Steering: Scary XC60 Polestar

[Ulrikas PA]

Originally Posted by Cull06

I suspect it’s to do with the imbalance between the ice/supercharger/turbo putting 330bhp through the front whilst the electric is trying to put 80 through the rear (numbers all approx) and the car struggles to do that without the frankly huge torque steer.

Embrace it and enjoy it 👍

Interesting this. I have a 2017MY V60 diesel hybrid with Polestar (290ish bhp and 470ish lbft combined) and just a couple of times I've had twitchy steering when flooring it for an overtake. I reckon part of this is road surface related as it deals with a dollop of torque, as mine is on Michelin Cross Climates also.

[N777ckg]

I have to xc90 t8 455bhp, and it torque steers like no other car I’ve owned, literally can not overtake in a straight line! I expected it to be similar to the previous version (390ish), but it’s alot worse and that’s without a supercharger.
For info I’m runnning the continental premium contact 6, and I’m not o rely impressed so far with them, think I’ll be moving brands when these have scrubbed off.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by heskuna

Does mine have a fault? When I floor it to overtake quickly it is like trying to control a stallion. I almost sideswiped a car when I first tried it. Instead of a nice smooth overtake it is a series of steering corrections. I don't think it is tracking as it is ok normally and there is no uneven wear on the tyres. I detect some tramlining occasionally and sometimes it feels as if the wheels are loose. I appreciate that sounds alarming but I put it down to being a bit sensitive to the issue. I have the suspension set to 10 so it is bit on the hard side. I have had the car a year and it has been the same throughout, even when I had new tyres on the front.

Has anyone else had a similar experience or do their cars behave themselves?

yes it does have a fault , This is not a trait of a modern Volvo, you need some premium tyres and a wheel Alignment check , are the dampers seized or too hard ??

[bluey_xc90]

I would get them to check the ohlins dampers - I hve a v60 polestar (2015, 3.ol) and would get similar being dragged to one side. Then knocks from front suspension and found shocks corroded and replaced them.

Once that was done no more wandering/torque steer like behaviour - showing damping was uneven under load with one side damping more than the other. The Ohlins are prone to failure - the older Polestar cars see it a lot, even from 20k miles...

[xc60sun]

Originally Posted by N777ckg

I have to xc90 t8 455bhp, and it torque steers like no other car I’ve owned, literally can not overtake in a straight line! I expected it to be similar to the previous version (390ish), but it’s alot worse and that’s without a supercharger.
For info I’m runnning the continental premium contact 6, and I’m not o rely impressed so far with them, think I’ll be moving brands when these have scrubbed off.

thats interesting, wouldn't have thought there would be that much torque steer

[domhart10]

Originally Posted by N777ckg

I have to xc90 t8 455bhp, and it torque steers like no other car I’ve owned, literally can not overtake in a straight line! I expected it to be similar to the previous version (390ish), but it’s alot worse and that’s without a supercharger.
For info I’m runnning the continental premium contact 6, and I’m not o rely impressed so far with them, think I’ll be moving brands when these have scrubbed off.

Really does sound like something is wrong with your car if you are getting that much torque steer.

Probably need to check you tires, any odd wearing? checking the cambers or something, that just doesnt even sound close to correct.

[brickman]

I mean so long as its consistant, then its torque steer, if it veers one way and then rapidly changes direction again, you've got issues.
Worn rack, worn suspension consumables, bad alignment, bad tyre pressure, bad tyre (could have a ruptured tyre or incorrect size for the rim so its sitting wrong), something at the back end, worn cv shafts, diff issue.

Does amaze me though that any production car with over 200 bhp is shipping with an open differential. Its like those £45k BMW M140i that have an open differential on a light ish weight RWD car with a reasonable amount of engine, they are almost all wrapped around a lampost by now.

DOnt' dismiss 'worn rack' because its new or low miles. Mate had a BMW 320iX from new and it had this light clunk in the front end from new, BMW could never find it. At 3 years old took it to specilist as he'd had enough of this vague tram lining and it constantly demolishing front tyres and the clunk. Yup rack had loads of vertical play inside, the 'cush' pad that keeps rack and pinion together was loose or at least its lock mechanism was loose. Likely been like that from factory and BMW never thought to look at this despite being asked and car being in the workshop for it at least 4 times (2 different dealer workshops).

[Dibble]

Originally Posted by domhart10

Really does sound like something is wrong with your car if you are getting that much torque steer.

Probably need to check you tires, any odd wearing? checking the cambers or something, that just doesnt even sound close to correct.

I have an XC60 with polestar Chip. The answer is don't floor it. Firm acceleration yes but it will go like stink if you floor it and you will have to hang on! The Polestar chip is something else! Brilliant.
I have just had it serviced and MOTd at Volvo Dealer's and don't have any of those problems. I'm quite sure the problem is purely excessive use of the throttle and nothing else. Try it on an empty stretch of road to get a proper feel of the car.

[MikeGMT]

I agree with Dibble. There's a clue in the first sentence. 'When I floor it to overtake quickly' and 'Instead of a nice smooth overtake it is a series of steering corrections'. Most probably caused by loading the front tyres up and applying some steering at the same time, so the tyres are having to share grip and a direction change at the same time, then it's a case of steer, correct, repeat. Much better to move out then apply the power when the wheels are straightened to complete the overtake.

[domhart10]

Originally Posted by Dibble

I have an XC60 with polestar Chip. The answer is don't floor it. Firm acceleration yes but it will go like stink if you floor it and you will have to hang on! The Polestar chip is something else! Brilliant.
I have just had it serviced and MOTd at Volvo Dealer's and don't have any of those problems. I'm quite sure the problem is purely excessive use of the throttle and nothing else. Try it on an empty stretch of road to get a proper feel of the car.

Yes definitely gradual acceleration is good control.

I have a XC60 T6 Polestar (329bhp) and floor it with no torque steer from stand still or overtaking.

I do also have a 2009 Volvo S40 T5 (410bhp) and I get a lot of torque steer understandably as its fwd.

I do also have an A45 over 400bhp and even that has 0 torque steer from stand still or over taking.

For me it still seems odd that the car from the factory has torque steer, maybe its running too much power to the front wheels and not the back? which is why its fighting, but an AWD from factory should be completely manageable with planted power, unless slippery surface's or as mention tires etc not up to the power of the car?