Volvo V60 Polestar review (2014-2016) - can a Volvo estate really be exciting? - Interior and tech

Understated but classy, would be the best way of describing the Polestar’s interior ambience. While at first it doesn’t seem that different to the cabin of any other V60, dig a little deeper and some lovely touches come to the fore. Like the perforated leather steering wheel that’s lined with Alcantara on the inside only, allowing you the tactile pleasure of feeling the material in your grip, without the tatty wear issues that full Alcantara wheels suffer from after a few years of use.

Like all Volvos, the suede/leather sports seats with blue stitching (you find this thread repeated in many places in the Polestar) prove to not only be supportive for hard cornering, but also supremely comfortable for long-distance cruising.

The driving position is fine, if a little high, and all the major controls are intelligently sited. Including the dials to use the in-car infotainment – Volvo doesn’t go for touchscreen stuff, instead preferring to use sensible, physical switchgear. The sat-nav screen is small by today’s standards, though.

Although the new XC90 has arrived and previewed future Volvo cabin design (which is sublime), the ‘Floating Console’ look of the V60 still passes muster, especially the striking TFT instrument cluster with varying displays – but the clunky pair of bar gauges (fuel tank and gear indicator) to either side let it down. Polestar signifiers include carbon-effect panel trim, metal pedals and an illuminated gear lever with the Polestar square logo incorporated. Overall, the cabin is roomy, attractive and well built, with some nice features enlivening it in comparison to a V60 D2.