My Thoughts Exactly: 2025 Volvo V60

Dear friends who have – and had – own(ed) a Volvo wagon…

You may be happy to know that the Swedish automaker still produces station wagons. On top of that, performance-oriented ones. 

We know that your Titanium Gray/Atacama leather V70 R has become an icon. So has the subsequent V60 Polestar version of a decade or so ago. The 740/760 Turbo wagons of decades yore. All of which paved the way for the former motorsport and tuner entity to become an integral part of the corporate structure controlling both brands. 

The performance wagon remains in North America. These days, it has a J1772 plug-in receptacle ahead if the driver’s door. It also puts down impressive numbers expected from of a performance vehicle.

Thus, we have the 2025 Volvo V60 T8 e-AWD Polestar Engineered wagon. A plug-in hybrid that might recall all of the iconic performance station wagons of the recent past. 

There might be confusion here. Polestar became its own brand under the all-encompassing corporate banner that also stewards Volvo. While they produce their own lineup of battery-electric premium automobiles – with design nods to Volvo – that name is applied to models that offer sportiness and performance under the other Swedish brand.

Please do not mistake this as a Polestar 2.5 or something along those lines. This is a Volvo with a plug-in hybrid driveline and a few performance cues that make it desirable for anyone wanting to be different. 

The driveline for the V60 Polestar Engineered is simply called T8. Not Recharge, but T8. I believe Volvo is retiring that name because of a shuffling of model nomenclatures for electric and hybrid models. Just a thought here…

The plug-in hybrid driveline starts with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine up front with an electric motor at the rear axle. The electric motor is fed by an 18.8 kilowatt-hour battery pack that is recharged by the aforementioned J1772 receptacle. This drive system combined puts down 455 horsepower and 523 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic is connected to the drive system, ultimately sending power to all four wheels. 

The question comes up whether this feels like those performance Volvo wagons of the past four decades. The answer is yes – it runs silent, deep and quick. Super quick! You might even call the V60 T8 a “stealth missile” – a more apt term to describe the experience.

The “stealth missile” feel becomes more prominent when you switch from Hybrid to Polestar Engineered mode. Throttle response is subtle, which means you have to check the instrument cluster to know you’re in the Polestar Engineered mode. It does feel quicker, however. 

What should not surprise you is how efficient the T8 system is. As a plug-in hybrid, priority goes to the electric motor when there is juice in the battery pack. Volvo states that the system has a range of 41 miles when fully charged. We observed a maximum of 40 miles on a full charge-up. For having such horsepower, we were amazed that it would turn an observed average fuel economy of 36.1 MPG on mixed fuel/electricity during our time with the V60 T8. 

The “stealth missile” theme continues throughout the V60’s exterior. The stance looks lower, thanks to its Ohlins dampers as part of the Polestar Engineered suspension system. A set of 19-inch alloy wheels showcasing the V60’s gold calipers are the only cues that it is the T8 Polestar Engineered version. 

The V60 looks darn sharp in this guise. I wonder if it would look better in Titanium Gray with Atacama leather…

Sadly, that iconic combination does not exist anymore. Yet, you can get the V60 T8 Polestar Engineered in white, silver or black. 

The only interior color available in this model is black. Rather, Charcoal Nappa Leather and Textile – let’s call it cloth. The seats themselves are comfortable and supportive with a plethora of power adjustments. The thigh extender, included. 

The rear seats get the same upholstery. Truthfully, only two adults could sit back there, thanks to a higher “transmission hump.” Cargo space is quite generous, as you fold down the rear seats to load up to 60.5 cubic feet of goodies. With the rear seats up, that measures out to 25.5 cubic feet. 

One thing to note are the seatbelts. If you know your Polestar lore, then you know about the gold seatbelts. That is yet another cue that you’re riding like a track star with a cargo hold full of gear. 

Let us note that there has been a mishmash of information regarding cargo space from various sources. C’mon, everyone, agree on the proper numbers, publish them and let the consumer use that knowledge to make a proper purchasing decision. 

The overall ride quality is somewhere between solid and firm. It is practically the same in any drive mode. Just a smooth experience that won’t disappoint you. However, certain drive modes do change the character of its handling. In Hybrid, there is a bit of compliancy through the curves. Not much lean and roll, just some flexibility. That changes when you put the V60 into Polestar Engineered mode. The cornering becomes flatter and more controlled.

The two drive modes mentioned also control the difference in steering response and on-center feel. Hybrid mode provides solidity, while Polestar Engineered mode weighs down the steering system for more exact positioning of the V60. A tight turning radius and quick response adds more to this superb steering system. The same could be said of the braking system. From a solid pedal feel, the system turned in superb stops in normal, wet and panic situations.

There are only two primary models in the 2025 Volvo V60 lineup. While the Cross Country has the mild hybrid drive system available in two trims, the T8 plug-in hybrid is only offered in the Polestar Engineered trim. The sticker price that came with this tester was $72,838. 

Is this the performance wagon that we need? Not exactly need, but please do consider the alternatives. It is a premium/luxury performance wagon that under $100,000 – which says something about what other such vehicles are out there. If you think about it, this V60 T8 eAWD Polestar Engineered wagon is truly a better value. 

Does it have to be hardcore? Not really. It might just make you the coolest person driving a wagon around wherever you go. 

OK, so this is not a 740 Turbo wagon, a V70 R or a V60 Polestar from generations past. This Volvo wagon is for an electrified era. While the name Polestar now means something completely different in the automotive world, that legend continues in this Polestar Engineered V60

DISCLAIMER: Vehicle provided by Volvo Cars North America

All photos by Randy Stern