Volvo V60 T8 AWD Polestar Engineered (Part Four)

I’ve had the Volvo V60 T8 AWD Polestar Engineered model on test since mid-October, and it’s never failed to impress.

The only possible issue with the car is that it’s white. And, well, you know what British winters are like – the V60 seems to be a semi-permanent murky shade of road-spray grey, despite the washes it gets.

But First World issues aside, this Scandinavian estate car has been fantastic to commute to work events in. It’s also been the go-to car for my family. The other vehicle we have is a seven-seater Peugeot.

Sure, the French motor can cart more people around, but the V60 is more than capable for five-up and it’s better looking (sorry, Peugeot). You have loads of room for your luggage in the boot, too.

What’s more, the V60 T8 AWD Polestar Engineered munches miles effortlessly – whether fully laden or with just you at the wheel. Thanks to the slick automatic transmission, it’s also easy to drive.

All that, and, as it’s a plug-in hybrid, this model of the V60 is relatively reasonable to run. As long as you don’t stomp on the accelerator pedal, you can expect anywhere between 113-134.4mpg from the electrified T8 AWD Polestar Engineered.

However, if you get lazy and forget to plug-in, then you’re effectively in a powerful petrol car – and then the mileage plummets to mid-30s mpg.

That’s still not terrible for a motor that does 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds by any means. It’s just that you won’t be doing yourself any favours by forgetting to juice the Volvo up with electricity as well as petrol.

So, despite the constant coat of dirt the lovely Volvo V60 seems to wear, I’m still loving it. So far, I couldn’t think of a better mix of what I need from an estate car. It looks good; it fits my family; it’s got oomph, and it’s efficient (if you hook it up to electricity regularly).

But perhaps, more than anything, the V60 carries the maximum five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP. That’s what anyone likes to hear, especially if you’re a parent transporting your children around.

Read more about the Volvo V60 T8 AWD Polestar Engineered next time I hit the keyboard.

Fast Facts

• Max speed: 112 mph
• 0-62 mph: 4.6 secs
• Combined mpg: 113.0 – 134.4 mpg combined, WLTP
• Engine: 1,969cc, four-cylinder turbocharged & supercharged petrol + 65kW electric motor
• Max. power (PS): 405
• CO2: 48 – 56 g/km
• Price from: £53,300