Polestar Map on MY23 XC90 T8

[CocoPops]

So the dealer has a deal on for new cars currently, Polestar Engineered map is 50% off. So £395 or there about...

Thing is, is it worth it without a power increase?
Says it does gearbox and accelerator tweaks, but no power increase makes me think it's less worth it.

Thoughts?

[rhd443]

Originally Posted by CocoPops

So the dealer has a deal on for new cars currently, Polestar Engineered map is 50% off. So £395 or there about...

Thing is, is it worth it without a power increase?
Says it does gearbox and accelerator tweaks, but no power increase makes me think it's less worth it.

Thoughts?

I suppose the question is, how often are you likely to be able to navigate through the new menus to find polestar mode when you need it /want it on the newer model? You aren't going to see £395 worth of improvement if you don't drive it on the limits/redline.

I put my 2020 S60 T8 in polestar mode if the engine is on/needed, but its dead easy with the scroll wheel selector without looking at the screen, but I drive hard and on the limits of all 4 wheels so probably benefit from the extra power boost and gearbox mapping in corners. (I didn't buy a car with over 400bhp to drive it in hybrid mode all the time)

[sandys]

For me I feel it is completely unnecessary, a Volvo, any of the current line up just isn't sporting, over two tonnes of car with wafty suspension isn't something that you go ripping about B roads in for fun

Sure it can go fast but the car is designed to mask all those uncooth sensations you might get in a Sports car.

It's a bit like all these fast EVs, mostly pointless, none provide any of the feedback that my MX5 does, just one trick ponies.

Doesn't stop me from wanting the Polestar map though, just so it can say Polestar in the menu .....

[CocoPops]

I agree with both sentiments.

The XC90 is definitely the family car here, I have the toy elsewhere

I like the idea, just feel slightly cheated that there is no power increase.

[sandys]

Nice, that's a proper play thing

Yup, it's not going to do anything that will be transformative.

If a Polestar upgrade added in power and perhaps paddle shifters or something so the car became more interactive, it would feel like something but a software tweak that probably just makes gearshifts you don't control more aggressive and most likely an adjusted throttle map to make it feel more responsive don't seem enough.

If the offer comes to my dealer though and they still do the 14 day satisfaction thing, I'll give it a go.

I'm a sucker for after market tat My Abarth Punto had the Esseesse updates not long after release but that was a whole package of manufacturer based mods that I couldn't have done better anywhere else.