agreed with the negative items

Crazy how we can have cooling and massage seats in a cheaper CC but not top of the line PE.

and same on the stupidity of the design with the drive mode. Not only it’s a pain but a safety hazard.

 

agreed with the negative items

Crazy how we can have cooling and massage seats in a cheaper CC but not top of the line PE.

and same on the stupidity of the design with the drive mode. Not only it’s a pain but a safety hazard.

Seriously—after the volume buttons, the Drive Mode roller must be the most used switch on my 2020 V60 CC!

 

The Volvo in its natural element…

I bet you can get quite a few Billy bookcases in one of those.

 

On that trip it was a couple of 2x2 Kallax modular storage things and a bunch of inserts for them. Didn't even have to fold the rear seats down.

 

The drive modes being buried behind multiple taps of the screen is mind numbing. They have taken one of the most unique features of the vehicle (3 drive modes…ie powertrain options) and made it more difficult and more dangerous to access.

I get the cost cutting behind removing the prior physical control for drive mode, but why not make changing the drive mode easier / with fewer taps. After all, it is only software.

At this point, I would even be ok with changing drive modes via voice commands. I tried…did not work.

 

Volvo does that, cost cutting that's insane. For example, on the 2014-2016 XC70. they did away with the front fog lights to make it into a daytime running light, left the switch on the dashboard, with a dummy plug. A real annoyance.

 

Also I wish it had ventilated seats (and it should at over $70k).

You might have finally talked sense into me. A V60 is what I’ve wanted to replace my commuter car ever since we got our XC90…but I’m so spoiled now by ventilated seats. Not getting a new car without them.

 

As much as I'd like to have it, there's just so much good in the V60 that it outweighs not having it. I've also had a very mixed experience with vented seats... the best was on my Kia Stinger, the worst was on my CT4-V Blackwing (seriously, they might as well not have even bothered there), and they were entirely average on the Lexus IS250 (manual transmission!) I owned.

We're not at the height of Summer in Virginia yet, but so far the mixed fabric/leather does seem to breathe a lot better than the all leather seats in those other cars. We'll see if that holds true in a couple more months.

 

The black leather seats on our '16 S60 T6 were brutal in the summer if left in the sun, but I imagine the white leather in the '24 S60 T8 will be better.

I am kind of fanatic about blocking the sun with screens, even use a towel on the side window in the middle of summer.

Plus can turn on the climate control remotely.

 

Get some quality ceramic window film. it helps a lot

 

Looks great too with the tints.

 

Got it in the best color too. Congrats on the new car.

 

Thanks! The color choice was a close one between thunder gray and crystal white, but thunder grey just edged it out because of how it changes in different light.

 

Your V60 looks just like mine. I came from a 2020 V60 Inscription, and I also miss the ventilated seats. We live in Florida, and I know as the summer goes on, I will miss them even more. Other than that, I have no complaints about the PE. I've just turned 2k miles, and so far have used only about 2/3 of a tank of gas. I drive it mostly in Pure, I don't like the idea of the engine having to be under a load when cold, so when it does get to 0 miles, I am very gently on the throttle until it fires up and engages. Enjoy your car. Oh, mine is Thunder Grey too, something I also like over the white or silver ones.

 

I figure I'm going to get around 700-1000 miles on a tank. I use Polestar mode quite a bit when I'm out on the weekend, and commute during the week in pure mode.

I'm an apartment dweller with a single car garage, and all I've got in there is a 120V outlet on a 20 amp breaker. I've got the benefit of free charging at work, and I only need to top off the V60 on the weekend, so my 'fuel' expenses are pretty negligible now. Not that this was ever about saving money (I don't drive enough miles for that to matter), but it is nice to know I'm massively reducing my emissions while still having fun.

 

Your description and initial hesitations are exactly the same as mine. I have a growing family so my wife's Lexus CT200h just couldn't cut it anymore and I really didn't want a Rav4 Prime. The volvo V60 PE ticked a lot of boxes but I was worried about its reliability (especially going from a CT which was FLAWLESS). The price was gulp-inducing and very difficult to justify to my wife as well.

