Volvo V60 Cross Country

Sub-zero temperatures, packed snow, and ice-covered lakes are brutal environments for most vehicles. But the 2020 Volvo V60 Cross Country treats this frozen tundra like its own personal playground, gliding over ice, climbing steep banks, and kicking up snow in the process. This is Sweden’s newest snowmobile.

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Our proving ground is the brutally cold Swedish city of Luleå (pronounced: Loo-lay-oh), just 80 miles outside of the Arctic Circle. Temperatures are well below zero, and north of town, a frozen lake layered in three feet of ice provides the perfect makeshift ice driving course. There, the V60 proves it’s more than just a warmed-over wagon, hoping to cash in on suckers – we mean, adventurous millennials – looking for an off-road-ish, crossover alternative. This stunning Swede has all the right elements for both trails and pavement.

Chunky, charcoal-colored cladding and a hearty 3.0-inch suspension lift separate Volvo’s rugged Cross Country from its low-riding counterpart. Even with its added off-road touches, the svelte design of the standard V60 carries over beautifully. If anything, the tough touches make the V60 more appealing. But the upgrades go deeper than that.

Pop the V60 Cross Country into its trim-specific “Off-Road” mode to recalibrate the engine, gearbox, and all-wheel-drive system in pursuit of more grip. The suspension is now spongie...