2018 Volvo V60 Polestar Drivers' Notes Review | Going out with a bang

Just in time for the reveal of the new 2019 Volvo V60, the outgoing 2018 Volvo V60 Polestar arrived at Autoblog HQ. We drove the refreshed model last year. While we were impressed, compared to the competition, the car was expensive and dated. Still, the limited-production model was never going to be a runaway success and a diehard Volvo enthusiast was never going to look for anything else. It is the only wagon in the class, too.

The V60 Polestar is powered by a "twincharged" — supercharged and turbocharged — 2.0-liter inline-four and sends power to all-four wheels through an eight-speed automatic. That powertrain replaced the turbo inline-six and six-speed auto from the original Polestar V60. In addition to the powerful engine, Polestar fitted adjustable Öhlins DFV shocks, stiffer springs and stiffer anti-roll bars. Polestar models come with 20-inch wheels and summer tires, though this one was wearing winter rubber.

Inside, the V60 Polestar comes with heated sport seats with black leather and blue stitching. The same color combo can be found on the shift boot, center console and steering wheel. There's matte carbon-fiber trim on the center stack that matches the carbon front splitter and mirror caps.

Associate Editor Reese Counts: To say I have a soft spot for Volvo wagons would be an understatement. My grandpa had a huge influence on my love for cars (I now own his old '99 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG). As a kid, I remember poking around in the garage to get a look at his Volvo 1800ES. Along the way he also owned Volvo 200, 700 and 900 Series wagons. My mother owned a Volvo V70 R that regularly blew the doors off Camaros and Mustangs at stoplight drags. I learned to drive in that car. In fact, the only vehicle that had more of an impact on me growing up was probably the Chevy Corvette. My dad has owned 17.

It's not subtle. #volvo #v60 #polestar #wagon @therealautoblog pic.twitter.com/Jns6P9W520

— Reese Counts (@rmcounts) February 22, 2018

I love the Polestar's looks. I'm convinced nearly every product Volvo has ever produced has been timeless. Even several years on, the outgoing V60's design holds up. The Polestar blue and carbon-fiber accents help, but the car is still fantastic in white, black and silver. No one does clean wagon designs like the Swedes.

It drives great, too. The twincharged engine is smooth and powerful. The supercharger does a great job of filling in power until the turbo spools up. It provides some nice whine, too. The 2.0-liter sings a smooth song. It's just loud enough to not be obnoxious. The eight-speed pops off upshifts with crisp confidence. The steering is quick and reasonably responsive. I'm sure something other than winter tires would help.

This was the first time I've had a chance to drive a Polestar-tuned Volvo. In our review, we said that the V60 Polestar was a car for Volvo enthusiasts. I am that enthusiast. Sure, for $62,595, I could get a whole lot of other cars. The 2018 Audi S4 that's currently in the Autoblog garage is a perfect example. Compared to the Volvo, the Audi is quicker, more comfortable, more refined and features a thoroughly modern interior. It just lacks a certain jazz that the Volvo simply oozes.

Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore: The V60 is a bit of a unicorn these days as a pure sport wagon — not some jacked up car-based creation masquerading as a crossover. Its driving dynamics capture that strong Euro sport feel. There's plenty of power, and the 362-horsepower engine (super- and turbocharged!) feels strong and sounds good. On a chill February morning, it even produced a bit of a raspy growl. The commute was pretty energetic as the V60 takes corners tightly and returns taut, satisfying steering communication.

Blue, our @VolvoCarUSA V60 Polestar, brightens a chill morning in Michigan. @therealautoblog pic.twitter.com/E0HS7IFJ89

— Greg Migliore (@GregMigliore) February 23, 2018

I love the bright blue color and the Polestar design cues, like the carbon-fiber splitter, rocker panels and mirror caps. Not a fan of these 20-inch spoked wheels, which look tacky. Inside, the Polestar blue stitching is sporty and the interior is smartly laid out. But like Reese notes, the V60 is based on ancient bones. The interior, with some cheap looking materials, shows its age. Still, I had a blast in the V60 Polestar. I like what it is and what it does. But $62,595 feels lofty. I'd take my money elsewhere.

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