The Polestar 2 is a polished first attempt at an all-electric car – managing to deliver quality, style and a decent drive. The manufacturer’s close relationship with Volvo is clear, because the Polestar 2’s chunky design is offset with cool, Scandinavian touches.
For those seeking something different to a Tesla Model 3, the Polestar 2 has most bases covered, with good range, great on-board tech and reassuring levels of safety kit. The family hatchback certainly stands out from the crowd with its classy good looks, and it’s competitively priced – definitely one to consider.
About the Polestar 2
You could be forgiven for not having heard of Polestar, although the Swedish EV brand is gaining more recognition in the UK thanks to rising sales of its steadily increasing range of all-electric models. Polestar started life as the banner for Volvo’s motorsport activity (mainly in Swedish touring cars), then became the performance badge for Volvo cars. Now it has fully graduated to being a standalone car maker itself, albeit still under ownership of Volvo and Chinese giant Geely.
Polestar’s first foray into full vehicle production was in 2017 with the aptly named Polestar 1 – a low-volume, plug-in hybrid coupe. The fastback-styled Polestar 2 is an altogether more accessible car, and the company is aiming to take on Tesla’s Model 3 and steal key sales from its US rival.
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The Polestar 2 sits on Volvo’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform, which is also used for the Volvo XC40. The Polestar 2 has a saloon-look bodystyle, but is actually a five-door hatchback with a slightly elevated ride height. This gives it a unique shape that’s not quite a crossover, but still offers decent family practicality.
Polestar introduced an entry-level 2 model in 2021, priced at just under £40,000. It featured a 64kWh battery and a single, 221bhp front-mounted motor – good for up to 295 miles from a single charge. This has now been upgraded to a 69kWh battery version, still with a single motor at the front, but producing 228bhp and able to travel up to 297 miles before the need to recharge. Perhaps predictably, the price has also risen to around £43,000.
A 228bhp long range single motor version, including a bigger 78kWh battery is available for an extra £3,000 – again this is front-wheel-drive, but with a maximum range of 341 miles. A 78kWh dual-motor (all-wheel-drive) version sits at the top of the price list; with 402bhp and 660Nm of torque it manages 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds, with range falling to 301 miles. Buyers can opt for the Performance pack which boosts power to 469bhp and unlocks an extra 20Nm of torque.
Polestar is clearly taking direct aim at the Tesla Model 3. But such is its capability that it will no doubt be under consideration from customers looking at the latest premium EVs from BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar, Audi and Volkswagen.
In keeping with its unique sense of style, Polestar has done away with traditional trim levels and instead offers three additional packs that build on the already generous level of standard equipment. The Pilot pack offers extra autonomous safety kit and upgraded LED headlights, while the Plus pack includes items such as a Harman Kardon audio system, a wireless smartphone charging function, a heated steering wheel and a fixed panoramic sunroof.
As mentioned above, the Performance pack brings a power boost, but also features kit that is primarily focused on improving the driving characteristics of the car. Extra items include Brembo brakes, Ohlins dampers and 20-inch forged alloy wheels, along with gold-coloured seat belts to match the colour of the brake calipers.
Polestar has also declared itself ‘vegan-friendly’, with the 2’s Plus pack interior upholstery made from a 100 per cent vegan material known as WeaveTech. However, slightly strangely you can still specify ventilated leather trim – for an extra £4,000.
For an alternative review of the Polestar 2, visit our sister site drivingelectric.com…
