The V60 Polestar is a real sleeper, incredibly comfortable on a long drive, and positioned perfectly at the intersection of performance, comfort and versatility.
Speeding in Sweden is serious business. So are Volvos. And wagons.
We're scoring a trifecta as we hurtle across the country, from Gothenburg to Stockholm, a distance of 470 kilometres. Our car is the 2014 Volvo V60 Polestar, a limited-edition wagon that sports 345 horsepower, 369 lb-ft of torque and, in this case, a glacier-blue paint scheme.
We fly under the radar, keeping to within 20 kilometres an hour of the posted speed limits at (almost) every juncture. On occasion, the urge to click down a gear or two with the paddle shifters and punch the throttle proves too great. The V60 Polestar is a real sleeper, incredibly comfortable on a long drive, with butter-soft leather seats providing support in all the right places. The rush of acceleration and raspy exhaust note produced by the turbocharged six-cylinder are needed to offset the fatigue produced from hours behind the wheel.
Halfway through the trip, my drive partner comes upon a line of slower-moving vehicles on a two-lane stretch of road. He pulls out to pass. The speed limit is 90 km/h, but by the time the Polestar is at the front of the line, the digital readout on the vibrant instrument cluster reads 156 km/h. It isn't an unsafe move. The acceleration of the car is such that the pass takes fewer than 10 seconds. But it also isn't legal. It's a move that might go unnoticed … provided a police officer isn't stationed a few cars back, executing the same pass on the same line of vehicles.
In Sweden, exceeding the speed limit by more than 65 km/h can result in a licence suspension and a fine that's reportedly equivalent to 10 per cent of your net annual income. Yet, the officer does not stop us. He follows for a bit, then turns off.
This scenario, the irresistible urge to drive too fast and the subsequent non-arrest, were likely only possible because we were driving a Polestar in its native land. In Sweden, about 20 per cent of new vehicles sold are Volvos and there's ample national pride to go around. They have every right to be proud of this Volvo.
Polestar has fine-tuned the performance of different Volvos for various markets; now, for the first time, its handiwork is available in Canada. Customers in eight countries have a crack at the 2014 Volvo S60 Polestar sedan and its wagon variant, the V60 Polestar – 750 examples are available for the global market.
Based on the V60 R-Design, the Polestar features a 20-hp bump for the engine, revised electronics for the active driver assistance systems and AWD, a suspension system from Swedish ride-masters Ohlins and a braking system courtesy of Brembo. The net effect is a car that is positioned perfectly at the intersection of performance, comfort and versatility – a balance not easily reached.
TECH SPECS
- Base price: $66,895
- Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder
- Transmission/drive: Six-speed automatic/all-wheel drive
- Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 12.8 city; 8.8 highway
- Alternatives: Audi A6 Avant, BMW 5 Series Touring, Cadillac CTS Wagon, Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon
RATINGS
- Looks: This wagon is the ultimate sleeper, particularly with the “Rebel blue” paint scheme.
- Interior: The Swedish take on luxury includes minimalist design, superior ergonomics and the best seats in the business.
- Performance: Not as quick as some competitors, but a sophisticated AWD system and fantastic handling help the Polestar make up ground.
- Technology: Advanced safety and connectivity features are plentiful, but Volvo has lost ground to other manufacturers.
- Cargo: It’s a wagon, so there’s ample space for side trips to Ikea.
THE VERDICT
9.5
A brilliant car – full stop.
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