2016 Volvo S60 Polestar Review: Photo Gallery
CARS.COM — “Wow,” I blurted out, my inner monologue failing me. “That’s really blue.” Which, in retrospect, was a dumb thing to say — I knew it would be blue, but seeing the 2016 Volvo S60 Polestar for the first time was still shocking. Some might think it’s way too much, but I love it. Volvo calls it Rebel Blue and its name fits the car perfectly.
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Here’s why: If the S60 Polestar were painted in a “normal” color, such as white, it wouldn’t really stand out; the S60 sedan is one of the most nondescript cars on the road. The only exterior differences between a normal S60 (aka a sensible and safe luxury sedan) and the Polestar (big, hairy rev machine) are a subtle spoiler on the trunk, small aerodynamic body additions on the front and rear, and larger wheels. Clad in Rebel Blue, the S60 Polestar’s look befits its nature — this car is wild.
The Polestar is a step below the M3s and C63 AMGs of the world in price and performance, and more in line with vehicles such as the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400, Audi S4 and BMW 340xi. It fits in with cars that offer greater performance than the standard models in their lineup but aren’t quite track-day monsters.
Aside from the color, what stood out about the Polestar was just how good the driving experience was on multiple levels. It rides, steers and accelerates impeccably. Those big 20-inch wheels come wrapped in wide Michelin Pilot Super Sport 245/35 ZR20 tires, which offer tons of grip. You have to work hard to get them to make a peep and be willfully ignorant of the laws of physics to get them to break free from the pavement. The Polestar-tuned suspension with Öhlins shocks absorbed bumps in the road to keep the ride smooth but still offered enough feedback and stability that you could fling the sedan into turns with great confidence.
The engine, a 345-horsepower, twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder that makes 369 pounds-feet of torque, revs happily and mightily, jumping quickly into the power band and pushing the Polestar from corner to corner like a charging rhino. Even the noise was fantastic; I drove with the windows down constantly to hear the pops and rattles when you bang out downshifts from the loud, full-flow exhaust system.
Inside, the touchpoints for the driver are spot on. Alcantara simulated suede inserts on the steering wheel add comfort and tactile feedback; on the backside of the metal paddle shifters was a rubberized, grippy surface that made it easier to find them.
Underneath, it’s still an S60, which means room for passengers, excellent safety ratings and a well-appointed interior. The S60 Polestar is almost the perfect street car, combining practicality and safety with fun. The only thing that holds me back are its disappointing fuel economy ratings: 18/27/21 mpg city/highway/combined (regular fuel), much lower than the regular version.
I put more than 600 miles on the 2016 S60 Polestar, on the highway and through mountain roads, and I loved every one of them. Check out our gallery below to see more photos of the Polestar in its full blue glory.
