Move Over BMW, Volvo’s XC 60 Polestar’s Got You Beat
Just in time for the winter sledding season that doubles as winter driving in New England, we received the 2015 copy of the Volvo XC 60 T6 AWD R Polestar. What that code means is that Volvo’s most popular midsize SUV/crossover went to Uncle Olaf’s tuner shop to produce the Swedish equivalent of the BMW M series or Mercedes-Benz’s AMG line.
Volvo’s XC60, which is one of its most popular models and is locked in direct competition with the Audi Q5 and between the BMW X3 and X5 offerings, has designed a faster way to haul the herring home.
Polestar is Volvo’s racing division. It’s involvement here is that it offers a factory software download that dealers can add to boost horsepower, torque, and takeoff speed. Where the aftermarket may want to swap chips out, running into warranty issues, this is strictly a software download, and it’s factory authorized. The download can drop your 0-to-60 mph time by 0.3 seconds and adds up to 30 hp and 59 lb.-ft. of torque in the midrange where it is most used and needed.
R-Design is an additional trim level on the lines of the M-Sport on some BMWs, a Volvo spokesman said. And despite the power boost, it’s not meant to put Volvo on the same race track as the AMG line at Mercedes-Benz or M Series of BMW.
The new shape is angular, taut, muscular, and inviting. You’d be hard-pressed to find a straight surface anywhere on this upscale SUV/crossover. Despite its tall profile, it’s actually been lowered about 15 mm, pushing the center of gravity southward for better stability.
From the ground, it’s the antithesis of the old staid wagon. From its 325 hp engine, bi-xenon headlights, new body color accents, 20-inch wheels, black matte grille, and contoured rear taillights, there’s not a single detail that screams this is owned by dowdy midlifers who prefer a motorized brick for safety.
Now in its sixth generation, the XC60 offers a range of trim levels that quickly add to the base price of around $45,000. Whether you choose the Premier, Premier Plus, or Platinum, the XC60 can hit the $55,000 level. The tested model began at $46,650 and with options and a $925 delivery hit, stickered at $54,125.
With just two rows of seats, the XC60 comfortably seats five people. Up front, the buckets are simply the best I’ve ever sat in. Period. I’d welcome one for an office chair, it’s so good. The hatch opens wide for a deceivingly ample amount of cargo.
Power comes from a 3.0-liter turbocharged, six-cylinder engine that generates 325 hp and 354 lb.-ft. of torque. All of this is seamlessly directed through a six-speed automatic transmission and an advanced Haldex AWD system. In the Haldex, the electronics can pre-tension the clutch and activate all-wheel-drive before a wheel slip occurs. Volvo’s new 4-cylinder Drive-E engines mate to standard eight-speed automatics, which will eventually matriculate across the rest of the model line, a spokesman said.
Tipping the scales at 4,225 pounds with 20-inch all-season shoes and a spirited mission underfoot, the XC 60 provided only 18.24 mpg for more than 500 miles of driving, which was more than hoped for. Buyers seeking more economy should seek out the front-drive XC 60s with Volvo’s new 2.0-liter, 240 hp, 4-cylinder turbocharged engine on the T5 Drive-E. A T5 AWD gets you another cylinder, a 2.5-liter engine but 250 hp. A more sporting offering is found in the front-drive T6 Drive-E where a new 2.0-liter, turbo engine generates 302 hp and 295 lb.-ft. of torque.
That it has a car-like ride underscores how the S60 helped start the Volvo revolution and how it’s found a home as a family hauler that’s not a full-size SUV, a minivan derivative, or a small car into which a growing family and their things won’t easily fit. This crossover/ute drives effortlessly, sucks up bumpy patches, and cossets you in your commute. Paddle shifters are at the ready for the Walter Mitty moment, if desired.
While I was testing the car, I also got a shot at testing the new Volvo On Call app, which I downloaded to my smartphone. What seems like a gimmick is actually a fairly substantial tool for both the driver and Volvo. It puts the remote start function on the phone, so Volvo doesn’t have to have separate keys for cars equipped or not equipped with remote start (win for Volvo) and puts it in an app that also provides fuel gauge status, tire pressures, odometer reading, and more (win for the driver).
When I didn’t know the answer to why someone decided to do something, my answer was always “because they can.’’ It may be the same reason Cadillac used Led Zeppelin in TV commercials or Lincoln built a pickup truck or Chrysler produced the Viper. They shook up their image with things you didn’t expect.
That’s likely the reason Volvo created the XC 60 T6 Polestar R AWD. At one time, it would be considered an oxymoron to have a performance Volvo that is truly a daily driver. Uncle Olaf should be proud.
2015 Volvo XC T6 R-Design Polestar
THE BASICS
Price, base (with destination): $46,650 ($925); as tested: $54,125. Fuel economy: 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway/20 combined; Globe observed: 18.24 mpgs. Drivetrain: 3.0-liter, 6-cylinder, twin-scroll turbo engine. Body: 4-door SUV
THE SPECIFICS
Horsepower: 325 hp @ 5,400 rpm. Torque: 354 lb.-ft. @ 3,000 rpm. Overall length: 182.8 in. Wheelbase: 109.2 in. Height: 67.4 in. Width: 74.4 in. Curb weight: 4,225 lbs. Towing capacity: 3,300 lbs.
THE GOOD
Fun to drive. Great front seats. Safety systems. Free Volvo smartphone app.
THE BAD
Fuel economy. Only 6-speed automatic.
THE BOTTOM LINE
A Volvo that puts some pep in the daily drive without sacrificing any of its tenets. No longer a stodgy, squared-off design.
ALSO CONSIDER
BMW X5/X3, Audi Q5/Q3.
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