2018 Volvo V60 Polestar Drivers' Notes Review | Going out with a bang

Just in time for the reveal of the new 2019 Volvo V60, the outgoing 2018 Volvo V60 Polestar arrived at Autoblog HQ. We drove the refreshed model last year. While we were impressed, compared to the competition, the car was expensive and dated. Still, the limited-production model was never going to be a runaway success and a diehard Volvo enthusiast was never going to look for anything else. It is the only wagon in the class, too.

The V60 Polestar is powered by a "twincharged" — supercharged and turbocharged — 2.0-liter inline-four and sends power to all-four wheels through an eight-speed automatic. That powertrain replaced the turbo inline-six and six-speed auto from the original Polestar V60. In addition to the powerful engine, Polestar fitted adjustable Öhlins DFV shocks, stiffer springs and stiffer anti-roll bars. Polestar models come with 20-inch wheels and summer tires, though this one was wearing winter rubber.

Inside, the V60 Polestar comes with heated sport seats with black leather and blue stitching. The same color combo can be found on the shift boot, center console and steering wheel. There's matte carbon-fiber trim on the center stack that matches the carbon front splitter and mirror caps.

Associate Editor Reese Counts: To say I have a soft spot for Volvo wagons would be an understatement. My grandpa had a huge influence on my love for cars (I now own his old '99 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG). As a kid, I remember poking around in the garage to get a look at his Volvo 1800ES. Along the way he also owned Volvo 200, 700 and 900 Series wagons. My mother owned a Volvo V70 R that regularly blew the doors off Camaros and Mustangs at stoplight drags. I learned to drive in that car. In fact, the only vehicle that had more of an impact on me growing up was probably the Chevy Corvette. My dad has owned 17.