Spec Comparo - Volvo S60 Cross Country vs BMW X1 vs Audi Q3

Volvo's S60 Cross Country is the amalgamation of a sedan and a crossover based on the S60 sedan. It is a completely new body style that kept us thinking which cars it competes with. Looking at the dimensions, specifications and equipment of the S60 Cross Country, we can only conclude that it has definitely upped the ante. In the entry-level we could see only products from BMW and Audi giving it competition of some kind. Since it offers many benefits over the regular sedans, let’s look at its specifications as against the BMW X1 and the Audi Q3 crossover known for their off-roading capabilities.

Dimensions

At 4,637mm, the S60 Cross Country is by far the longest vehicle here. The BMW X1 and Audi Q3 measure 4,439mm and 4,385mm in length respectively. Similar is the case with the width. The Cross Country has the biggest footprint as it measures 1,866mm as against the width of the X1 at 1,821mm and Q3 at 1,831mm. At more than 1,600mm in height, these cars are however taller than the Cross Country which measures just 1,539mm in height. Nevertheless, a wheelbase of 2,774mm should bring in more space in its cabin. The wheelbase of the X1 is 2,670mm and the Q3’s 2,603mm. And if you thought 170mm of ground clearance for the Q3 and 165mm for the X1 are decent enough to tackle Indian road conditions, wait for the Cross Country. Volvo’s new kid on the block puts these crossovers to shame with 201mm of ground clearance. But when it comes to storage at the rear, the Volvo loses out with a boot space of 380litres whereas the Q3 and X1 can accommodate more luggage at 460and 420litres respectively.

Equipment

All these cars pack similar instrumentation, entertainment and comfort features like leather seats, automatic climate control, rear AC, infotainment system etc. The Cross Country gets conventional projector headlamps unlike the LED ones on the X1 and Q3 and earns the edge with cornering headlamps which are missing on the other two. All the three cars get six airbags, but the new Volvo gets dual-stage airbags and in addition, a middle rear three-point seatbelt as well. ABS and EBD with ESP are standard on all these vehicles, but the Cross Country claims the high stakes with hill descent control, a rear camera with guidance and an electrically adjustable sunroof. And yet, the crossovers have an advantage over the Volvo as the 60:40 split seats can be folded down for making additional space.

Engine

All these cars are available in the diesel guise with a four-wheel-drive system. The BMW X1’s 2.0-litre inline-four mill churns out 188bhp of power and 400Nm of torque while the Audi Q3’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine produces 174bhp of power and 380Nm of torque. The Volvo Cross Country’s bigger 2.4-litre diesel engine is a five-cylinder unit and matches the power out of the X1 at 188bhp, but produces more torque at 420Nm. On the transmission front, the X1 gets an eight-speed automatic gearbox, the Q3 has its seven-speed s-tronic ‘box and the Cross Country packs a six-speed automatic one.

Price

The top-of-the-line BMW X1 xDrive20d M Sport is priced at Rs 39.9 lakh and the Audi Q3 35 TDI Premium Plus costs Rs 37.9 lakh (ex-showroom New Delhi). Volvo has priced the S60 Cross Country at Rs 38.9 lakh, bang in the middle of this closest competition.