After spending a full week with the 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country, I have to wonder, why would you opt for a five-passenger SUV over this?!. The V60 Cross Country delivers the passenger- and cargo-toting abilities of a midsize crossover SUV in a package that is easier to handle and more fun to drive. Its all-wheel-drive system and raised ride height make it a great vehicle for traversing snow, ice, or any kind of inclement weather. Its Cross Country moniker might suggest all-terrain ability, but in reality, it is more at home on the road — even a road covered with 6 inches of drifting snow.

Station wagons are becoming an endangered species in the United States, but a few European manufacturers and Japan’s Subaru continue to offer them. The V60’s most direct competitor is the Audi A4 Allroad, whose tech specs match up closely. The V60 Cross Country and A4 Allroad are about the same length, have standard all-wheel drive, and have similar prices. The non-luxury Subaru Outback is a less-expensive alternative and has the same all-wheel-drive vibe as the V60 Cross Country. The Outback is longer and taller than the European wagons, but in base form, it isn’t as powerful or sporty.