Overall rating:

When the Volvo 850 wagon debuted in the British Touring Car Championship in 1994 it made an impact like no other racer. Now that legend is joined by the most powerful Volvo ever to see the public highway - the V60 T6 Polestar.

Key Facts

Model tested: Volvo V60 T6 AWD R-Design Polestar
Pricing: £36,285 (£43,715 as tested)
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder petrol
Transmission: six-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
Body style: five-door estate
Rivals: Audi S4 Avant, BMW 335i Touring, Mercedes C 350 Estate
CO₂ emissions: 237g/km
Combined economy: 28.5mpg
Top speed: 155mph
0-62mph: 5.6 seconds
Power: 329bhp at 5,400rpm
Torque: 354lb.ft at 3,000rpm

Inside & Out:

Long gone is the world of square and boxy Volvos, replaced with bold but curvaceous contours and strong shoulder lines. The V60 is the epitome of this new direction, managing to be both handsome and striking - especially in range topping R-Design trim.

As expected, the seats are amazingly comfortable, but it's the quality that impresses most. This is a cabin that not only looks good, but the materials can actually compete with the best the German car makers have to offer. Our only criticism is with the counter-intuitive controls for the audio, navigation and climate settings.

Ride & Handling:

Under the skin, this Polestar version is exactly the same as a regular T6 model. That means the car's dynamic talents can't match the punch of the engine. There's a fair amount of body roll and some serious pitch and dive evident - though the latter pair are partly down to the rate of acceleration and deceleration on offer.

Ignore the roll for a minute though and you'll discover that thanks to the Haldex four-wheel drive system the V60 Polestar has plenty of grip, even in the tightest of turns. And that soft edge to the suspension does mean that motorway trips are covered in comfort.

The light steering could do with more feel though, even if it is accurate enough. And while the safety systems on board (collision warning in particular) are to be applauded in general, in this even faster than stock V60, they often get confused and warn of impending doom too early.

Engine & Transmission:

It may be have same hardware under the bonnet, but the Polestar engineers have been meddling with the ECU. The result is an increase in power and torque of 29bhp and 30lb.ft, which may not sound like a lot but gives the V60 a startling level of straight line pace. Best of all, it retains the standard factory warranty as well.

It's the automatic gearbox that is the weak link though, being slow to react (especially in manual mode) and clumsy in its shifts unless you are decisive with the throttle. Talking of which, the loud pedal is incredibly sensitive, making it difficult to drive smoothly.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:

According to the specs, this car should achieve nearly 30mpg. It may be possible on a long run at a slow and steady pace, but in our time with the car we barely broke 25mpg and high teens look incredibly likely for those enjoying the performance.

To add insult to injury, the CO₂ emissions are a rather high 237g/km so annual tax is £445, while this model costs nearly £37,000 to buy. A better bet would be to have the D5 with Polestar upgrade, the diesel boasting far better residuals, near 60mpg and only £95 road tax costs, as well as a lower purchase price.