The 2016 Volvo S60 Polestar Isn't Perfect, But You Probably Won't Care

This absurdly blue Volvo does exactly what a good sports sedan should.

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Chris Perkins

Don't go into the Volvo S60 Polestar expecting an out-and-out M3/C63 fighter. Yes, it's got big wheels, big brakes, and lots of spoilers that suggest it's a Hardcore Sports Sedan, but that's not really what this Volvo is all about.

Instead, you should look at this Volvo as the goofy, Swedish antidote to the more serious BMW 340i xDrive, Mercedes-Benz C450 AMG (soon to be called the Mercedes-AMG C43), and the Audi S4. The Polestar has around the same amount of horsepower–345 in my tester, but next year's will get a 367-hp four-cylinder–and when optioned out, it costs around the same as the Germans (roughly $60,000). In some ways, the Volvo falls behind its rivals, but if you get the chance to drive it, I'm willing to bet you won't care.

In the natural habitat of a Volvo, Whole Foods.

Most of the Polestar's problems stem from the fact that this is ultimately an old car, though you shouldn't fault Volvo for its age. The 60-series platform first debuted in 2008, at the tail end of Ford's tumultuous ownership of Volvo. Ford's sale of Volvo left the company without the resources to develop an outright replacement for the 60-series cars, so this old platform has to remain in service.

The center stack and the infotainment system are the most obviously out-of-date elements on this car, though some of the switchgear is clearly from the old Ford parts bin. Additionally, the S60 Polestar has to make due without adaptive dampers or a fancy seven- or eight-speed gearbox like other modern sports sedans. Here's the thing though: none of this matters.

Yes, that is a dial pad for your phone.

You see, the Volvo S60 Polestar just wants you to have fun in spite of its apparent drawbacks, and isn't fun the whole point of a sports sedan? People buy sports sedans because they need something practical, but don't want to give up the joy that a purpose-built sports cars offers. The S60 Polestar sacrifices none of its sensible Volvo-ness, but adds a significant helping of joy to the package, not to mention some seriously good looks.

The first night behind the wheel, I drove everywhere in first and second gear, letting the ridiculous noise from the turbocharged inline-six reverberate off New York's many tall buildings. People will give you funny looks because, well, you're driving a bright blue Volvo that sounds like an angry turbocharged BMW. You will laugh endlessly at the noises it makes. At least, I did.


With 345 horsepower to play with, you won't get thrown back in your seat when you floor it, but you can use all of that power without doing anything terribly illegal. Don't get me wrong, I loved driving the 464-hp Cadillac ATS-V and the 503-hp Mercedes-AMG C63 S, but there are very few opportunities to use that sort of power on public roads. The Volvo strikes a nice balance between being quick enough to be fun–and to surprise unsuspecting passengers–but not so quick that it's a handful on the street.

The ride on my test car was set fairly stiff, but since the Öhlins dampers are adjustable, you can have it set to your liking. On the upside, it's virtually impossible to find a bump that'll upset the chassis on the Polestar, giving you confidence on windy backroads. These dampers are simply unflappable. Stiffer spring rates than the regular S60, and Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires also contribute to surprisingly fun handling.


My biggest gripe with the Polestar's driving experience is the transmission, which is all sorts of clunky on downshifts. They're incredibly slow compared to the ZF 8-Speed used by Jaguar and BMW, but more egregiously, they aren't rev-matched. That means it's easy to throw the Polestar's balance all out of whack when you're downshifting under braking. All of this is moot though, because the 2017 Polestar gets a new eight-speed auto in tandem with its new engine.

Even though it comes with all sorts of serious performance car hardware, the Polestar isn't compromised as a daily driver. As you'd expect from a Volvo, the seats are amazingly comfortable and supportive, the safety tech is top-notch, and if the sedan's not big enough for you, get the wagon.


It's this mix of practicality and uninhibited fun that makes the S60 Polestar such a compelling package. In other words, it's the ideal sports sedan.

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