Volvo

Polestar 2 Dual Motor Performance Plus — An EV sleeper



By David Boldt
MyCarData

(December 17, 2023) Back in the day (that would be my day) it was known as a sleeper. Built within the envelope of an anonymous sedan, its owner/builder would cram as much performance under the hood as the engine compartment could accommodate, but instead of advertising the installation with as many fire-breathing cosmetics as the cash-strapped owner could gather, he left it visually stock.

Volvo C40 Recharge — Recharging for a price



By David Boldt

MyCarData

(June 21, 2022) I’m at Trader Joe’s, parked next to a Volvo V70 wagon — and across from an older Tesla Model S. As the Tesla’s owner gets into his EV, he’s taking a long look at our C40 Recharge EV, Volvo’s first all-electric platform. And he takes another look, perhaps thinking it’s time to move on from his Tesla, perhaps thinking it’s time to move on from Tesla. And while Volvo’s all-new C40 Recharge isn’t intended as a replacement for the Model S, it can certainly be considered an alternative to Tesla’s Model 3 or Model Y crossover.

2022 Polestar 2



SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Polestar is a new stand-alone car brand from the Chinese automaker Geely, that has owned Volvo since 2015.  The name comes from a Swedish team that races Volvo’s. Polestar is the all-electric vehicle brand for Volvo that sells its cars through its own dealer network and online. You can’t buy a Polestar at a Volvo dealership but it’s where Polestar vehicles will get serviced by specific Volvo dealers if you own one.

2021 Volvo XC60 Recharge



INDIANAOPLIS — Volvo has a well-earned reputation for building autos that protect their passengers, but the automaker is expanding its compassion for humans to include the environment.  It has launched its Polestar electric vehicle division and offers an all-electric XC40 compact crossover, but plug-in versions of its traditional models will add juice to the plans.  The 2021 XC60 Recharge Inscription is a great example.

2021 Volvo XC90 T8-E



PHOENIX — For years, I’ve made long weekend pilgrimages to visit family, explore National Parks, and go on golf junkets, mostly because I love to drive and partly because it’s cheap. Recently, it seemed a certain virus might annul my trip to southern Utah, but restrictions eased just in time for our Bryce Canyon-Zion hiking excursion. We were in luck.

Volvo XC60 T8 Polestar — Luxury and performance



By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

(August 9, 2020) Volvo Cars aims to establish itself as a leader in electrification in the coming years, and by 2025 it wants half of its global sales volume to consist of fully electric cars, with the rest hybrid electrics.  While this is a lofty objective, we think based on the still small size of the all-electric segment Volvo might have difficulty meeting its goal without seriously compromising sales.

2020 Volvo V60 Cross Country



INDIANAPOLIS — One of my good friends, who owns a Mercedes C-Class wagon with nearly 200,000 miles, recently asked what vehicle she should buy next.  She really wants a new C-Class wagon, but alas, they are no longer imported to the U.S.  She’s not a fan of crossovers, though she could use their soft-road capabilities while keeping track of her family farm.  Then, it came to me.  She’d like the car already in my driveway, the 2020 Volvo V60 Cross Country.

Volvo XC40 — An enjoyable crossover

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Volvo has a very impressive three-vehicle crossover SUV lineup entering the third decade of the 21st Century, and we think the newest, smallest and least expensive model — the XC40 — might be the best of the lot. Its fetching good looks, fun-to-drive demeanor, spacious interior, and attractive price for an entry-level luxury car are compelling.

Volvo V60 — Stylish and safe transportation

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The sedan is going away, the victim of low sales in this new era of the sport utility crossover. For those of us who see some advantages in the higher-riding crossover including more cargo hauling capability, but prefer the comfort, handling, and styling of a good sedan there is an alternative and it’s called the wagon.

Volvo XC40 — A Scandinavian treat

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Volvo completed its new three-vehicle crossover SUV lineup this spring by adding its smallest and least expensive model — the 2019 XC40. We think it may be the best of the three, which also includes the award-winning mid-sized three-row XC90 and the compact XC60. The XC40 successfully translates the distinctive look of Volvo's larger SUVs into a smaller package.