We always had a not entirely justified soft spot for the Volvo V60 Polestar - but when it swapped its characterful straight-six for a fuel-sipping four-cylinder engine in 2016, the £50k asking price began to look a little (or a lot) rich. Granted, Mercedes-AMG charges £50k for a 2.0-litre-powered A45 S these days, but the hatchback has 421hp and a clever torque-juggling four-wheel drive. The Polestar never had more than 367hp and its hardware was far more conventional.
Still, with its extensive motorsport knowledge and accompanying World Touring Car Championship silverware, Polestar's engineers were able to turn Volvo's quick but not particularly sporting S60 saloon and V60 estate into decent driver's cars thanks to model-specific (and manually adjustable) Ohlins dampers and a comprehensive beefing up of 60-series chassis. The result was sufficiently good to defy the sensible looks of both saloon and estate.
However, while the quality of the trick suspension was never in question, Volvo's somewhat bland four-pot was harder to get onboard with - especially when buyers could choose from a host of German rivals with manifestly superior six cylinder engines. It didn't dilute the model's appeal entirely, but ensured that the superheated V60 was a niche prospect at best. The UK supply of four-cylinder V60 Polestars peaked at 142 in 2018.
According to How Many Left, 135 remain, and it's fair to say that lack of demand and significant depreciation has done its thing. At £27,490 this Polestar is little more than half its original price once the extras are factored in. And with 19k on the clock, it's barely run in. Still looks the part, too. Which it ought to given Volvo's handy reputation for conservative design and functional toughness.
Being much cheaper now obviously doesn't entirely paper over the model's shortcomings - but it suddenly looks like quite a lot of fast wagon when measured against a less powerful family hatch. Plus, of course, you're unlikely to see another on the road in Britain, which is not something that cannot be said for any of its rivals back in the day.
SPECIFICATION | VOLVO V60 POLESTAR
Engine: 1,998cc turbocharged and supercharged four-cyl
Transmission: 8-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 367@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 347@3,100-5,100rpm
MPG: 34.9 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 186g/km
First registered: 2017
Recorded mileage 19,000
Price new: £49,665
Yours for: £27,490
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