Beautiful car.
We recently drove the XC60 T8 E-AWD Polestar Engineered, essentially the SUV version of the S60. The consensus? It was confidence-inspiring and fun to drive for a hybrid SUV—even if its athletic nature was subdued.
How does the S60 stack up against the taller SUV? On paper, it should be a pretty similar experience: A combined 415(ish) horsepower and 472(ish) lb.-ft. of torque from a twin-charged inline-four and a plug-in hybrid system. That power is sent to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
So how do these numbers relate to the real world? You'll have to read our driving impressions below to find out.
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Just the name of this car is a mouthful. The mere descriptor of the car is packed with codes and signifiers, much like the car itself is packed with utterly astounding performance technology.
Let’s look at a list here: A 2.0-liter super AND turbocharged direct injected engine with an additional 87hp electric motor producing a combined max of 415hp and 494 ft./lbs of torque. Akebone brakes, Ohlins shocks, supplemental chassis bracing, a megawatt B&O sound system, huge touchscreen control center, 20” wheels with super high performance tires, driver assistance system, literally everything you would have put on your fantasy list for the car you designed in fifth period history when you should have been studying the Lend/-Lease act. Right down to the LED running lights patterned after Thor’s hammer. Really it’s only missing an arc reactor, Cap’s shield and a Batarang somewhere to be the platonic ideal of automotive perfection.
It is to Volvo’s credit—and also somewhat to their peril—that these incredible forces have been combined so seamlessly and in such a civilized manner in the same vehicle. Going for a casual drive in the S60 T8 E-AWD Polestar, you would barely get a hint of its true potential (side note, we have to come up with some consensus on the casual, shortened version of the name. We going to go with T8? The Hot Swede? Li’l Poley? LMK in the comments!). Anyway, despite the extreme amount of performance this car has on tap, you don’t get much of a sense of that from behind the wheel most times.
And that’s fine, I guess? But I think there are perfectly acceptable ways to communicate the performance level of a car without introducing harshness of reducing civility. The current Cadillac CTS-V does a great job of that, in fact. The Caddy always seems to let you know what lurks right beneath the surface, allowing in just the right engine and exhaust frequencies so it’s not loud, but you know what it can do. Allowing just enough steering feel so it’s not edgy, but you know what’s lurking if you cut that wheel hard and toss it into a corner.
The Tate (Yeah, going with “Tate” on this one. Feels right), hides its performance potential rather than teases it. It’s Superman, but instead of just putting on glasses to disguise his identity, he dons an entire cub scout uniform.
But, look, I don’t want to spend a lot of time talking about how exciting this car isn’t, because once you unleash it, it’s fairly exceptional. Release the Kraken and Larry (as in Larry Tate, I really think we’re on to something here) feels more like an STi Subaru than any large Swedish sedan has a right to. It’s a car that has every right to be mentioned in the same breath as cars wearing M or AMG badges. And at around $67,000 (there are very few options aside from dealer-level stuff, every Larry is basically loaded to the gills from the factory), it slots in a little higher than entry level twin-turbo Benzes and well-under anything from Munich with the same number of doors and an M logo.
Still, compared to its market mates, the Volvo is its own worst enemy when it comes to staking its claim on the Mt. Olympus of performance sedans. It’s understated almost to a fault, which is a bummer, because it hits like a hammer when you swing it hard enough.
Beautiful car.
So do you like it or nah? My Miata showed me slow car fast is more fun but i still love me some boosted Volvo and may need to get back in that game. I cant imagine trying to repair or maintain something like that tho
Vigo (Forum Supporter) said:Beautiful car.
Concur
the twincharged drivetrain still scares me reliability wise.
Wild to see Volvo coming out with some of their most interesting products now that they're under Chinese ownership.
We have a 2017 S60 with the T5 turbo 2-litre and a 2019 V60 with the T6 twincharged 2-litre, which is also Polestar tuned with the upgrade option.
My wife says the V60 is a lot quicker than the S60, but it's not that much quicker. Of course it doesn't have the T8's almost 90 extra hp and instant electric torque kicking you in the ass.
Plus there are areas that her car is actually better / sportier than my newer generation wagon, which lead to the 'secret identity' JG touches on in his review.
So I can see how the new car hides its ability rather than just keeping it in reserve, as JG says.
In reply to nderwater :
It's almost as if the infusion of cash allowed their engineers to be able to develop what they're fully capable of.
Good looking car.
Better get a warranty, unless you lease it.
Whoof, that name is rough. I feel like Capcom named this thing.
Awesome-looking car though.
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