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Volvo Cross Country AWD wagon rides smooth but plays rough
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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MANCHESTER CENTER, Vt. -- No one would want to take the typical suburbanite's carpooling station wagon far away from pavement, much less crawl over rocky trails and mud-filled sluices, but the new Cross Country AWD by Volvo of Sweden is not a typical station wagon.
Hiked high in the suspension so it can travel over the lumps and bumps on non-paved terrain, then outfitted with a sophisticated mechanical device that distributes engine power to whichever set of wheels can get a good traction grip, the Cross Country is Volvo's clever car-like alternative to a truck-based sport-utility vehicle.
With the raised platform height comparable to an off-road sport-ute, its body clad in non-destructible armor to fend off trail brush, and traction automatically spread to every nubby tire, Volvo's newest wagon easily treks across unpaved territory to get to some out-of-the-way fishing spot or campground. However, when steered on smooth pavement it also musters the well-heeled ride quality of a sophisticated touring car that's easy to maneuver in traffic and quite nimble on a curvy road.
So the Cross Country can take you away from pavement on occasion in the manner of a go-anywhere SUV, but otherwise it acts like an agile and easy-to-drive touring wagon while all the time pampering riders in cushy quarters.
As a bonus, Cross Country's styling as a station wagon brings a spacious cargo compartment at the rear where a third-row seat may be installed to boost the passenger load.
Also, the wagon's second-row bench splits and flips and folds in three separate sections to alter the arrangement for riders and cargo, and an available electric refrigerated cooler box plugs into the center seat section to chill car picnic snacks.
Of course, the Cross Country also carries all of the active and passive safety devices that define contemporary Volvo vehicles, such as an energy-absorbing body structure, active bucket seats that can block whiplash injuries, and passive air bags located ahead, beside and above passengers.
Standard active safety tools range from quick-to-react steering, computer-managed anti-lock brakes and traction control to check wheel spin, plus the all-wheel-drive system that's constantly working to maintain tire traction on pavement as well as dirt.
In an off-road test, we steered a version of the Cross Country over a rugged and rutted dual-track trace winding up Mount Manchester in Vermont soon after a storm had soaked the route, leaving trail obstacles like rocks slick with rain and mud puddles deep enough to swallow a tire or two.
With every challenge -- from slippery gravel to stair-step rocky bumps and long sluices of gummy mud -- our Cross Country moved steadily forward. Actually, the wagon behaved itself through varying conditions, and with the jacked-up chassis we cleared all obstacles without concern.
A viscous clutch installed in front of the rear differential sets up the all-wheel-drive system. With that apparatus about 95 percent of engine torque normally channels to the front wheels, but when on-board sensors detect wheel spin the mechanism redirects power to other wheels that can get a better grip. It's a seamless system that works automatically, so the driver never must worry about when to shift into four-wheel-drive.
The Cross Country uses suspension components lifted from the revamped Volvo V70 estate wagon, although a different geometry results in the chassis rising by 2.4 inches to clear 8.2 inches.
Structural elements and mechanical hardware also come out of the V70, but the Cross Country stretches an inch longer and is wider than the V70 because the front wheel track increases by several inches. It's also almost three inches taller at the rooftop due to the elevated chassis.
Muscle to propel the Cross Country up a rocky trail or swiftly down a freeway also stems from the V70 with Volvo's light-pressure turbo-charged five-cylinder engine. Displacing 2.4 liters and producing 197 hp, the plant creates strong torque at lower speeds without much evidence of the usual turbo engine's hesitation.
Coupled to this engine is a five-speed electronic automatic transmission rigged with Volvo's Geartronic selector that enables shifting through the gears without having to clutch it. To switch into the Geartronic mode, the driver simply slides the gear lever to the left out of Drive, then shoves it forward to bump to a higher gear or pulls it back to dip down into the next lower gear.
Driving on pavement, the Cross Country acts like a wily touring car with plush but solid ride characteristics and fast steering responses, due to a stiff structure anchoring the independent suspension system composed of front MacPherson struts and a rear multi-link axle, plus rack and pinion steering.
When steered off pavement on irregular surfaces, however, it transforms with traits of an off-road vehicle, drawing from the hiked-high chassis, a set of tactile all-terrain Pirelli tires and the all-wheel-drive system that always manages to get good traction.
Despite the raised chassis, Cross Country still resembles the V70, but only if the V70 wore body armor.
The pair share the same essential sheetmetal stretched across a wedge-shaped structure with a boxy wagon's bay in back and a low sloping front hood.
But then the Cross Country gains a low ring of protective cladding that wraps the deep front and rear bumpers, flared fenders around the wheelwells and low side sills below all doors. Cast in a contrasting dark shade that's colored throughout the plastic compound so off-road scrapes and scratches won't be apparent, the cladding not only serves a functional purpose but makes the vehicle look like a tough trail warrior.
Capping the roof, molded rails tied by cross braces form a car-top carrier to anchor cargo or sports gear.
Inside the spacious cabin, the Cross Country provides luxurious seats in a muted monochromatic hue. Two buckets in front flank a central console, while a second-row bench has room for three riders. The bench divides into three sections of 40/20/40 percent, and each seatback will flip forward and fold flat. The center portion may be removed entirely, creating either an aisle for access to the rear bay or space for an accessory, such as that optional electric refrigerated box.
Convenience items like a corral for shopping bags can be installed in the rear cargo compartment, or the small third seat for children.
Luxurious appointments in the Cross Country range from power for all controls to an automatic climate system, with deluxe audio equipment available.
Volvo's suggested price points begin around $35,000 and extend to $43,000 for a fully outfitted version trimmed in leather with a dashboard pop-up navigation system installed.
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 2001 VOLVO CROSS COUNTRY AWD Specs |
| Description: |
Mid-size 5-door AWD wagon
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| Model Options: |
Mid-size 5-door AWD wagon
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| Wheelbase: |
108.8 inches
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| Overall Length: |
186.3 inches
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| Engine Size: |
DOHC 2.4-L I5 LP-Turbo
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| Transmission: |
Auto/5 Geartronic
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| Drive: |
AWD
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| Braking: |
Power 4-disc/ABS/TCS
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| Airbags: |
2 (front) + 2 (side)
+ 2 (side curtain)
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| Gas Mileage: |
17/22 mpg
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| Price: |
$ 35,000 to $ 43,000 |
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