Tuesday 26th January 2021

Half-price Volvo V60 Polestar | Spotted

Thought the Polestar-tuned wagon was too pricey at launch? It was. Now, not so much...

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We always had a not entirely justified soft spot for the Volvo V60 Polestar - but when it swapped its characterful straight-six for a fuel-sipping four-cylinder engine in 2016, the £50k asking price began to look a little (or a lot) rich. Granted, Mercedes-AMG charges £50k for a 2.0-litre-powered A45 S these days, but the hatchback has 421hp and a clever torque-juggling four-wheel drive. The Polestar never had more than 367hp and its hardware was far more conventional.

Still, with its extensive motorsport knowledge and accompanying World Touring Car Championship silverware, Polestar's engineers were able to turn Volvo's quick but not particularly sporting S60 saloon and V60 estate into decent driver's cars thanks to model-specific (and manually adjustable) Ohlins dampers and a comprehensive beefing up of 60-series chassis. The result was sufficiently good to defy the sensible looks of both saloon and estate.

However, while the quality of the trick suspension was never in question, Volvo's somewhat bland four-pot was harder to get onboard with - especially when buyers could choose from a host of German rivals with manifestly superior six cylinder engines. It didn't dilute the model's appeal entirely, but ensured that the superheated V60 was a niche prospect at best. The UK supply of four-cylinder V60 Polestars peaked at 142 in 2018.

According to How Many Left, 135 remain, and it's fair to say that lack of demand and significant depreciation has done its thing. At £27,490 this Polestar is little more than half its original price once the extras are factored in. And with 19k on the clock, it's barely run in. Still looks the part, too. Which it ought to given Volvo's handy reputation for conservative design and functional toughness.

Being much cheaper now obviously doesn't entirely paper over the model's shortcomings - but it suddenly looks like quite a lot of fast wagon when measured against a less powerful family hatch. Plus, of course, you're unlikely to see another on the road in Britain, which is not something that cannot be said for any of its rivals back in the day.

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SPECIFICATION | VOLVO V60 POLESTAR

Engine: 1,998cc turbocharged and supercharged four-cyl
Transmission: 8-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 367@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 347@3,100-5,100rpm
MPG: 34.9 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 186g/km
First registered: 2017
Recorded mileage 19,000
Price new: £49,665
Yours for: £27,490

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[Type R Tom]

I've been following these for a while but can't help think they are a little expensive. Now obviously they are quite different cars but the new shape can be had for less miles and cheaper, the car looks quite dated in comparison. Looks the same as my S40 inside which is 15 years old.

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11140903?c...

Edited by Type R Tom on Tuesday 26th January 13:47

[pb8g09]

Not for me - still too expensive personally. Looks dated for price and competitors have more going for them for me.

[700XE]

Believe it or not I know a man who bought one new (with real money), he is a professional mountain biker, but stupidly - I.e. didn't check before he bought it - found out all of his paraphernalia wouldnt fit in the back so decided to change it for an XC90.

He got a horrendous trade in value for it, the Volvo man said not many people want it so the price reflects it...funny he didn't mention that when he was buying it. I think from memory he took a £15k bath on it in a fairly short time. Now bumbles about in a diesel XC90!

[MorganP104]

700XE said:

Believe it or not I know a man who bought one new (with real money), he is a professional mountain biker, but stupidly - I.e. didn't check before he bought it - found out all of his paraphernalia wouldnt fit in the back so decided to change it for an XC90.

He got a horrendous trade in value for it, the Volvo man said not many people want it so the price reflects it...funny he didn't mention that when he was buying it. I think from memory he took a £15k bath on it in a fairly short time. Now bumbles about in a diesel XC90!

Ouch! I actually winced in pain reading that.

As others have said, this Polestar at £27k still feels too expensive. Give it a few more miles, and a few more years, and it will be just the ticket at £15k.

[anonymous-user]

All fast Volvos are a bit disappointing, and while I know it's supposed to be a better car but these hold zero interest for me with the four pot.

The six pot version though....

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 26th January 15:07

[ChrisCh86]

stickleback123 said:

All fast Volvos are a bit disappointing, and while I know it's supposed to be a better car but these hold zero interest for me with the four pot.

The six pot version though....

Edited by stickleback123 on Tuesday 26th January 15:07

If I remember correctly the earlier six-pot version has a rubbish gearbox.

So you can either have a good engine (6 cylinder) with rubbish gear box (the earlier cars), or a rubbish engine (4 cylinder) with a good gearbox (later cars).

As above I still think these are overpriced and the dashboard (particularly infotainment) really brings down the package.

[Roger Irrelevant]

It used to be a rule of thumb (as I recall anyway), that cars roughly halved in value every three years. It doesn't hold as true nowadays for whatever reason but still, a car like this - that was a bit steep new - now being a little over half its original price after 3-and-a-bit years doesn't seem particularly bargaintastic. I do love a Volvo estate - I've got one - but if I were after a faster wagon it wouldn't be this.

