From the V70 to the EX60: our Cross Country DNA

Next year, we will debut a variant of our newest all-electric SUV, the EX60 Cross Country. It brings all the benefits of the EX60: class-leading electric range, fast charging and state-of-the-art technology that makes life easier, safer and more enjoyable.

Built to let you do more and see more, the EX60 Cross Country is our latest interpretation of a car variant that we more or less invented.

The original idea

Our popular line-up of Cross Country cars goes back all the way to 1997 when we introduced the V70 XC, marking a bold departure from our traditional line-up of practical estates.

Based on our very first all-wheel-drive car, the 850 estate, the V70 XC was ready for more than a relaxed cruise down the coast or through winding city streets. It was equally at home on mountain roads and far off trails.

This was a car built for the unexpected. With higher ground clearance, reinforced underpinnings and a rugged design – featuring tough body cladding, two-tone styling and the now-iconic Cross Country badge – it was designed to excel both on and off the road.

The V70 XC was an instant success, especially in North America. More importantly, it created an entirely new category of cars for us: premium estates embracing adventure without compromising safety or comfort.

Since 1997, the development of our Cross Country variants has focused on maintaining the aura of a very comfortable on-road car with capable, off-road potential. Each model comes with a robust and expressive look and are designed to perform in a wide variety of road conditions: from muddy tracks and ankle-deep snow to highway driving.

Evolving the concept

When we launched our first SUV in 2002, the XC90, the V70 XC became the XC70, aligning it with its larger sibling. By the time we introduced the V40 Cross Country in 2012, the XC name had become closely associated with our SUVs, prompting another name leap.

With the Cross Country name we hammered home what the concept is about: expressive, dynamic all-road variants of our cars.

The Cross Country treatment continued with the V60 and V90 estates, following the formula of lifting the ride height, focusing on all-wheel drive and adding rugged detailing. The last V90 Cross Country was produced in 2025, while the V60 variant is still going strong today.

In 2015, the S60 became our first sedan to come in a Cross Country variant, offering a higher stance and a more unconventional, sporty edge.

Cross Country today – and tomorrow

The EX60 Cross Country will be the next Volvo to pick up the torch, joining the current line-up of the V60 and EX30 Cross Country variants.

The latter, designed for people who want big experiences from their small, fully electric SUV, takes the successful recipe of the EX30 and adds tougher, more adventurous ingredients. The result is a car well suited to drives beyond crowded cities – come rain, come shine, or when everything is covered in snow and ice.

To help you navigate rough terrain more easily, it’s raised higher off the ground compared with the standard EX30. It also has special, bigger wheels, with the option of an 18-inch all-terrain accessory tyre to make those regular countryside outings even easier. Of course, it also comes with all-wheel drive, making it more than capable of handling the tough and slippery conditions that are part and parcel of life outside the city.

Nearly three decades later, the adventurous DNA of the V70 Cross Country lives on in a new era. With the EX60 Cross Country, that original idea takes its next step forward, combining electric performance, modern technology and the same quiet confidence that has always set Cross Country apart.