Turbo-charged
Volvo builds a better turbo wagon the 2023 Cross Country CASEY WILLIAMS | Auto ReviewerAutoCasey@aol.com When I was a car-obsessed kid back in the 1980s, one of my favorites was the Volvo Turbo Wagon, made iconic in an advertisement showing it sitting next to a Lamborghini Countach pulling a trailer.
The comparison was apt: a superwagon with no penalties of a supercar — a very practical way to haul your stuff. That infatuation is probably why I’ve owned two Subaru Outbacks, the latest with turbo power.
Streamline that original turbo wagon, add a bit of the Outback’s off-road capability, and you have the 2023 Volvo Cross Country B5 AWD. ……………… 2023 Volvo Cross Country B5 Five-passenger, AWD WagonLikes: • Sumptuous interior • Bad boy style • Renowned safetyDislikes: • Borderline power • Pricey with options • Complicated touchscree Powertrain: 2.0-liter T4, 8-spd transOutput: 247hp/258 lb.-ft.
torqueSuspension f/r: Ind/Ind (air)Wheels f/r: 20-inch/20-inch alloyBrakes f/r: disc/discMust-have features: Style, Safety0-60 mph: 7.1sFuel economy: 23/30 mpg city/hwyAssembly: Ghent, BelgiumBase/As-tested price: $48,000/63,585 ……………… Gone are the razor edges of past Volvos, evolved into a streamlined version with a sweeping windshield, strong shoulderlines and bold grille with Volvo logo strewn across. “Thor’s hammer” driving lights show the way.
