Goodbye Volvo, Hello "Volvo"

[Snoodini]

My first and only two cars to date have both been Volvo, First a MY2011 S40 D2 then a MY2018 V90 T8. I have been a member of this forum the whole time and somewhat active in fits and spurts.

Now it is time to move on from Volvo. I have just taken delivery of a Polestar 2, so I'm not exactly leaving the Volvo family, just sort of. Electrification was our highest priority for our new car and Volvo just didn't have anything to offer. I do wish that the Volvo brand would have been a bit quicker with electrification, I do love the V90, and an electric version would have been great! Of course it will come, in time with SPA2 but for now, it's Polestar.

I expect that I will not be so active here anymore, at least for the next few years. Thanks to all the members of this forum who have provided such great advice through the years.

[XC90Mk1]

Originally Posted by Snoodini

My first and only two cars to date have both been Volvo, First a MY2011 S40 D2 then a MY2018 V90 T8. I have been a member of this forum the whole time and somewhat active in fits and spurts.

Now it is time to move on from Volvo. I have just taken delivery of a Polestar 2, so I'm not exactly leaving the Volvo family, just sort of. Electrification was our highest priority for our new car and Volvo just didn't have anything to offer. I do wish that the Volvo brand would have been a bit quicker with electrification, I do love the V90, and an electric version would have been great! Of course it will come, in time with SPA2 but for now, it's Polestar.

I expect that I will not be so active here anymore, at least for the next few years. Thanks to all the members of this forum who have provided such great advice through the years.

Hey well done on the new car!

I must say I would be really keen to hear your views on the polestar. I would also think others here would too.

[Cull06]

A mate has one which I’ve been out in a few times in. Lush car and he is chuffed to bits with it.

He had a minor technical issue with it, but the manner in which Polestar dealt with it to remedy, basically left the experience I have had with Volvo behind in the dust.

Enjoy!

[Snoodini]

You can actually read about my first impressions in my delivery thread over on the polestar forums here.

From a Volvo->polestar perspective specifically though. Because the polestar 90% a Volvo, it feels very familiar. The steering wheel for example is taken straight from a XC40 and the controls on the steering wheel have been given a polish. all the switchgear is Volvo and all the gubbins inside is Volvo.

The powertrain is the same as the XC40 P8 and is very impressive. The one pedal driving takes some getting used to though.

One place that is decidedly polestar is the setup of the suspension system. It's much firmer than your average Volvo and feels very planted.

The infotainment system is entirely new for polestar courtesy of Android Automotive (note, not Android Auto) and is fantastic. The XC40 has Android automotive too but it's implemented on the same rather dated volvo screen and is skinned to look like sensus. The Polestar meanwhile uses a much larger screen with an arguably better layout and interface.

It is in some ways a "downgrade" from my outgoing V90 T8 Inscription. The interior materials and sound isolation are not as premium in the polestar and that is certainly noticeable. The cabin noise is louder in the polestar although for most drivers coming from older cars with more normal levels of sound insulation then it is impressively quiet... depends on what you're used to. It's certainly not loud, just compared the the V90.