrain, is the company's clever alternative to a sport-utility vehicle.
The Cross Country boasts an elevated chassis that rivals an off-road wagon, no-dent body armor to brush aside trail debris and traction applying to all wheels. It can plow down rough routes to reach a backwater fishing hole or camping spot, yet on pavement deliver sophisticated traits of a refined road car with agile handling and a smooth ride quality. In other words, it possesses the go-anywhere attributes of a sturdy SUV when you want to venture away from pavement, but otherwise behaves like a nimble sedan while always coddling passengers in luxurious comfort.
The Cross Country comes with an impressive pedigree derived from a new generational design for Volvo's mid-size V70 estate wagon. It stocks a turbo-charged engine and a five-speed automatic transmission, extensive luxury features typically found on European touring cars, plus innovative safety measures. Compared against the V70 foundation, though, the Cross Country stretches 1.2 inches longer in length and is several inches wider due to an expansion of the front wheel track by 2.3 inches. It's also 2.8 inches taller at the roof, with the chassis raised by 2.4 inches to clear 8.2 inches.
Volvo's traditional focus on active and passive automotive safety devices carries over to the Cross Country with its safety cell body structure and seats that react to collision forces to thwart whiplash injuries. Occupants are shielded by airbags set ahead, beside and above. Then, to avoid a crash altogether, the Cross Country driver can draw from active safety tools like quick-to-cut steering, anti-lock brakes and a traction controller to reduce skidding and the emergency stopping time.
As a bonus, the wagon format creates a generous flat-floor cargo bay in back where an optional third-row seat may be added. A second-row bench splits and folds in three sections to vary the mix of passengers and gear, and an available electric refrigerated cooler box plugs into the center seat section to chill road picnic snacks.