A future classic? Volvo V60 Polestar is a Swedish wagon with a wild side
Fri, 05 Jun 2026
Mention Polestar today and your thoughts might be drawn to the brand’s current crop of sleek and distinctive electric cars, but it wasn’t always like this.
A Swedish racing team called Flash Engineering started out in the 1990s competing in domestic Touring Cars, before being sold and renamed as Polestar Racing. And if you want your road cars modified, having a racing team take care of the engineering usually means good results, so it was no surprise that it became Volvo’s official modifying partner before the Swedish manufacturer bought it out in 2015.
After creating a couple of concepts to whet the appetite, including a 450PS C30, the first proper Polestar Volvo arrived in 2013. Based on the Volvo V60 T6 AWD, the V60 Polestar took what was already an appealing package – six-cylinder turbocharged engine with 304PS and four-wheel-drive – and added some very tasty extras.
The suspension was significantly worked-over. Much stiffer springs, uprated bushes and fancy Ohlins dampers stuck it to the road, with pretty 20-inch wheels and six-piston Brembo brakes behind them. The six-speed automatic had a software tweak to give faster shifts, but the main event was a new turbo that released extra power and torque, resulting in 350PS and 500Nm of torque.
The T6 was already quick, but the V60 Polestar could nip to 62mph in five seconds flat, accompanied by a sweet six-cylinder sound thanks to a new exhaust system.
The handling was secure rather than massively entertaining, but in a similar vein to Audi S models of the time, the Polestar added some welcome spice to what was already a practical and appealing car. And while Volvo was still considered a builder of sensible cars, the Polestar proved it still knew how to have a good time.
In 2016 Volvo was in the process of rationalising its engine range and so its six-cylinder engines met the axe to be replaced by four cylinder units. The V60 Polestar carried on with an even-spicer twin-charged 2.0-litre unit. While that means more power, it doesn’t quite have the character of the six-pot unit – although the fuel bills will be slightly better.
The main issue with the V60 Polestar, at least in its original guise, is relatively rarity. Europeans got an S60 version, but in the UK it was the V60 or nothing and far more examples of the later four-cylinder model were sold over here.
Patience is the key here – it didn’t take us long to find an example in good condition, with a reasonable 80,000 miles and one owner for £25,000. That might sound like serious money, but this was a £50,000 car when new – and their numbers are only going to diminish.
Reliability wise the V60 Polestar is as good as other Volvos of the time, which means generally good if they’re given the care they deserve. Electronic maladies are the most likely thing to crop up, with the infotainment screens, airbags and parking sensors among the more common issues.
As for the engine, the clever Rear End Accessory Drive (READ) looks after the water pump, power steering and air con compressor, but with higher mileages the pulley can start to wobble so it’s worth getting this sorted promptly if it hasn’t already been taken care of. PCV diaphragms can let go and valve covers can leak, so check carefully for oil in the engine bay.
If you’re keen and can handle the fuel bills, the V60 Polestar is comfortable and sensible enough to be used every day, but has the right kind of spirit in the way it drives to make it an engaging companion when you want to take the long way home. It’s another great example of what manufacturers can do when they decide to tear up the rule book, and create something special for the discerning enthusiast.
