Volvo V40 Cross Country gets the all-wheel drive it deserves

Mon, 29 Sep 2014

Want a rugged Volvo wagon? Gothenburg has two kinds to offer: there's the XC crossovers on the one hand and ruggedized wagons on the other. As we reported last month from the unveiling of the new XC90 in Sweden, Volvo plans on offering more Cross Country wagons in the future. But in the meantime, it has upgraded the existing V40 Cross Country with some key enhancements – not the least of which is the long-awaited addition of all-wheel drive.

Powertrain upgrades for Volvo's smallest soft-roader include the new T5 engine (a 1.7-liter turbo four producing 245 horsepower), an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The new powertrain is not only more capable, but also more environmentally friendly than the old T5 it replaces.

The enhanced V40 Cross Country launches in Europe mid-fall before being rolled out in other markets in the following months, but unfortunately the United States is not among them as the V40 is not offered Stateside in any configuration, which is a shame.

Volvo Cars introduces All Wheel Drive powertrain upgrade for V40 Cross Country

- All-Wheel Drive (AWD) rugged all-road capability
- Reduced emissions and improved fuel economy
- Powertrain upgrade completes a series of enhancements

The successful Drive-E powertrain with a 245 hp petrol turbo T5 engine that was made available earlier this year for the V40 is now being introduced for the V40 Cross Country – with the added capability of AWD.

"Volvo Cars is continuing to evolve the V40 Cross Country with this powertrain upgrade. The combination of the Drive-E T5 engine with AWD will give adventurous customers the power to explore, and all the control they need to be confident in all road conditions," says Dr. Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research & Development at Volvo Cars.

With 245 hp and 350 Nm of torque, the V40 Cross Country delivers all the power that drivers have come to expect from a Volvo. Adding to the refinement and fuel-efficient driveability is the 8-speed automatic gearbox with paddles on the steering wheel for manual gear shifting. The upgrade will be available starting mid-fall in Europe, with a global roll-out over the following months.
Volvo V40 Cross Country

Impressive CO2 reductions

Since they were introduced last year, Volvo Cars' ground-breaking four-cylinder Drive-E engines have been widely hailed for their unique ability to combine power and efficiency with a small footprint. Compared to the V40 Cross Country's previous T5 engine, the new powertrain reduces emissions to an impressive 149 g/km – a level unmatched by the Audi Q3 TFSI Quattro (179 g/km), the BMW X1 BMW X1 xDrive20i xLine auto (170 g/km) or the Mercedez-Benz B-class (SUV) 220 Sport 4MATIC DCT (156 g/km).

Refinement

This powertrain upgrade continues the series of enhancements that have been made to the V40 Cross Country this year. Other new additions have been a 19" Damara alloy wheel with grey diamond-cut rims, delivering not only extra comfort and off-road capability, but also less noise and added rim protection; plus a new exterior colour, Power Blue, as well as the updated on-board infotainment and navigation system, Sensus Connect, providing customers with a fully connected car.

By Noah Joseph