I test drove one to test it out dynamically and wasn't overly thrilled; cancelled my initial deposit and accepted that the Rav4 prime was probably the way to go. Fast forward a few months later, and all I did was watch Volvo wagon videos. I was spiralling and going crazy.

I met up with a buddy who ended up getting one and rode around a bit just to see what it would be like as a daily (vs. trying to see how fast I could corner a 4500lb wagon), and I was so impressed with it in this respect. This caused me to put another deposit down on a 2025; I was extremely excited about this until i found out the MSRP on the 2025s were going up by $8000 with ZERO change in spec so I ended up scrambling to find a 2024 sitting on a lot. The next day, I had a non-refundable deposit down on a Crystal White example and the car is ours. Its coming a bit sooner than I would like (much to the chagrin of my wife), but reading your write-up is the best case of confirmation bias for me.

I am super excited to have this car in our midst (even if we dont' have it RIGHT NOW), but also in the back of my mind am wondering if this high I'm getting is a bit like the storm cloud in MarioKart Wii (temporary high that will blow up in our face if we hold onto it for too long).

Sorry about the written-verbal diarrhea.

 

No worries, these are often complex decisions.

I've owned a lot of different cars, and for the last seven years I've owned nothing but cars with manual transmissions (with one exception being a Kia Stinger). I was dead set on never owning an ICE anything with an automatic ever again, especially after the Polestar 2. But I also just wasn't enjoying my weekend drives anymore. It was hard to justify keeping dedicated toys around (I've owned three Miatas so far), and traffic isn't fun with three pedals. I was spending too much time in Miatas watching for people crossing the double yellows because they were responding to a text message on their phone or something.

The V60 will never be a Miata, limit handling is obviously never going to be amazing, but there's enough there to have fun with when the road opens up. It's a great 7/8 10ths car, aka typical canyon carving pace. Also there's lovely turbo noises, and the Ohlins dampers really do work some magic with that 4500 pounds. Roundabouts are especially fun with the ERAD kicking the tail around. And I can have that fun on the way to IKEA or Micro Center or somewhere else. It can chill like my Miatas never could, and it can carve like the Stinger only wished it could, while getting fuel economy better than both.

It's got the widest bandwidth of anything I've ever owned, and that's saying something considering there's a manual CT4-V Blackwing on that list.

 

Hi, I just wanted to say that we've had a very similar car journey! I'm now considering a V60 PE after having had a Kia Stinger and currently have a CT4-V Blackwing (with an X3, Macan, and M340 in there as well).

How do you feel about it after the CT4VBW? I drove the two cars back to back on twisty roads today and the CT4 is just unbeatable, but the V60 wasn't bad (comparable to the M340, better than the X3 or Macan). But I wonder if putting some Michellin PS4S's on it would get it closer to the BW.

 

I'd say it's closer than it has any right to be, especially on a fun backroad where limit handling characteristics aren't as important. The 4BW clearly has a much stiffer, more sorted chassis, but the Ohlins on the V60 make up for a lot. GM's magride is excellent, but the Ohlins are better. If you wanted a track daily, no question the Blackwing is the better choice, but for a do everything car, it's no contest: the V60 is the better choice. Even when considering the manual transmission on the Blackwing. The PHEV system is what really makes it no contest. The LF4 is a fantastic motor, but 16-17 mpg on my daily commute got real old. Then there's plenty of little things, like GM's interior quality that is still... well, you're constantly reminded that it's a GM product.

As to the tires, I've actually found I prefer Continental to Michelin in most cases. For one, Conti's wet performance is much better. Their DWS 06 all-seasons are also unmatched by anything from Michelin in the snow. Once the OEM Summers wear out, the V60 is getting a set of Conti DWS 06. They may not have the immediate response of the PS4S, but they also don't need the heat the PS4S needs to get up to max grip (which is worse on the custom compound GM used for the Blackwing).

 

Hey StormtrooperV60PE, I really appreciated everyone's quick feedback on the FB group. I can't believe how lucky I got finding this one but I definitely had to put some work in to pick it up haha.

A NC meet sounds great!

