Most of the mainstream luxury automakers have specialized performance divisions that build faster versions of models from the company's lineup. Audi Sport, BMW M, and Mercedes-AMG all spring to mind, but did you know there is also a Swedish performance brand called Polestar? Once an independent racing team before becoming a performance arm of Volvo, Polestar is now a solo brand, responsible for building electric vehicles.

So what about Volvo's performance Polestar models? Well, you can still buy them. They now wear the 'Polestar Engineered' name, which is available on the S60 sedan, V60 wagon, and XC60 crossover. CarBuzz was recently sent the Polestar Engineered version of the 2020 Volvo XC60 Hybrid. After a week of testing, we found out it is nothing like any other performance crossover on the market.

Subtle And Elegant Styling

When transitioning to a performance variant, luxury hybrid cars can become gaudy. Volvo is a brand associated with restraint, which is why the XC60 Polestar Engineered looks aggressively understated. Black accents on the grille and mirror caps let you know this is a sporty variant, without disrupting the XC60's elegant lines. Only two small (unlabeled) badges on the front and rear reveal that this is a Polestar-tuned model, so only those who know will spot them.

21-inch wheels come standard, but our tester wore optional 22-inch Y-spoke wheels that look impressive. Behind them, a set of six-piston Akebono brakes are painted in a signature gold color, adding just a splash of flair to an otherwise understated exterior.

Unique Drivetrain

Even more complicated than the Volvo XC60 Polestar Engineered's name is its drivetrain. A twin-charged four-cylinder (with a supercharger and turbocharger) sits under the hood, producing 328 horsepower on its own, sent out to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. An electric motor in the rear provides an additional 87 hp going to the rear wheels, creating AWD and delivering a combined output of 415 hp and 494-lb of torque.

Acceleration isn't X3 M or GLC 63 fast, but 0-60 mph takes a respectable 4.8 seconds. This drivetrain isn't all about launching power; it's about delivering immediate response with the electrified torque. It's also quite fuel-efficient, averaging about 27 mpg combined with around 20 miles of electric-only driving range.

Elegant Interior

Volvo does top-notch interiors in all of its cars, and the Polestar Engineered models build off the already-excellent cabin. Every touchpoint feels high-quality, and the Polestar-specific touches like the sport steering wheel, sport seats, aluminum trim, and black shift lever provide a more aggressive vibe. Matching the brake calipers, the gold seatbelts are a crowd pleaser and a conversation piece.

Adjustable Dampers

Most performance cars with adjustable suspension include drive modes to stiffen or soften the dampers at the press of a button. Polestar does it differently. Instead of electronically-adjustable dampers, the XC60's Ohlins shocks can be manually adjusted using rotating knobs under the hood and in the rear wheel wells. They are gold, like the brakes and seatbelts, and are configurable to one of 22 different positions for rebound and compression. Most owners will never touch them, but they are a talking point nevertheless.

Volvo says the Ohlins suspension on the Polestar Engineered models is much stiffer than the standard springs found on an R Design, but they aren't unbearable like some performance SUVs. We left them in the most comfortable setting and found them to be compliant enough while still reducing body roll to a minimum. Certain performance SUVs from M and AMG can not measure up to the comfort found in the XC60 Polestar Engineered.

Amazing Stereo

This is far from the first occasion that we've complimented Volvo on the tuning of its Bowers And Wilkins premium audio system, and it won't be the last. The 15-speaker system packs unmatched sound quality, plus a Concert Hall mode tuned to sound like a live music venue. Any music you feed it (including low-quality satellite radio) will sound tremendous coming from this audio system, making it perfect for a long road trip.