Volvo S60 Polestar Engineered. Roadtrip and presentation.

Driving a MY22 Bright Silver S60 Polestar Engineered from Bergen-Oslo.
Music by Ikson Official
Song called Alive

[@vomErsten]

Every update since MY2020 seems to make their cars a little bit worse overall. As if having a bad transmission tune and lack of any attempt at making the engine sound pleasant (artificial or otherwise) weren't already egregious enough, they've now lowered Vmax, removed shift paddles, removed drive mode selector, removed crystal knob, removed the Polestar logo chiclets, removed the R-Design badging (on RD models), removed ventilated seats (on T8 Inscription), and changed the B&W speaker cones from gold to black. Still to come are the removal of Polestar Optimization options, the discontinuation of the exterior style kit, and hiding the exhaust tips. The battery and motor upgrades for the T8 powertrain are nice, but it's the little details they are removing that add the real joy into the ownership experience. Smacks of cost-savings and their PR statements about it are rather patronizing. I've never encountered a brand so frustrating as modern Volvo. Gorgeous cars, you want to buy one, but damn if they don't make themselves so unlikable.

[@volvo_kristian]

Totally agree 👍 It's the little things that gives joy to the experience of ownership. Really annoys me that they removed the Drive Mode selector wheel. You say the Orrefors are removed. It's not removed here in Europe, neither the ventilated seats. Maybe a market limitation. Either way annoying.

[@OniTheWolf]

Thank you for this in-depth video! The lease on my S60 T5 is coming up next month. I would love to upgrade to one of these but I can’t for the life of me understand why Volvo removed the physical drive mode selector as you mentioned AND paddle shifters from all cars. Even this one which is supposed to be more performance oriented and an alternative to M340i, S4 etc. The Volvo is also missing some things which in my opinion should be standard for the money they’re asking for this far like heated seats. I also don’t understand why the sliding cover for the center console in the S60 Polestar is black piano plastic vs. the one on the XC60 Polestar which has that nice aluminum trim. I understand they’re trying to save money, but they still shouldn’t cheap out on a car like this which is competing against Germany and Korea’s best. Just some very odd decisions…I also really like the crystal gear shifter they got rid of in this trim level. Keeping it would’ve made this specialty car all that lore special.

[@volvo_kristian]

Yeah some of the Volvo decisions lately have been really weird. Couldn't understand why they removed the gear shifters for the PE cars. Smells cost savings, but doesn't make sense in a performance oriented car. Regards to the centre console cover Volvo uses the high gloss black for all Plug-In Hybrids in S60/V60. Also removed the front storage. It's because of the battery just under. So it's a space restriction reason. The Orrefors haven't been available for the PE, but it's coming now for MY23.

[@vomErsten]

Preach.

[@Hallyug]

This is literally perfect. I am in love with this car and video!

[@tobiasellier]

Great look at this car. Thanks! At 25:50 you say that due to the microchip shortage Volvo isn't able to deliver something, but I'm afraid I can't understand what you're saying. It sounds like a dealbreaker for you (along with the lack of drive mode selector), and I'd love to understand. Thanks again!

[@volvo_kristian]

Glad to liked it 👍 Good that you asked. I see that I should elaborated. The BLIS as I refer to are the Blind Spot Information System. In the mirrors. Volvo aren't able to deliver that for S60/V60. Actually just returned to XC60.

[@fbp452]

@@volvo_kristian just to clarify further, the BLIS removal applied to European and probably other non-US markets, but the US models were not affected.

[@mho0]

@@volvo_kristian I also really value BLIS. In Finland Volvo said that for V60 it would be 1+ year delivery time -> they removed that from the feature list. That was like 2 months ago. Not sure what is the latest situation.

[@AnnWahlquist]

Wow.... Just wow ..

[@leontsao4127]

Very very beautiful color.

[@volvo_kristian]

Agreed 👍

[@L1ven]

Every car maker does that drive wheel thing. Pretty much every single car manufacturer is going for screen only no buttons and it is shame and I agree it makes driving not that safe.

[@franktdot5932]

The missing drive mode wheel is such a deal breaker! Made me go with Genesis G70. Will never burn enough gas to catch the steep price on this Volvo anyway! 😉

[@scottysvensson]

Kristian if hybrid battery low turtle icon appear if battery full it won't appear is it normal or not? Should i go to bilia? 🧐 Thanks 2020 XC60 T8 R

[@volvo_kristian]

That should just mean your battery aren't charged enough to maintain speed. But if a picture of a battery appears, then you should contact Volvo support

[@scottysvensson]

@volvo_kristian it says reduce engine performance, but nothing is wrong with performance 🧐 weird 🤔

[@volvo_kristian]

@@scottysvensson What mode are you driving in? Been a long time since I've seen that icon

[@scottysvensson]

@volvo_kristian u know norway weather 😂 awd , hybrit and power

[@EatMy50Cal]

Awesome video Kristian! What’s unfortunate about this car or about the Volvo models in general is the infotainment that really made me think twice about leasing one as a corporate car. I tested a V60 with a nice spec, but the infotainment and the digital cockpit were just plain awful, now I’m driving a G21 3 series. I’d have loved to drive a Volvo because Volvo has a very nice design, but the haptics weren’t on the same level, while the prices weren’t far from each other. Maybe next time, in 2024, I’ll get back to Volvo.

[@volvo_kristian]

Glad you liked it 👍 Surprised to hear you didn't like the infotainment. I love this Sensus infotainment. Actually think Volvo's new Android based infotainment are awful 😖

[@mho0]

Yes. What was wrong with infotainment. It is slow at some tasks, but pretty easy to use when you learning key things.

[@EatMy50Cal]

To me it was just the overall feel of it which was awful, I can’t really describe it. BMW‘s iDrive is absolutely intuitive and easy to use, something I really cannot claim regarding Volvo. 🤔

[@mho0]

@@EatMy50Cal I am pretty sure that BMW has good infotainment. But when I test drove BMW in the beginning it felt (330e) quite confusing. But I am also pretty sure it was just because I did not spend too much time to learn it and understand its logic before I went for test drive. And for me pretty much every car I have driven even a bit more lately (like Volvo, Audi, Hyundai, Kia, older BMWs, Seat, Skoda, VW) as soon as you learn the logic, they are all pretty easy. Some better than others, but not that much practical difference. OK, I need to help my mother and father with infotainments every now and then but they are 80+... Anyway in 2020 V60 you basically need to understand 4 things about infotainment. There are kind of 3 screens + settings. Leftmost screen is all kind of settings, middle one is you main screen (navi+phone+infotainment stuff+selected app) and last page is apps. And then swipe settings from top. After that there should no be any issue to do anything and everything. And I know that 12 year old kid learns those basics like in 30s.

[@EatMy50Cal]

@@mho0 I think you’re right about the fact that once you’ve understood the logics of a UI, you won’t feel any disadvantage over other UIs. That’s absolutely true. What I would consider, though, is the relatively even price level of both a BMW 3 series and a Volvo V60 once you’ve put some options into it. And considering that, I just don’t see both on the same level quality wise. When I compare the two, I definitely see quality differences that make me think twice when buying a car. E. g. the overall haptics of Volvo and such.