Volvo S60 Polestar Review – Pole Position!

What is it? 

Your regular Volvo S60 along with sugar, spice and everything nice! The new Volvo S60 Polestar goes on to showcase the prowess of the Swedish car maker’s performance division. With 367 BHP-470 Nm on tap, this steroid-laced S60 is powered by a 2.0-litre four-pot petrol engine that benefits from both turbo- and supercharging. On sale in India at an introductory price of Rs 52.5 lakh (ex-showroom), the S60 Polestar comes across as a rather well-priced option for those looking for a luxo-executive sedan that is racetrack-ready on days you want to set a new lap record at the local circuit. Recently, we had a rendezvous with this Swedish projectile at the rather technical Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore. Here’s our Volvo S60 Polestar review to give you a fair idea of the latest from Volvo India.

Looks the Same?

No, not really. First off, the S60 Polestar comes in the loud ‘Rebel Blue’ shade, which alone does enough to make this car stand out. And there’s a lot more to validate the sporty credentials of this model. Up front, you get an updated bumper that features a discreet splitter and a gaping air dam. There’s also a pair of LED DRLs to make things more interesting. The grille is devoid of chrome garnishing and proudly flanks a Volvo logo along with a Polestar badge. We’ve always liked the well-sculpted nose of the S60, but various add-ons go on to ensure the Polestar edition looks sharper and more premium.

Not much has changed in the side profile, but you do get a set of really tasty 20-inch lightweight mag wheels. In line with this car’s performance aspirations, the ORVM-caps come finished in black. The rear-end gets a handful of updates, too. The boot gets a lip-spoiler and the trunk-lid now sports a Polestar badge. But this is not all, even the the rear bumper is new and looks much sportier. There’s a dual exhaust pipe setup, which again hints at the high performance this car has on offer. We kid you not, the S60 Polestar looks every bit a road legal version of the S60 Polestar from the Swedish Touring Car Championship.

On the Inside

The regular S60’s cabin has always been high on comfort and luxury. The Polestar version’s interior is all that and more. The S60 Polestar’s cabin carries a handful of updates to maintain that racy appeal. You get leather sports seats, plenty of carbon-fibre trim and blue stitching to compliment the bespoke exterior. There’s also a multimedia screen that offers gazillion menus for configuring everything from the audio system to the drive settings. The only downside we can think of is the slightly cluttered centre stash.

There’s plenty of kit on offer. You get a full quote of airbags, sports pedals, leather seats, suede interior trim, rear-view camera, multi-zone climate control, parking senors, Sensus infotainment system, 650-watt 12-speaker Harman and Kardon audio system, sat nav, Bluetooth and an internal hard drive storage.

On the Go!

Get into the car and you’ll be quick to note the snug fit the seats offer. The sports seats on the S60 are remarkably comfortable. Also, the aggressive bolstering goes on to keep you in place under hard cornering. It’s fairly easy to find the right driving position using the adjustable steering and electric adjustments on the driver’s seat.

Formerly available with a 3.0-litre six-cylinder motor offering 345 BHP and 500 Nm, the latest iteration features a cleaner engine that displaces 2.0-litre and has an in-line four format. This engine comes mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and outputs 367 BHP and 470 torques. Out on the race track, the S60 Polestar can get really ferocious. 100 KMPH from standstill comes in merely 4.7 seconds and this car can go on to hit an electronically nannied top whack of 250 KMPH. This car isn’t very quick off the block but come 2,500 RPM and you’re in for quite a treat. The engine is very refined and will rev happily till the 7,000 RPM redline. But what’s really addictive is the aural bliss that comes from the rorty engine note. We managed to hit a speedo-indicated 175 KMPH on the straight that leads to the first corner of the rather short-distance speedway.

The auto ‘box here is an Aisin 8-speed unit which, in most driving conditions, won’t disappoint. We drove the car in the Sports+ mode, and the transmission didn’t miss a beat, offering seamless and well-timed upshifts. As for the downshifts, well, they aren’t quite as smooth or intuitive. This isn’t quite a deal-breaker but something that sticks out like a sore thumb in an otherwise really high performance package.

Around the Corners?

Compared to your regular Volvo S60, this Polestar edition comes with 80% stiffer spring ratings, along with adjustable Ohlins dampers and new bushings for the suspension. This isn’t all; this car comes with 20-inch lightweight mag wheels that are shod with super sticky Michelin Pilot Super Sport rubber that has been specially developed for this vehicle. All this means the S60 Polestar exudes great confidence while apex hunting.

The car is very stable at high speeds and the steering is a really eager companion on your corner carving adventures. There’s an almost colossal amount of grip on offer, so much so that we found it really easy to make last minute line corrections mid-corner.The Haldex All Wheel Drive system with its electronically controlled clutch goes on to make sure the S60 Polestar remains poised even under really hard cornering. The Brembo 6 piston brake calipers ensure there’s sufficient bite to haul down the beast from triple digit speeds.

Should I Buy One? 

Why, yes, of course! The Mercedes C43 AMG, which is one of the direct rivals, costs a whopping Rs 22 lakh more and yet, its 3.0-litre Biturbo V6 manages to output the same power and only 50 Nm more. Moreover, there’s a negligible difference in 0-100 KMPH timings and top speeds. Comparisons with German rivals apart, there’s a lot going for this car. For starters, it brings to you all the luxury and premiumness that comes with the regular Volvo S60. Moreover, the Polestar Edition boasts excellent track manners and a high-strung 2.0-litre four banger that reeks of technical wizardry. On sale at an introductory price of Rs 52.5 lakh (ex-showroom), we really can’t think of a better value-for-money proposition in the world of performance-tuned executive luxury sedans.

Volvo S60 Polestar Review – Specifications

Volvo S60 Polestar Review – Images

So, what do you think of our Volvo S60 Polestar review? Do share your views by penning them down in the comments section below.