What is it?
The original S60 T6 AWD we drove back in 2010 was a car of two halves. The smooth ride, uncompromising interior quality and comfortable seating gave this saloon a major thumbs up, but the lack of performance and overall metal for the price was a definite sore point.
Volvo has at least tried to rectify one of those problems by offering customers a Polestar ECU upgrade. At £660 it’s not cheap, but Volvo says tinkering with the car’s internal software can increase horsepower from 304hp to 325hp and boost torque to 355lb ft.
What is it like?
Has it worked? In a word, no. There’s certainly more power from the 3.0-litre six and more boost from the turbo but the whole car is still hampered by the gearbox.
Problems from the original model aren’t addressed either: the steering still has very little feeling from the road and the low-speed ride is too firm.
There are good points, however, and as you’d expect from Volvo comfort is paramount. Fully adjustable leather seats and a multi-function steering wheel make the T6 a relaxing drive. Passengers enjoy excellent rear legroom, too, and the interior quality is unparalleled.
The upgrade doesn’t affect emissions either, and on our test run we still averaged 27mpg.
For those moments when you want to make full use of the extra performance the gearbox can be neutered, too, and the sequential manual option is perfect for such an occasion.
Should I buy one?
Unfortunately, the T6 still feels out of place in the sporty saloon market and thanks to the Polestar upgrade the price falls well over the £40,000 mark. Considering that rivals such as the BMW 330d cost considerably less, and can offer roughly the same performance, I believe our original verdict remains valid. This is simply an S60 too far.
Darren Moss
Volvo S60 T6 AWD R-Design
Price £40,250; 0-62mph sub-6.0sec; Top speed 155mph; Economy 28.5mpg; (combined); CO2 231g/km; Kerb weight 1684kg; Engine 6 cyls in line, 2953cc, turbo, petrol; Power 325hp at 5400rpm; Torque 355lb ft at 3000-3600rpm; Gearbox 6-spd auto
