[TodmordenLad]

Test drove a Volvo V60 B5 (Inscription trim with some optional packages) this morning. Around £45k list price. This is the latest 250hp/350Nm petrol mild hybrid. It’s a 2L 4cyl engine with 8 speed torque converter auto.
Starting with the positives, the cars looks great in the metal, from all angles, and the panoramic sunroof is excellent.
And now the downsides. The ride quality was crashy on poor surfaces up to and around 30mph. It improved a bit on smoother road when I was doing 50mph. The car I was testing was only on 18" rims too.
The overall refinement was lower than what I was expecting, with too much noise from both engine and tyres. Some of the interior plastics were tinny, hollow and squeaked - too budget for a car in this £ bracket.
The gearbox was ponderous - over eager on occasions and slow on others.
The seats, which are supposed to be a highlight of this car, were highly adjustable but not that comfortable, with less padding than I would have expected - certainly not as good as my old V70’s.
Pretty much all of the controls are in the portrait orientation touchscreen, including heating and ventilation, which I loathed. I’m sure you could move around it pretty swiftly once you were accustomed to the layout but it wasn’t for me.
So, decidedly underwhelmed.

[Alfisti]

You know you could get a 2010 9-3 wagon that basically does everything the V60 does for maybe 5K pounds and another 3K pounds to get her all sorted out. 37K pounds in yer pocket.

[overcoil]

I wonder the quality of the Polestar 2.

It seems to me many people don't even test drives car anymore to compare (before covid).
And quality isn't important to people. Food, clothes, cars even homes.
Wonder if it's always been that way.