[T0MMY-D]

Had been mulling over getting one of these to replace the 240i coupe now I have a daughter in tow. It's a compelling package and suitably leftfield but as others have remarked, the infotainment does let it down. It is 6 years old now and many of it's contemporaries will no doubt feel similar in that regard. The prices have held pretty firm over the last 12/18 months so may well have a way to fall yet.

[MDMA .]

ChrisCh86 said:

stickleback123 said:

All fast Volvos are a bit disappointing, and while I know it's supposed to be a better car but these hold zero interest for me with the four pot.

The six pot version though....

Edited by stickleback123 on Tuesday 26th January 15:07

If I remember correctly the earlier six-pot version has a rubbish gearbox.

So you can either have a good engine (6 cylinder) with rubbish gear box (the earlier cars), or a rubbish engine (4 cylinder) with a good gearbox (later cars).

As above I still think these are overpriced and the dashboard (particularly infotainment) really brings down the package.

I think the 6 pot had lovely Brembo brakes and 2 piece discs too.

[anonymous-user]

ChrisCh86 said:

If I remember correctly the earlier six-pot version has a rubbish gearbox.

So you can either have a good engine (6 cylinder) with rubbish gear box (the earlier cars), or a rubbish engine (4 cylinder) with a good gearbox (later cars).

As above I still think these are overpriced and the dashboard (particularly infotainment) really brings down the package.

The 6 speed isn't outright rubbish and the 8 speed isn't brilliant, IMHO there isn't a huge gulf between them. Ultimately it's an expensive car built on a barely competitive base car, full of cheap bits and economy car engineering, with plenty of Uncle Henry "cost optimisation", and it's limited by those fundamentals.

Much more interesting when they're £15k though!

[Icehanger]

I look at these a couple of times as an different alternative to the fast German AWD estates but as this Volvo couldn't have a Towbar when eth equivilant S4/S6 could that swung it for me.

The later 4cyclinder ones although miss the 6 pot burble had a much nicer gearbox, and to top it off insurance and servicing was way cheaper.
Was impressed how they drove too, almost perfect alternative family wagon

The price does seem high as most were offered with huge discount from new (best I got offered was £40K)

Edited by Icehanger on Tuesday 26th January 16:06

[Motormatt]

I know part of the appeal of these is that they're an alternative to the usual German suspects, but they're basically a modified car (albeit from the factory). I like the idea of them but the press was always underwhelming.

If I were going down the modified route, I'd pick up a 340i touring for less and spend the difference upgrading the suspension and an easy remap to 400+BHP.

[ZX10R NIN]

They're different & can be fun but it'd have to be the 6 pot version otherwise I'd be looking at a CLA45 Shooting Brake for (or a C63) for that money.

[TheSurveyor]

The 6 Pots are getting to Sub £20k with reasonable miles.

I've had the D5 version for years and the seats and sound system are brilliant, another 150bhp and petrol would be even better.

Really want, really really want.

[ducnick]

Sorry but I say this as a Volvo owner. Volvos merits are practicality,comfort and reliability. If you want hard suspension and performance go elsewhere as you loose the comfort. Best Volvos are the base models with big tyres and little wheels. Accept the boring but functional drivetrain and take pleasure in it never letting you down. Hi

[Krise]

I had one for 2 Years and 21k miles, it was a great car, BUT the fuel economy is horrendous, I live in central London and around the town, with the most delicate and gentle right foot 12 to 14 MPG was standard, 10 MPG if driven normally, however it would do 28 to 32 on a run.

Another costly item is the front brakes discs and pads, no matter where you get them from is over a grand for the fronts and there are no options other than the brembo option unless you import from the states and that costs even more.

Tyre ! 20 in low profiles are 250 quid a corner.

But over 2 years I only lost about 3 grand in value, and unless you know another owner it’s unlikely you will ever see one on the road, aside from the owner meets I have only ever seen 3 out in the wild

Miss the car greatly mind if I lived out of town I would have kept it for sure

[Bencolem]

Don’t doubt it’s a great drive and an interesting alternative but sitting in that boring plastic interior every day would just depress me. Not concerned about the ‘infotainment’, would just appreciate a modicum of design and variety of materials.

[simonrockman]

Had one for a week and loved it. It's a car where the Sport mode makes a huge difference. Got to have Smurf blue though.

[CNW25]

I have owned my 2lt one for 2.5 years. I paid 36k for it with 50m on the clock, pre-registered, which I didn’t think was too bad compared to a decent spec golf R equivalent. Mind you I like to be a bit different. You don’t get many cars with a turbo and supercharger...

It has every option you need and, in my opinion, looks good in silver, always dirty and with badges taken off. Brakes are expensive and don’t last though.

[Sidecar Man]

Got a 6 pot one and absolutely love it. Has the comfiest seats Ive ever sat in. Suspension is firm But the Ohlins dampers are amazing. Running cost are not to bad. But it puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. It certainly surprises a lot of German stuff. And likes been said Youll hardly ever see another one.