2016 Volvo S60 Cross Country To Be Rarity In US Market

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

Future sightings of the upcoming 2016 Volvo S60 Cross Country are likely to be rare, as only 500 will arrive in U.S. showrooms this summer.

Car and Driver reports the 500 will wear the concept’s Austrian Gray and either black or white when it arrives in the United States. Meanwhile, markets such as Russia and India may see the standard S60 replaced with the more off-road capable sedan, based on the rougher road conditions found in both countries.

As for why the U.S. will see so few S60 Cross Countrys, Volvo North America boss Lex Kerssemakers says it’s an experiment to determine how successful such a beast would be among the audience it hopes to attract: those who want what SUVs and crossovers have, but not in an SUV- or crossover-sized package:

There are so many niches popping up these days. You see our competitors trying to fill all sorts of niches, and I’m not convinced that the consumer is really ready for all those niches. But in all fairness, you don’t know until you have tried. You can test and clinic whatever you want, but at the end it’s the real life in which you have to find it out. We’ll see how it works.

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

More by Cameron Aubernon

Comments
Join the conversation
5 of 32 comments
  • Chicago Dude Chicago Dude on Feb 05, 2015

    I'm not entirely sure that the S60 CC is a crazy idea. My mother recently switched from a Camry to a crossover and the only reason she did that was because it is easier for her to get in and out of. She doesn't care about any other marketing aspect of the crossover as far as it is different from a sedan. They simply don't matter. If Toyota made a Camry CC, she'd be driving that. I doubt she'd be interested in a compact(ish) Volvo that costs $40k, so clearly this car is not for her specifically. But it's not crazy to think that there are others for whom this is exactly what they are looking for.

    • 28-Cars-Later 28-Cars-Later on Feb 05, 2015

      Wouldn't it be ironic if you are right and Volvo is on to something but due to the level of dysfunction Volvo is in (at least in the US) they can't move any volume with it and someone else picks it up.

  • Krhodes1 Krhodes1 on Feb 05, 2015

    America loves sedans. America loves cars on stilts. Surely Volvo can move a mere 500 sedans on stilts? Those Subaru SUS things were and still are all over the place here.

  • Richard Richard on Feb 06, 2015

    Heavy Handle- you're right about the nice bright exterior colours for the CrosTrek exterior. However, I was talking more about interiors. Autbytel lists only black and beige for the interior colours. No opulent reds, browns, blues or greens alas.

  • Corine Mith Corine Mith on Mar 12, 2015

    What is the expected price for this volvo ?

Next