This week, we are reviewing the 2024 V60 Polestar Engineered. Our vehicle was assembled at the Torslanda plant in Sweden with an MSRP of CAD 77,500.00.
I've been called a dreamer, thinking that wagons could become a trend again. Volvo is about to pull the plug on North American wagons. They're not the only ones; the Base RS6 model is the latest only as long as Audi finds it pertinent. Mercedes and BMW have all talked about wagons and hinted at a potential return, only to squash it as a rumour.
Thanks to its dual motor, the Volvo V60 Polestar Engineered is agile, fast, spacious, and super efficient. A simplified 2.0L turbocharged engine now sits in front, which was both turbocharged and supercharged from previous years. While the setup was interesting, it was complex; we only saw the system work without any weird jerks in the last year of its production inside the S90 we tested (here, Hyperlink). The second one is an electric motor on the rear axle, which is not connected to the front wheel. This gives it an interesting driving dynamic when it's driven solely electric. Yes, it gives it a rear-wheel drive bias, something we've also seen on BMW PHEVs, and we can confirm it works well. Saving the best for last, this current setup makes a whooping 455 hp combined and 523 lb-ft of torque, giving us a 0-100km/h performance of just 4.6 seconds.
If you have any concerns about the ability to drive on icy or snowy surfaces, the long wheelbase of the V60 makes it a charm to drive. Don't worry if you need the AWD system; it is available with a flick of a button. So why is it so hard to convince people to get a V60? There could be a couple of reasons; for one, the V60 feels like a sports car, it's very low to the ground, and the suspension is on the firm side. We believe not offering this powertrain on the V60 Cross Country or the V90 Cross Country is a loss for Volvo.
Inside the vehicle, it also feels like you're driving a sports car; you will not find a lot of space compared to an XC60 (review here) or even the XC90 (review here), which offers a similar drive train and offers more comfortable seating but at a premium. In no way is the V60 small; you can easily seat 5, but it will be a squeeze in the back, especially for the middle seat with a rather large transmission tunnel where the battery sits. Where the wagon shines is the cargo area. We had to pick up someone from the airport and fit four suitcases and a large grocery afterwards without impairing visibility, which would not have been the case in many SUVs. The magic number is 471 L with all seats up and a massive 1431 L with the seats down. If you have any concerns about bringing stuff, the V60 will be the perfect companion.
During our 500km test, we averaged 3.0L/100km, emphasizing that the dual motor works well even if you plan to drive longer distances. Volvo announces 8.0L/100km in the city, 7.2L/100km on the Highway, and a combined result of 7.6L/100km. If we compare it to other Volvo vehicles we have tested, even when the car works on gas only, it returns better fuel economy than Volvo announces.
The Bowers and Wilkins Premium Sound System is our favourite sound system in the industry. While this system is optional on different Volvo products, it comes standard in the V60 Polestar Engineered. As we have pointed out, the sound is so crisp that it would fulfill any audiophile's dreams. It has 15 high-end speakers with a total output of 1410W. The V60 now uses Google for its infotainment, which has a couple of perks, such as having Google Maps transposed directly on the cluster. Apple Car Play and Android Auto connectivity is only available via USB-C cable so that a wireless option would be welcome.
Installation of car seats is effortless; the ISOFIX ports are covered with a latch cover, as you can see in the photo below, and you lift it to access. The ISOFIX ports themselves are easily accessible, and attaching the car seat is straightforward. The only hiccup we saw was that when connecting the child seat using the anchor hook, it needs to go over the headrest as the space under the headrest is too small. The door handle is easy enough for younger children to open it like big kids. The golden seat belt buckles were an attention seeker with my kids and were the first thing to touch and show their friends when entering the V60.
The V60 and other rechargeable vehicles from Volvo are highly efficient in urban settings thanks to their dual motors. It excels in stop-and-go traffic by regaining most of the lost energy into the battery. Switching your gear lever from D to B utilizes the electric engine's braking power. When driving at slow speeds, the steering becomes lighter, making parking a breeze. Even while driving in the winter, we were able to get close to the 64km announced. The 360-degree camera ensures you have a clear view of everything around the car. The V60 can do it for you if you need assistance parking, even in the tightest spaces.
Why would we buy the Volvo V60 Polestar Engineered, or what did we like about it?
We loved the practicality and sporty drive and appreciated the fantastic fuel economy of the V60.
Why would we not buy the Volvo Polestar Engineered, or what did we not like about it?
It is worth noting that some competitor PHEVs in 2024 have a faster level 2 charge capability, whereas the V60 is capped at 3.6 kWh despite having a massive 14.7 kWh battery. This may seem puzzling to some, especially since charging such a battery takes approximately 5 hours. The ride might be stiff for some.
Volvo has lent us this vehicle for one week as a press vehicle. We have no affiliation with Volvo Canada. The above reflects our personal opinion of the car referred to above.
