A rival to the likes of the Mercedes-AMG C43, the S60 Polestar replaces the 306hp S60 T6 petrol to become the only petrol offering in the S60 line-up. It’s only available in three colours – black, white and this signature Rebel Blue.
On the outside
This car really stands out with its 20-inch wheels and functional aerodynamic addenda that includes bumper and sill extensions, and a boot lip spoiler. This car sits very low to the ground, unlike the standard car - we get the S60 Polestar in the same spec as the rest of the world.
On the inside
There’s quite a bit of carbon-fibre trim in the interior, a bit more chrome, blue contrast stitching and a lot of Alcantara trim everywhere – from the seats to the door pads to the steering wheel. The rest looks pretty much the same as the standard car, which means it’s a bit dated. The digital dials still look really cool, but the infotainment system is now decidedly last-gen, especially if you’ve ever used the new touchscreen in the S90 and XC90.
Still, it’s a comfortable place to be, especially in the new, heavily bolstered front seats. Rather than being firm and punishing like on some sports sedans, they’re supportive, but also superbly plush. You still get every single safety feature as the regular S60, including Blind Spot Warning and radar-guided emergency braking.
Power Torque
The engine is a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder unit. However, it is supercharged and turbocharged, and so it produces 367hp and 470Nm of torque, which Volvo says makes it good for 0-100kph in 4.7sec with launch control – this car is four-wheel drive by the way. Power gets through all four wheels via an eight-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox.
From behind the wheel
It has to be said, this motor makes a nice, unique sound. In Sport mode, flaps in the exhaust open up for a much louder rumble, and you always have the shrill shriek of the supercharger somewhere in the mix. Power feels ample but not excessive, the four-cylinder motor works hard to deliver the goods. There’s enough power on hand when required, especially while pulling out of corners.
The regular car’s entire suspension setup has been scrapped for a set of high-performance adjustable Ohlins springs and dampers. However, you can’t just adjust them from Comfort to Sport at the press of a button. These are manually, not electronically, adjustable, which means you have to open the bonnet to access the front struts, jack the car up to access the rear struts, and then twist a knob at each corner. However, Polestar engineers assured us that the ‘comfort’ setup would be fine for most situations, and only hardcore track users need ever adjust them.
Body control in this setup is incredible and even in the comfort setup, it will not roll around like a boat. The other incredible thing is the steering - it’s electrically assisted and feedback is great. The car does feel a tad heavy, both when you’re accelerating, and when you’re going through corners.
Is it worth the money?
This car’s power and performance puts it in the league of mid-range models like the Audi S5 and Mercedes-AMG C43, but the chassis setup is so serious and focussed, it is on par with (perhaps a little more hardcore than) the M3s and C63s of the world. Volvo has priced this car at ₹52.5 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and for the performance on offer, it’s incredible value. And remember, this, like all Volvos, is a full CBU import, and the company is only bringing 30 units to India this year. As it stands now, the Volvo S60 Polestar is a performance bargain and a nice niche offering for those who want to drive something different from the regular crop.
