The Polestar brand has been all over the EV news cycle as of late, first for their carbon fiber bodied hybrid GT car, the Polestar 1, and most recently for their Polestar 2, which has arrived to give Tesla some serious competition. However, before beginning their new role as an EV manufacturer, Polestar was the tuning house of Volvo, known for creating fast Swedish station wagons and SUVs. Lucky for us, the dynamic duo has decided to give the XC60 crossover the electrified treatment, thus creating a hotter version of the well-known family hauler.
This week's tester, the Volvo XC60 T8 Polestar Engineered, comes equipped with the Swedish brands clever yet complicated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine which is accompanied by a turbocharger as well as a supercharger. Add on to that a bit of Polestar magic by way of an electric motor and you get a crossover that produces 415 horsepower. However, there are potential troubles on the horizon, the first being its price tag, for over $70,000, it'll need to be more than just quick to impress.
Subtle Yet Successful Visual Updates Over The Standard Model
It is no secret that the standard Volvo XC60 is meant to appeal to the family-oriented market, resulting in inoffensive soft body lines that display elegance above all else. The XC60 Polestar takes a completely different approach while still retaining a bit of subtlety. The front grille is now finished in gloss black and sports the Polestar badge in the body matched color. The lower air intakes also receive the blacked-out treatment and while they are not the craziest bit of aerodynamic design we've seen, they are certainly sharper than the standard model. The result is a crossover that manages to look sporty without having to boast about its performance credentials.
The subtlety continues in the rear where the XC60 Polestar receives a new rear diffuser finished in gloss black flanked by two large exhaust pipes on each end of the rear bumper. To top it all off, there is a subtle roof spoiler that ends where the two vertically oriented LED taillights begin.
The biggest change however is the enormous wheels on all four corners. The two-toned 22-inch wheels come wrapped with Pirelli P-Zero tires for added grip. Their size is a result of function rather than form seeing as they need to clear the massive Akebono six-piston calipers and 14.6-inch brake discs. The multispoke design also has the added benefit of providing a clear view of the gold-painted brakes.
A Plug-In Hybrid Crossover That's Turbocharged And Supercharged
Under the hood lives the 2.0-liter twin-charged four-cylinder engine we mentioned earlier as well as the electric motor which helps it achieve its 415 horsepower output. Mated to the powerplant are an 8-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system. The transition between full electric, hybrid, and normal driving is controlled by a drive mode selector in the center console. The sportiest of these modes is the "Polestar Engineered" mode which makes full use of all of the available power while accelerating and charges the battery under normal driving.
The added instantaneous torque from the electric motor is a welcomed addition in traffic scenarios and it serves to provide a decent initial shove while the automatic transmission and the internal combustion engine catch up. The 8-speed transmission certainly isn't tuned for sporty driving and can be slow to react under hard acceleration. The heavily boosted engine also suffers from a bit of lag and requires a decent amount of revs in order to get properly moving. The electric engine however softens the impact of these flaws and provides an experience that feels like two-stage acceleration rather than one linear powerband. The result isn't exactly a high-performance family-sized vehicle, but instead an agile daily driver.
The suspension and brakes are where the XC60 Polestar truly comes into its own. As mentioned earlier, the Akebono brakes are enormous, yet strangely they don't behave unusually. While there may be a bit of squeak at lower speeds, they are easy to modulate via the confidence-inspiring brake pedal and are very easy to drive around town.
The star of the show however is the Öhlins manually adjustable suspension. We are not kidding, at the top of the front strut towers, you will find two knobs that will allow the driver to meticulously select the ride stiffness, going above and beyond what any preset driving mode can offer.
A Minimalist Interior With Infotainment From Google
One of the first things you'll notice whilst inside the XC60's cabin is the lack of Polestar badging. Other than a delightful set of gold seatbelts, there is no real visual differentiation from a standard XC60 interior. Everything is clearly laid out and well-executed with minimal use of physical buttons. Almost all of the XC60 Polestars functionality is handled via the center vertically oriented infotainment screen. The system runs on Google's Android operating system and was carefully co-developed with the Swedish carmaker. Its lower position in the dashboard means there is no need for an additional controller, making it easy to use when on the move.
The greatest part of the interior, however, is the pair of sporty front seats. While they are not bucket seats, they offer a surprising amount of side-bolstering without being overly stiff or uncomfortable. Around town, they offer all of the comforts you'd expect of an XC60 with the visual appeal of a sporty bucket-like seat.
Sporty And Stylish, But Expensive
Purchasing an XC60 Polestar may be harder than anticipated, given that Volvo has decided to only produce it in very small quantities. If you are lucky enough to find one, however, be ready to pay $69,500 as a base price and over $70,000 with the addition of any available options. While the standard XC60 is one of the best luxury SUV's for under $50,000, the value proposition goes out the window with its spicier sibling.
As an all-out performer, the XC60 Polestar is outgunned by its competition, often offering closer to 500hp at a similar price. The XC60 Polestar, however, does not feel like a traditional sporty crossover, it's far more comfortable and refined, offering impressive performance to the consumers that want a more toned down and elegant package.