2016 Volvo V60 Polestar - All-Around All-Star | Chicago News Car Review

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• published: 15 Apr 2016
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In the last 20 years, the auto industry has done everything they could to convince us that we don’t want a station wagon. The 2016 Volvo V60 Polestar, however, reminds us of all the reasons we should want a station wagon. Often the decision of which car to get is marred by compromise - do I get something with the space I need, or do I get something that’s fun to drive? The minivan, SUV, and more recently the ‘crossover’ have all tried to answer that question. Ultimately, the best combination of performance and utility really comes from a sports-wagon. In Europe, the wagon is well-loved, and accounts for nearly 35% of sales in popular segment. Volvo, on a recent upswing, has leveraged the investment dollars that new ownership have infused and are creating a line of new products that seamlessly blend the brand’s iconic safety with modern luxury, technology and performance. The Polestar name was adopted from Volvo’s sports-car racing team that has won championships in international touring-car series. The racing DNA means this is the highest-performance Volvo you can buy. The Polestar is available in both the S60 Sedan and V60 Wagon we tested. The horsepower is rated at 350, but with my considerable racing experience I can confidently say that is underrated. It feels really, really fast - in an effortless and precise way. The turbocharged 3.0 Liter Inline-6 is refined, efficient and sounds great. The chassis keeps up, with a Polestar tuned suspension, 20” wheels, and huge 6-piston brakes. It’s a really compelling combination of performance, safety, and in the V60 version, utility. Safety has always been Volvo’s halmark, and the company’s stated goal is to have no fatality in a Volvo car by 2020. The V60 Polestar has some excellent safety technology with their ‘City Safety’ system and BLIS blind-spot monitoring. The ‘City Safety’ system integrates front-collision warning with automatic braking that works at any speed. It really works, and although it’s a little more intrusive than we’d like, it will help prevent accidents and reduce its severity. Inside the V60, the interior fit and finish is excellent, save for a few older parts-bin items that don’t match the luxury direction of many of Volvo’s new products. Some of the switchgear looks a little cheaper and more dated, but the sport-seats which are covered in grippy alcantara and adorned in contrasting red stitching are perfect. The supportive seats tie in perfectly with the rest of the interior. The infotainment system is very good, with multiple functions and applications - including excellent smartphone connectivity. There are some low points, as the ride quality comes across very firm due to the performance tuning of the suspension. However, if you’re looking for the performance of the Polestar, that is to be expected. Like many cars, the center console digs into my knee, which may also be more of a curse of my 6’4” frame than anything else - but it gets pretty uncomfortable after a while. Overall, we loved the V60 Polestar’s combination of performance, safety and utility. It would definitely make my short list, and as you’ll find in my upcoming reviews, that’s not an easy list to make. With as much space as all but the largest SUV’s, coupled with impressive acceleration, handling and braking - it makes you wonder why we don’t buy more wagons! Special thanks to The Autobarn Volvo of Oak Park and Greenwood Motorsports for providing this week’s car, the Volvo V60 Polestar.