Polestar 2 Review: The High-Tech Electric Beast

Here we brought you the review of Polestar 2, one of the 2020s most hotly anticipated electric cars. and yet there’s a chance you may never have even heard of it. Polestar is an electrified performance spin-off from Volvo and parent company Geely. 

While its first model the Polestar 1 was a plug-in hybrid rakish two-door. this is a mainstream model that’s altogether a little bit different. it’s an important car and it’s got its sights set firmly on the all-conquering Tesla model 3. 

Overview

Polestar 2 is a fully electric 4-door family car with a near 300 miles of range. it’s got a 78 kWh battery, 402 BHP, and an electric motor on each axle. 0-62 mph takes 4.7 seconds. and the interior comes loaded with so much space-age tech. you’d be forgiven for thinking this was some kind of pre-production concept car rather than something you can go out and buy out right now with your hard-earned cash. 

To begin with, there’s just one battery and spec to choose from. though those after a little added exclusivity can add Polestar’s performance pack. a 5000-pound option that adds 20-inch alloy wheels Brembo brakes and manually adjustable Ohlins steering dampers.

But in all honesty, most of that kit feels like a bit of a gimmick. because it’s not like you can adjust those dampers on the fly using a switch inside the cabin. you’ll need to go under the bonnet to make those adjustments manually. the chances are you’ll find a setting that works for you most likely the one straight from the factory and you’ll leave it well alone. 

No gimmicks aside this thing looks a million dollars. Volvo’s inspiration is quite clear from the front but inside profile. this thing looks unique. it’s kind of part SUV part fastback. now there is a sprinkling of XC90 at the rear. but we think that badge alone is going to attract some inquisitive glances from Tesla drivers at your local rapid charge point.

Charging

Utilizing said rapid charge point will allow you to top up polestar’s batteries from 10% to 80% in around 30 minutes. thanks to a maximum charging speed of 150 kilowatts. the maker provides an online calculator to help owners figure out how often they’ll need to charge their car. a slider for weekly distance is translated into total monthly charges, total savings on petrol, diesel fuel versus electricity. along with projected CO2 savings.

Of course, you can top up at home by a standard 7 kW wall box in around 11 hours. the maximum range stands at 292 miles more or less on par with more expensive rivals like the Jaguar I-Pace, and Audi e-Tron. but a little shy of the long-range tesla model 3. which will do almost 350 miles on a charge. 

Every Polestar 2 comes with a type 2 AC charging cable as well as a 3-pin plug for occasional use. 

Handling

On the road provides, you leave the dampers in their factory setting. you’ll find the Polestar 2 strikes a pretty nice balance between ride and comfort. it can jiggle around a bit. especially at lower speeds around town but on the open road especially on the motorway. it flows really nicely. now there’s a good chance that on the smaller wheels on the non-performance pack versions that the ride would be even better but unfortunately we’ve not had a chance to try those just yet.

Regenerative Braking System

The regenerative braking is strong. but predictable. allowing to pretty much drive this car on one pedal. we did an 85-mile journey this morning and barely touched the brakes at all. of course, that not only improves the driving experience. but it also lessens wear and tears on consumables like those brakes which you would find on a car like this quite so heavy as this might be quite extensive.

There’s loads of grip on offer and it feels like the Polestar uses its considerable weight to its advantage. stability is excellent. and body control for a car like this is pretty good indeed. the steering okay it’s light but it’s direct enough but to be honest it’s that plentiful noiseless linear shove that really out of corners takes you by surprise.

Motor Performance

As we said before, 0-62 mph takes 4.7 seconds, and while that means it’s not quite as quick as the very fastest Tesla’s. there is absolutely nothing on the road that you won’t be able to overtake with absolute ease. now like most electric cars the Polestar 2 is very quiet. save for a few little suspension squeaks which we hope are unique to our test car. it’s very quiet here especially at higher speeds where. okay, there’s a little bit of road noise from the low profile tires but it’s very hushed indeed.

Specs

Polestar hasn’t skimped on standard equipment on the two. all models get,

• Panoramic sunroof
• Harman Kardon sound system 
• Wireless phone charging 
• Heated front and rear seats
• Heated steering wheel 
• 11.5-inch touchscreen
• 12.3-inch driver’s display

The sat nav uses Google maps. and while android smartphone users are well catered for. Apple car play doesn’t yet feature the option of. 

Value-Added Extra Specs with Prices

This is limited to paint finishes at 900 pounds apiece leather upholstery for 4,000 pounds. the aforementioned performance pack at 5,000 pounds, and an electric tow bar for a grand. you can also add 20-inch alloy wheels to non-performance-packed cars for 900 pounds. a range of accessories is offered including child seat roof racks and extra charging cables.

Interior

The polestar 2 feels incredibly cool and comfortable. the exterior’s minimalist styling continues in the cabin with clean lines high-quality materials and it all centers around this glorious android-powered central touchscreen. which are used to control most of the car’s primary functions including things like heating, ventilation, media, and the cars sat nav. 

Then there are digital dials that set a high benchmark in the segment. the graphics they’re crystal clear and you can do full-screen mapping which means you can leave this screen to do whatever you need to do with music phone or trip information.

Boot Space

Under the bonnet, there’s enough space to keep the charging cables. while the big benefit of the boot is the fact it’s hinged to the roof like a proper hatchback. so despite the fact, it’s officially a little bit smaller. Polestar 2’s boot is more practical than Tesla. there is loads of room to stretch out upfront. but that sloping roofline does affect space in the rear which is only exacerbated by our car’s panoramic sunroof. there’s a chunky transmission tunnel too. which is a bit of a hangover from the fact this car shares so many parts with the petrol Volvo XC40.

But that’s where the similarities end whereas the Volvo will soon be available in pure electric XC40 P8 guys. 

Pricing and Cost Benefits

For now, the Polestar has it licked when it comes to rock bottom running costs. slotting in at a fraction under 50,000 pounds. the Polestar is eligible for the government’s three thousand pound plug-in car grant. while company car drivers won’t pay a penny in benefiting contacts. during the 2020-2021 tax year. it’s also exempt from road tax and those looking to take advantage of London’s recently revised congestion charge. we’ll be pleased to know the Polestar escapes that one too.

Conclusion

As it stands we like the Polestar 2 a lot it’s got a useful range, a slick infotainment system, serious performance, and that cool factor that will help it fly out of showrooms. ultimately it won’t go quite as far and it’s not quite as fast as a tesla model 3. but that’s just small things on an otherwise clean copybook.