Volvo XC60 Polestar 2016 Review

Volvo XC60 'Optimised By Polestar'
International Launch Review
Rome, Italy

Safe, comfortable, luxurious and oozing Scando style, Volvo's utterly sensible XC60 is all of these things, but sporty? Forget it. If you want some driving involvement behind the wheel you’re far better off with a Porsche Macan, Audi SQ5 or even BMW X3. But that’s set to change when a new range of dealer-fit Polestar accessories become available in Australia in the second quarter of this year. Available for not only the XC60 but the small V40 hatch and mid-size S60 sedan and V60 wagon, the Polestar parts portfolio will include new sports suspension, bigger wheels, real aero changes and even a power boost.

Polestar wouldn’t exist without Australia.

Rewind back to 2011 and Volvo’s performance division wasn’t factory owned but a small, independent outfit better known for its race team. Its collaboration with the Swedish car-maker to create a concept for the S60 R Polestar was its first.

Despite being well-received, the BMW M3 or Mercedes-AMG C63 rivalling project was destined to be mothballed until Volvo Australia stepped into the fold.

Apparently, enthusiasts of the firm’s efforts at the Bathurst 12-hour and involvement in the Australian Super Touring Championship in the mid-1990s had grouped together to lobby for the S60 R Polestar to be made.

With 100 expressions of interest and quite a few deposits collected, Volvo Car Australia surprised everyone (including Polestar) by commissioning a limited run of cars.

Now celebrating more than 1500 sales of the S60 and V60 Polestar models globally, Polestar was bought outright last year by Volvo and has branched out into offering power upgrades on every model made.

The next chapter is more ambitious. As well as boosting performance it wants to improve the handling by offering aftermarket sports suspension for the V40, S60, V60 and XC60, plus styling kits that are claimed to offer a “meaningful increase” in downforce over the standard model.

So obsessed with ensuring the new spoilers and diffusers actually work, Polestar even went as far as to put an S60 sedan back into the wind tunnel.

All the engine modifications, meanwhile, have been subjected to hundreds of thousands of kilometers of testing in hot and cold climates.

Volvo launched the full range at Rome’s Vallelunga race circuit, but we decided to focus on the most significantly  performance-enhanced vehicle in the range, the XC60.

Popular with Australian families, the stylish SUV has been updated since we last tested it back in 2014.

The old turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six is no more, replaced by the firm’s new Drive-E 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder that produces 180kW/350Nm in the T5 and 225kW/400Nm in the range-topping T6. Both models come with the ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic.

The Polestar parts are available as a ‘Complete Kit’ or individual parts, but the cars on hand for our drive had all the options ticked.

That means the XC60 wore a stainless steel sports exhaust, rear diffuser (that actually works), a sports air filter, new springs and dampers, lighter but larger 21-inch alloys, a rear spoiler, black door mirrors, door sills, a subtle body kit and some aluminium pedals.

Polestar even throws in a branded gear knob, but then it should really, considering all this costs a shocking €9300 ($13,500 in our money).

You also get more power thanks to an ECU re-flash. Polestar has sold more than 100,000 upgrades since launching the option three years ago but, on paper at least, it’s a hard sell. Costing around $1500 on the T6, it boosts power and torque by a measly 3kW/30Nm.

Shaving a single tenth off the 0-100km/h time, the Polestar-fettled XC60 now gets there in 6.8 seconds, but engineers are at pains to say the benefits are felt in the middle of the range, with more meaningful acceleration. Since it hasn’t quoted in-gear acceleration we’ll have to trust them.

As well as the extra power, the re-flash is also said to introduce a sharper throttle response and quicker gear changes that prevent any nasty mid-corner upshifts.

Climbing behind the wheel and you’re instantly reminded, even eight years on, that the XC60 is still a pleasant place to spend time. Its seats are comfortable and the thin centre console still looks decent, if a little dated.

Off the mark, the XC60 feels sprightly if not quite as muscular as the old 3.0-litre turbo that had more torque.

What is impressive is the new eight-speeder -- it’s both smooth and quick.

Once up to speed the XC60 feels properly rapid but hopelessly compromised on the notoriously poor roads we’re driving.

Blame the spring rates that are between 15-20 per cent stiffer than standard. Throw in a set of 21-inch wheels and it is truly unpleasant. Shame because the better body control does give you more confidence to push when you’re not wincing over bumps.

There’s also plenty of grip, thanks to its Pirelli P Zero tyres that the chassis was tuned for.

The steering also lacks the level of engagement some of its rivals possess and, despite that flashy sports exhaust, aside from the smallest rasp on full bore upshifts there’s little extra aural flourish added to the experience, but at least it’s not boomy at highway speed.

Swapping for the 2.4-litre D5 diesel and, again, your hard-earned cash only buys 7kW/30Nm but does shave two-tenths off the 100km/h dash, with the oil-burner taking eight seconds flat to reach the performance benchmark.

Off the mark, performance barely feels improved, but once going, the diesel-powered SUV does feel usefully quicker for punchy overtakes.

In fact, the diesel feels the better package for these roads with the suspension not as unforgiving as its petrol counterpart. The six-speed auto isn’t quite as effective as its more modern eight-cog equivalent in the petrol, but it doesn’t get in the way. Again, the better body control is evident and grip is plentiful.

With the driving done it’s difficult not to admire the added visual punch the styling pack brings. Despite not being able to detect the extra downforce, the spoiler and rear diffuser enhances what already is a handsome car.

The power kit on both diesel and petrol are worth considering. Neither cars’ fuel consumption is affected and, if it were our money, we’d ask our dealer for a back-to-back comparison before ultimately taking the plunge. Or add it anyway to a car we’d live with for a few years to spice up the relationship.

We can’t say the same of the Polestar-branded sports suspension. Even though there’s an appreciable increase in body control, the edge it adds to the ride isn’t worth it.

If you’re considering an XC60 you probably already value comfort over dynamism, otherwise you would have bought a BMW and therein lies the problem.

In a bid to broaden the XC60’s appeal among enthusiasts you end up subtracting from its appeal as a comfortable, decent all-round family car.

2016 Volvo XC60 T6 Drive-E ‘Optimised By Polestar’ price and specs:
On sale: Second quarter of 2016
Price: TBC
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder
Output: 228kW/430Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Fuel: 8.1L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 189g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP)