2018 Volvo V60 Cross Country

Most automakers doing business in North America have abandoned the station wagon segment in favour of SUVs and crossovers, but Volvo is hedging its bets with a range of crossovers based on station wagons.

One of those is the V60 Cross Country, a version of the brand’s compact station wagon that rides on a lifted suspension and wears black fender cladding to lend this Euro car a more rugged look.

The V60 Cross Country carries over into 2018 unchanged from last year, so it retains a 2.0L engine that uses turbocharging in T5 trim to make 240 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, power that’s sent through an eight-speed automatic transmission to AWD.

This crossover-cum-wagon can’t be optioned with the more powerful, twin-charged motor available in the standard V60, but it does boast 200 mm (7.9 inches) of ground clearance.

Volvo must know something we don’t about the crossover market, because it positions the V60 Cross Country a notch above the larger XC60 with a price $2,000 more dear. That said, Audi does a similar thing with its A4 Allroad, a crossover-ized A4 wagon, which is nearly $3,000 more than the Q5 crossover.

We like the scale of this car and its combination of a compact size with extra ground clearance and a taller seating position. It also gets a few nods to off-roading, like a hill descent control function and front and rear under-bumper skid plates.

Other standard equipment includes a sunroof, 18-inch wheels, heated and power-adjustable front seats, city-speed collision avoidance with automatic braking, Sensus infotainment with a 7.0-inch touchscreen, electronic climate control, power-folding rear-seat headrests, rear park assist, keyless drive and navigation.

An optional climate package adds heat to the rear seats, steering wheel, windshield and washer nozzles. If you want active safety, check the box for the technology package and its radar cruise control, collision warning with full-speed automatic braking and pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning and lane keeping aid, road sign information and automatic high beams. Meanwhile, a premium plus pack brings active xenon headlights with washers, garage door opener and auto-dimming rearview and side mirrors.

Fuel consumption estimates are 10.8/7.8 L/100 km (city/highway).