 

It could take a page from the Polestar 2 and put a permanent shortcut on the screen that takes you to the driving settings (seriously, I don't know why Volvo didn't do this).

Wait a second...you're telling me the Polestar 2 AAOS system already HAS drive modes on the main screen? And Volvo STILL hasn't implemented this? I am at a complete loss for words...I've basically given up on switching modes manually due to its safety issues. I'll only change it when I'm stopped at a light or similar. I'd much prefer to engage Polestar when I'm on an open road while driving.

I just don't get it. Volvo will limit the car to 112 MPH for "safety", which almost no one would attempt to surpass outside of a track, but refuse to fix a major driver distraction issue...and distraction is the most common cause of accidents! Nevermind the fact that it's downright embarrassing that a performance car like the V60 PE doesn't have physical drive mode controls. (Don't worry, I still absolutely love my '23 V60 PE. This is my biggest gripe.)

 

Ditto. The idea that touchscreens are a good idea is mind boggling to me at this point. The bean-counters' changes were all decisively bad (I think not having the paddles may be worse on a performance vehicle personally, but the lack of physical drive selector is neck and neck for me).

 

This is a frustratingly simple seeming issue regarding the drive modes. I drive using battery to the freeway and right before I get on I switch the screen to settings and drive controls so once I’m up to speed it’s only one touch to hit Hold for ICE. Then I hit the Home button to use as normal. I switch back to electric driving once off the freeway. All in all with the home button it’s 8 presses one way. How Volvo could think that is a good idea is beyond me.
All that said, I do love my S60.

 

This is a frustratingly simple seeming issue regarding the drive modes. I drive using battery to the freeway and right before I get on I switch the screen to settings and drive controls so once I’m up to speed it’s only one touch to hit Hold for ICE. Then I hit the Home button to use as normal. I switch back to electric driving once off the freeway. All in all with the home button it’s 8 presses one way. How Volvo could think that is a good idea is beyond me.
All that said, I do love my S60.

If the bean counters don't want a physical drive selector all they need to do is bring back the '2nd home screen' from Sensus where you can put the quick settings buttons like Battery Hold/Charge mode. It looked like crap but at least it's only 2 touches.

 

I have a subpanel in my garage. Already have a 220v outlet that is used for my air conditioner. I have been using that to charge the car as charging 110v takes forever. So today I figured how to free up two spots in the panel to run another 220v outlet just for the car. Cost me $38 and about two hours of my time. Happy camper right now

Don

 

Volvo sent out an email congratulating me on 100 days with my V60. Seemed like a good time to write a short update. I say 'short' because there's not really been much to add since the one month mark. It's been a remarkably consistent experience, and continues to be a pleasant surprise in how much I've enjoyed it. Especially considering the other things I've owned (A Blackwing, multiple Miatas, etc). I'm at about 1800 miles on the clock now, and I'm still averaging over 80 mpg for the lifetime of the car. Right now I can't see anything dislodging me from the V60 PE other than an EV60 PE.

 

Appreciate your write up, OP! I echo much of the same sentiments.

My V60 PE literally checks off every box - in a way that no other car on the market does right now. Something equally comfortable serving in the role of a daily commute vehicle (I'm getting 2000km+ before having to gas up routinely), yet comfortable in doing road trips on the weekends without having to plan for EV charging breaks.

Hauls a mountain bike equally as comfortably as skis in the winter. Great winter traction with proper tyres on (Continental Viking Contact for me) into the Canadian Rockies.

All my gripes about the car can be solved by software updates (though I too wish the physical mode selector was still present) - though I'm not holding my breath for that!

 

For the bike rack, do you just deal with the rear parking sensors going off the whole time? Or do you take it off when not hauling bikes?

 

Thanks for the write-up. I too have a Polestar 2 and just ordered a V60 PE for longer road trips (I am keeping the Polestar for everything else).

I was curious if the Polestar would become redundant, but didn't see any direct comparison in the thread. The V60 should be delivered here on Tuesday, so I should know soon enough.

