Textual content by Tom Appel
2025 Volvo V60 T8 AWD Polestar Engineered
Specs
Class: Premium Midsize Automobile
Coloration: Crystal White
Seating Capability: 5
Miles pushed: 131
Actual-world gasoline financial system: 27.8 mpg
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Consolation | B |
| Energy and Efficiency | A |
| Match and End | A |
| Gasoline Economic system | A |
| Worth | B- |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different automobiles in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim degree evaluated, and will not mirror Client Information’s impressions of the whole mannequin lineup. | |
| Massive & Tall Consolation | |
| Massive Man | B- |
| Tall Man | C+ |
| Massive & Tall consolation rankings are for entrance seats solely. “Massive” ranking primarily based on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” ranking primarily based on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 455-horsepower 2.0-liter |
| Engine Kind | 4-cylinder turbocharged plug-in hybrid |
| Transmission | 8-speed computerized |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Driving combine: 65% metropolis, 35% freeway
EPA-estimated gasoline financial system: 74 MPGe/31 mpg (metropolis/freeway mixed)
EPA-estimated battery vary: 41 miles
Gasoline kind: Premium fuel
Base worth: $71,250 (not together with $1195 vacation spot cost)
Choices on take a look at car: Baggage cowl ($390)
Value as examined: $72,835
Professionals and Cons
The good: Highly effective, environment friendly, enjoyable to drive
The nice: Sensible, straightforward on the fuel, snug seats, strong really feel
The not so good: Agency experience, highway noise
Evaluate
There’s irony within the 2025 Volvo lineup, and we’re completely happy to see it. Volvo’s international electric-vehicle gross sales leapt a formidable 50 p.c final 12 months, this whereas different European luxurious carmakers are struggling to promote EVs, particularly Mercedes-Benz. Volvo additionally sells variety of plug-in hybrid fashions, particularly in Europe, giving the Swedish carmaker some bragging rights within the “new-energy” car group.
Station Wagons
In fact, Volvo’s core bread-and-butter lineup of conventional gas-powered fashions nonetheless accounts for a lot of the maker’s quantity, however there may be one phase—which has nothing to do with powertrains—that’s sadly slipping away, and that’s wagons. Previous-school station wagons.
Utterly changed in showrooms by crossover over the previous few a long time, the station wagon not quantities to a rounding error when calculating annual car gross sales within the U.S. Amazingly, Volvo nonetheless makes out there three wagon fashions, although, none of which is what anybody may name typical.
As soon as well-known for its strong, stolid, rear-wheel drive, famously dependable station wagons, Volvo now sells solely a trio of wagons, every of which is somewhat like a cosplay instance of the breed.
Obtainable for 2025 are the:
V60 Cross Nation
Begins worth: $51,495
Primarily based on the compact S60 sedan, the V60 Cross County wagon boasts an elevated experience top, off-road succesful tires, and SUV-style physique cladding. Consider it as a Swedish Subaru Outback, and you’ve got the thought. Energy comes from a mild-hybrid 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. AWD is normal.
V90 Cross Nation
Beginning worth: $60,995
Mainly, as above, however primarily based on the longer Volvo S90 sedan. Enjoys larger rear-seat knee and leg room than the V60. Is in any other case very related in feel and appear, although freeway experience high quality is healthier than that of the V60 Cross Nation.
V60 Polestar Engineered
Beginning worth: $72,445
In contrast to the opposite tow wagons on Volvo’s 2025 lineup, the Polestar Engineered instance comes with out off-road pretensions. As an alternative, the Polestar is strictly about on-road efficiency. Packing a 455-horsepower plug-in hybrid drivetrain and performance-tuned suspension, the lone Polestar-tuned member of the Volvo wagon household delivers an EPA-estimated 41 miles of battery solely vary, and reaches 60 mph from a cease in a claimed 4.1 seconds.
