For drivers looking to combine convenience and performance, a sports sedan is an excellent option. Their practical five-door sedan body styles mean they can transport people and cargo effectively, while their lower silhouettes mean they can operate as potent performance cars when some uprated components are thrown at them. The obvious choice in this sector is something like a BMW M5 or Mercedes-Benz AMG C63, especially if you’re looking at used options from around 10 years ago.
For those who like something a bit different and want to stand out though, an ultra-rare Swedish sedan exists that ticks all of these boxes. It may lack a bit of power compared to the class-leading options, but it offers a refreshing and approachable way into the sports sedan scene.
Base Trim Engine
3.0L Turbo Inline-6 Gas
Base Trim Transmission
6-Speed Automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
345 hp
Base Trim Torque
369 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm
Fuel Economy
18/27 MPG
Infotainment & Features
7 /10
A Spicy Version Of Volvo’s Mid-Size Sedan
Volvo S60 Polestar front moving angledPolestar
Volvo is no stranger to a practical and rapid vehicle, the Swedish manufacturer having risen in fame during the 1990s for offering the 850 R, a turbocharged five-cylinder weapon that could be had in sedan and wagon forms. It continued this theme with a range of T5 and R-badged models throughout the 2000s, such as the S60 R and V70 R models in the middle part of that decade. Aside from more compact models like the C30 T5, Volvo largely moved away from the performance area of the market as the 2010s beckoned, with the brand focusing more on the safety and luxury areas of its more expensive models.
This changed around a decade ago though, when it strengthened its ties with Polestar Engineering, a tuning operation that made its name as a racing team and Volvo vehicle tuner. The marque elected to bring back a hot S60, the model sporting a Polestar badge out back.
The New Version Didn’t Last Long
2014-2018 Volvo S60 Polestar Blue Rear AngleVolvo
Unlike other sports sedans of the period – like the M5 and C63 – Volvo had no intention of making the S60 Polestar a mass-produced model. Only around 2,500 cars, a run that also included a Polestar version of the related V60 wagon, were built per year, with only around a fifth of these ending up in the US. Only 40 S60 Polestars were originally planned for the US in 2015, though their popularity led to Volvo extending S60 Polestar’s production until the end of 2017.
Discussion
Do you think the sedan body style is outdated?
Most car-buyers in America want an SUV or a pickup truck these days – fewer are interested in sedans, and many automakers have cut down production of that body style (or even cut it out completely). Do you think there’s a place for the sedan in the USA today? Why? (Bonus points for sharing your favorite sedan on the market).
Equipped With Nicely Sharpened Claws
By 2015, Volvo had moved away from the legendary five-cylinder engine and instead embraced six-cylinder powerplants for its performance options. As a result, the S60 Polestar was equipped with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six that produced a liberal 345 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, which was put to the road via an advanced Haldex all-wheel-drive system. It was a development of the system used on the S60 and V70 R’s of the mid-2000s, with the setup sending most of the power to the rear wheels in a bid to make it feel more agile on throttle.
2015-2017 Volvo S60 Polestar
Engine
3.0-liter turbocharged I6
Transmission
6-Speed Automatic
Power
345 hp
Torque
369 lb-ft
0-60 mph
4.7 seconds
Used Value
$15,000–$45,000
The powerplant, which got a lot of its power from a revised twin-scroll turbo and uprated exhaust and engine management systems, channeled its grunt through a six-speed automatic transmission. The unit can be controlled manually via a pair of steering-wheel-mounted paddles, and was recalibrated compared to the version used in the base S60 to quicken up shifting times. These upgrades allowed the heavy sedan to break through the 60 mph ceiling in just 4.7 seconds, with the AWD system ensuring you could use this performance all year round.
Volvo Went Through It With A Fine-tooth Comb
2014-2018 Volvo S60 Polestar Blue Front AngleVolvo
Volvo’s engineers made over 70 changes to the Polestar when compared to the standard model, with some of the key ones being a set of new shocks and an upgraded Brembo braking system. Even the S60’s body was given a bit of a makeover, with a more aggressive front splitter and rear spoiler brought along to the party. They weren’t only designed to give the S60 a bit of Polestar flavor either, as they were designed to produce downforce to help boost the vehicle’s high-speed grip and stability.
The exclusive Polestar wheels were also designed to this end, with the components made to channel air directly to the brakes to help keep them cool under heavy use. It may have looked as grown-up as Volvo’s other products, but the S60 Polestar had some dark secrets behind its clean-cut suit.
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More Affordable Than You Might Think
2014-2018 Volvo S60 Polestar Blue Rear Angle DrivingVolvo
When new, the S60 Polestar retailed for just shy of $60,000, making it a more affordable alternative to the likes of the M5. Considering only around 250 examples ever made it across the Atlantic, and the fact that it comes with an appealing Polestar badge, you’d be forgiven for assuming the S60 Polestar would have held its worth. According to Kelley Blue Book, this is far from the case. The resource reckons that high-mileage used versions are worth around $15k today, though finding one in this condition is a stern challenge.
Due to their rarity and collectability, most owners have worked to keep the mileage on their examples as low as possible. Only a few have popped up for sale in the US over the past 12 months, with Classic.com having kept track of them. A couple of these had around 30,000 miles on their respective clocks, and both ended up fetching around $35k.
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4 Affordable Used High-Performance Volvo Models Peppered With Polestar DNA
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Polestar Functions As Its Own Brand Today
2027 Polestar 5 Top ViewPolestar
Having spent a good chunk of its history as a Volvo performance car tuner and the brand’s factory-backed racing operation, this changed in 2015. Volvo purchased the road car arm from owner Christian Dahl, with the race team remaining in his hands. While the race team continued racing in series like the World Touring Car Championship with the S60, Volvo had other plans for the road car organization. Wanting to introduce a plusher luxury brand, Volvo felt the Polestar name would be the perfect moniker for it.
Polestar’s Current Line-up
- 2: Compact executive EV liftback sedan
- 3: Mid-size EV SUV
- 4: Compact coupe EV SUV
- 5: Mid-size EV sedan
Pushed by Volvo’s Chinese parent company Geely, Polestar Automotive was established in 2017. Since then, the brand has introduced a range of EV luxury models, such as the Polestar 3 and 4 SUVs, as well as the 5 mid-size sedan. The marque is planning to introduce a pair of new sports cars over the next couple of years as it looks to secure a slice of the upper-market EV sector, though it has struggled to break through thus far. Considering that the strength of the competition is only getting stronger, there is a chance that the Polestar and Volvo names may well link up again in the future if the brand doesn’t succeed long-term as its own entity.
Sources: Volvo.