 

I've got some comparisons over in the Polestar 2 forum (where I wrote a one year owner's impression). I'm very torn on whether or not to keep it. I think it's going to depend on what they offer me for the lease buyout at the end. I definitely have a number where I'll keep it around as a backup/around town commuter car. It feels a bit redundant, but at the same time I don't know what else I'd have in the second slot in my garage.

I only really have room for two cars, and the V60 isn't going anywhere, so... yeah, I don't know. I might let it go and have a fling with a few more fun cars I have yet to experience. Though owning fun cars has become a real hard thing to enjoy with how people drive these days. So if the price is right on the Polestar 2, I might just keep it for a while longer. I do really like it in general as a car, not just as an EV, and I'm not commuting anything ICE-only ever again.

In any case, enjoy the V60! Nearly a year into owning mine now, and I know I'm not letting it go any time soon.

 

Thanks for the reply. I'll have to see how the driving experience stacks up. I bought the V60 expecting just to use it for longer trips where charging could be a pain point, but perhaps it will be the Polestar that gets stuck in the garage . . . next to the motorcycle I never seem to get out on anymore. Time will tell.

 

Took a rental Prius on a recent weekend trip. It made me truly appreciate Volvo's implementation of the hybrid drive system. What a difference! I cannot imagine driving a crappy and literally clunky system like the Prius and being happy with hybrid vehicles.

 

I've not driven any of the current Toyota hybrid stuff. Mostly I just know how terrible the Atkinson cycle stuff sounds.

 

Jumping on this thread as I am in a similar garage situation. I returned the leased polestar 2 (DM perf) a few weeks ago and its power train is being missed at home.
I am now looking at a 2022+ v60PE (even though a used polestar would be much cheaper) and worry that we will be disappointed in the power delivery.

can you share your experience? No real fun canyon roads around me but we appreciate a quick pickup at highway+ speeds ; the polestar2 never let us down in this category.

 

My Polestar 2 is the base RWD model (the rarest in the USA now) with about 300 horsepower. It's not slow, and it's great for doing battle in traffic in Northern Virginia because of that instant, predictable response. You don't have to think about it, ever.

You have to think about it a bit more with the V60. I'm used to driving manual transmissions, so this is nothing new to me. You want to go fast, you need to be in the right gear. The same is true for the V60, just in a different way. Is the ICE on? You're going to go like a bat out of hell. Is the ICE off? There's going to be a couple of seconds while the engine starts, and boost builds.

Like I said, I'm used to cars that demand more of the driver, so I don't consider this a problem by any means. If I know I'm going to need to pull off a pass, I'll switch it into Polestar mode so the ICE is on and the transmission is already shifted down a gear or two. Same for if I'm about to turn onto a fun road. I might also run the engine for the first 10 minutes of my drive so it doesn't need to do that when I need it (there's a ~2 minute mandatory warm-up cycle). Maybe I turn on battery hold mode so the threshold for the ICE turning on is lower.

It's a different experience, no question there. It's not the always there, instant on power of a Polestar 2. Going fast is a deliberate experience you need to think about, but it won't take you long to figure out how to get the most out of it.

 

One year has gone by, which is hard to believe. Usually at this point if I haven't already lined up my next car, I'm about to. But there's nothing in the works. Part of that, admittedly, is just an industry that's forgotten about enthusiasts. There's nothing new out there, on sale now or coming soon, that interests me. The other part is just the fact that the V60 PE does enough of everything I want in a car that I can't see much of anything being able to do better. So here I am, for the first time in years actually keeping a car around. Never would have imagined a Volvo would be that car.

I'm closing in on 7,000 miles at this point, which is quite a lot for me. Says something about how much I enjoy driving it. The car itself has been largely without fault, short of a couple of interior rattles and the odd infotainment hiccup. I want to commute it every day just to listen to the Bowers & Wilkins system, but I do need to keep the tires round on my Polestar 2 until that lease is done. I put Continental DWS 06+ tires on the V60 back in January, and other than dropping to 30 miles of EV range, it got through a pretty healthy amount of snow and slush without complaint.

I'd probably think about a Porsche Taycan GTS Sport Turismo... if they were $50k cheaper. Until Volvo makes that electric V60 and puts it on sale in the US, I think this one is sticking around for a while.