The riders love sedans for the comfort they provide and for the opulence they exuberate. But how many times have they driven up to the mountains in their sedan? Not often. Many riders have felt that had there been better ground clearance, it would have been easier to drive a sedan in the rugget terrains. But now, with Swedish automakers Volvo coming out with a luxury S60 Cross Country, things are bound to change.
Having a sporty sedan shape, there is a typical S60 swooping roofline to subtle Cross Country design cues. “The customers want their cars to glide through the rough roads, but all this while they had to compromise on the rear seat comfort of a sedan. The new car addresses both the issues,” Tom von Bonsdorff, Managing Director of Volvo Auto India, says.
The car delivers an involved and focused driving experience with rugged substance. This dynamic design gives a sporty, unconventional edge to the sedan concept. The Cross Country honeycomb grille with the Ironmark emblazoned across radiates the design.
The increased ride height gives a confident stance and wheel-arch embellishments further integrates the look. The dual exhaust tail pipes (integrated), a stylish 18” Nesoalloy and active bending lights are standard.
The piano black deco on sides and rear view mirror casing adds to the looks. The product will be available in a choice of five exterior colours—Rich Java, Osmium Grey, Oynx Black, Crystal White and Bright Silver.
Scandinavian design is exemplified by simple shapes and surfaces. The attention to detail, the authentic materials such as wood and leather, and the easy-to-use controls contribute to the in-command driving experience.
The interior detailing includes a Piano Black deco option, leather gear knobs in the centre stack and a frameless inner rear-view mirror. The S60 features sport seats in single or dual-tone leather with contrasting stitching.
It also has a powerful Volvo All-Wheel Drive (AWD) diesel power train delivering 190 hp and 420 Nm torque, and offering a blend of efficiency and performance. The suspension front and rear are armed with hydraulic shock absorbers and stabiliser bars.
The AWD comes standard with DSTC (Dynamic Stability and Traction Control and Advanced Stability Control). The chassis is raised by 6.5cm as against the S60 which amounts to an SUV like ground clearance of 201 mm.
The City Safety has laser assisted automatic braking from 50kmph, Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Electronic Brake Assistance (EBA), Hill Descent Control which automatically keeps the car at a constant speed while driving downhill, off road, or in deeper water.
Similar to all other Volvo products sold in India, the diesel power train comes with DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) that traps harmful particles like PM2.5 and PM10 by up to 99 per cent.
The company’s commitment to air quality is reflected through its Cleanzone interior (which restricts particles PM 2.5 and PM10, odours, pollen from entering the cabin), electronic climate control, IR reflective wind screen and electrically heated rear window.
The sedan cross is priced at `38.9 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).