The Volvo V60 Polestar has redefined the high-performance wagon

There are few cars that represent middle-class suburbia better than a midsize Volvo station wagon. For decades, the boxy Swedish wagons have offered dependable, no-frills transportation for the masses. But while it's more mundane siblings were on school-run duty, some Volvo wagons have gotten the performance treatment.

Over the past 20 years, Volvo's high-performance wagons have earned the company great critical acclaim. (One was even raced in the British Touring Car Championships.) For its latest hot wagon, Volvo turned to the specialists at Polestar Racing. Polestar, which is responsible for Volvo's racing program, took the standard V60 wagon and turned it into a full-on performance machine. The partnership worked so well that Volvo decided to buy Polestar's tuning division.

Recently, Volvo dropped off a black V60 Polestar wagon for Business Insider to check out. Our $61,600 test car came clad in onyx black metallic paint. Here's a closer look:

Photos by Hollis Johnson unless otherwise credited.