Efficiency Automobile
Not a traditional wagon within the bunch, however an attention-grabbing trio, to make certain. Client Information lately spent every week behind the wheel of a—full title coming—2025 Volvo V60 T8 AWD Polestar Engineered. And to make clear, Polestar is—or has been—Volvo’s efficiency model, somewhat like AMG at Mercedes-Benz, or “M” at BMW. And sure, Polestar can be the title of the Volvo-adjacent EV-performance model lately launched within the U.S. And no, the 2 Polestars aren’t associated, in a roundabout way, a minimum of. Additionally, T80 is Volvo converse for the plug-in hybrid drivetrain present in our take a look at automotive.
Talking of our take a look at automotive, it arrived in Crystal White and got here to $72,685 together with vacation spot cost. Not low cost, but in addition not costly relative to the aforementioned efficiency choices from BMW and Mercedes.
Room and Consolation
The V60 cabin is Volvo acquainted, in a largely great way. Although the door openings are somewhat tight each entrance and rear, there’s a good quantity of area within the entrance row as soon as located. The rear seating lodging are somewhat tighter, with knee room a commodity behind taller front-seat occupants. The stated, the seats are snug and supportive, and sure nicely suited to very-long drives.
Connectivity
Although the V60 employs Google built-in to drive the native connectivity suite, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are a part of the deal as nicely. The Google built-in system will be largely ignored, however is surprisingly helpful when coming into navigation locations.
The V60’s infotainment system nonetheless incorporates Volvo’s “stacked bar” interface, which we all the time initially discover off-putting, however rapidly turn out to be accustomed to. That stated, the display is nicely lit and straightforward to learn, and responds promptly to the touch inputs. Additionally, the Polestar’s normal Bowers and Wilkins-brand audio system is breathtakingly good, and helps to justify the mannequin’s price ticket.
Energy and Efficiency
Energy, as famous above, comes from a 2.0-liter turbocharged AND Supercharged 4-cylinder engine mated to an electrical motor and an 8-speed computerized transmission. Mixed system output is 455 horsepower. Additionally, as famous above, AWD is normal.
Although not totally seamless, the powertrain delivers virtually speedy energy from a cease, making brief work of urban-environment site visitors maneuvers. And, predictably, there’s a surplus of freeway passing and merging energy, making for thrilling on-ramp runs.
Journey and Dealing with
And, thanks partly to the Polestar-tuned suspension, and Brembo-brand brakes, the V60 Polestar Engineered is a pleasure to throw into corners and push via cloverleaf exchanges. A part of enjoyable comes from the extent of engagement loved on account of the agency suspension and beefy, solid-feeling steering.
This comes on the expense of experience high quality. Although the experience is harsh, it’s inflexible, and buyers will need to pay attention to this case on a take a look at drive. We completely love the chassis setup, however people in search of a more-traditional luxurious expertise—a usually extra Volvo expertise—could also be postpone by the suspension tuning. On a associated word, our take a look at automotive was noisier round city than different V60 and V90 fashions we’ve evaluated. The sound making its manner into the cabin is generally highway noise, and is available in half from the usual high-performance tires.
Gasoline Economic system
And, regardless of all the facility, and regardless of all of the enjoyable—and regardless of solely charging the automotive utterly simply as soon as—we common 27.9 mpg. Spectacular given the facility, we expect.
Is it ironic that one in all Volvo’s most pleasant 2025 choices doesn’t come from the manufacturers increasing portfolio of EVs? Maybe it’s ironic that this fun-to-drive sporty wagon additionally returns near 30 mpg in routine drive—and significantly better for those who work day by day charging into your day by day commuting routine.
Worth
Sure, $75,000 is quite a bit to pay for a smallish midsize wagon, and sure, the experience is on the agency aspect. However we discovered the V60 Polestar Engineered each frugal and enjoyable to drive, and its wagon utility a pleasant bonus. There actually isn’t a lot in the best way of direct competitors for this athletic Swede, including uniqueness to its many charms. The viewers for this old-school wagon is fairly restricted, however to the best purchaser, it’s most likely near good.
Hearken to the Automobile Stuff Podcast
2025 Volvo V60 Polestar Engineered Footage
Click on beneath for enlarged pictures