Overview
It wears the sophisticated duds of a luxury sedan, like the Volvo S60, but the all-electric Polestar 2 hatchback is built for a gas-free world. Volvo’s EV subsidiary, Polestar, gives the 2 a healthy balance of range and horsepower for its lowest trim level. The base rear-drive Polestar 2 has 295 ponies with a claimed 320 miles of range. Two all-wheel-drive Polestar 2 hatchbacks are available, one with 416 horsepower and the enthusiast-minded Performance Pack model with 469 horsepower. Both have a manufacturer-claimed 276 miles of range. The Polestar 2’s pricing starts far above the base Tesla Model 3‘s but at least it has more range than Elon’s baby. Another thing the Polestar has over the Tesla is a more traditional cockpit, complete with a normal instrument cluster and software backed by Google’s Android. While the Polestar 2 has constantly gained better features, range, and horsepower each model year it needs to keep growing even stronger to be competitive against other blossoming electric cars such as the BMW i4 and Hyundai Ioniq 6.
What’s New for 2024?
Polestar sweetens its all-electric 2 for 2024 with more range thanks to a larger battery and updated hardware. The previously single-motor front-wheel-drive Polestar 2 is now rear-wheel drive and gets a claimed 30 additional miles of range for a total of 300. Dual-motor Polestar 2 models now get 270 miles of claimed range, which is an increase of 10 miles from last year. Horsepower is up across all levels thanks to upgraded motors. The single-motor Polestar 2 now has 295 horsepower (up from 231) and the dual-motor version is up to 416 horsepower (from 408). We like that. Polestar has also retuned the torque ratio, giving the rear motor priority for output. 20-inch forged wheels that come with the Performance Pack have been updated and Polestar now offers Michelin all-season tires as an option for its 19-inch wheels. The larger battery now supports maximum DC-fast-charging speeds of up to 205 kW.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The rear-drive single-motor Polestar 2 has plenty of range to forgo nightly charging, and its 295 horsepower makes it quick on its feet. While the Performance Pack feeds the enthusiast flame, it comes at the cost of overall range, so rather than racing to the next recharge, we’d argue that a lower price and better range is worth the gap in maximum Polestar 2 performance.
EV Motor, Power, and Performance
The Polestar 2 chain of command starts with a single motor that delivers 295 horsepower and 361 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels. The motors are doubled for all-wheel-drive models, with a combined output of 416 horsepower and 546 pound-feet of torque. An available Performance Pack exists for thrill seekers, with 469 peak horsepower for maximum acceleration. We haven’t tested a 2024 Polestar 2 with these updated motors yet, but expect more aggressive performance than last year’s base, single-motor model, which launched to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds. The Performance model also comes equipped with 20-inch wheels and summer tires, stiffer suspension components as well as adjustable Öhlins dampers, and upgraded Brembo front brakes. Polestar also provides three levels of regenerative braking, with the strongest capable of bringing the car to a complete stop without you touching the brake. While the aforementioned Performance Pack caters to the enthusiast crowd, we’re convinced the 2 rides better on the base suspension.
Range, Charging, and Battery Life
Like the gas-powered Volvo XC40 crossover, the 2 rides on the Swedish brand’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), though the electrified version of the platform accommodates a 75 kWh lithium-ion battery for all-wheel drive models, and a larger 79 kWh battery for rear-drive single-motor cars. The electrical system supports fast charging up to 205 kilowatts with the big battery, but Polestar claims the 75 kWh battery can be recharged from dead to 80 percent in 40 minutes. The single-motor model has an estimated range of 320 miles when using 19-inch wheels, however, that drops to 307 miles while using 20-inch wheels. The dual-motor Polestar 2 is rated at 276 miles when wearing 19-inch wheels, 266 miles on 20-inch wheels, and finally, the Polestar 2 dual-motor Performance gets an EPA-estimated 247 miles of driving. The last Polestar 2 we tested ked out 190 miles of range on our 75-mph real-world highway route, which aligned with the Audi e-tron luxury SUV but trailed the Tesla Model 3 Long Range sedan, which managed 230 miles.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe
Just like the overall driving range, the 2024 Polestar 2’s EPA-estimated MPGe ratings vary depending on equipment. The single motor Polestar 2 gets 115 MPGe combined, 124 city, and 106 highway according to the EPA. The Dual Motor is only slightly worse, getty 106 combined, 112 city, and 100 MPGe highway respectfully. For more information about the Polestar 2’s efficiency and range, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The 2’s interior brings together wood, fabric, and plastic in a simple yet artful way. It looks modern, with clean lines, a spartan color palette, and minimal switchgear. The 2 borrows a couple things from its Volvo brethren, like the steering-wheel buttons and knurled start knob, but the overall design reads less busy here. In keeping with the electrified powertrain, Polestar swaths the interior in eco-friendly vegan fabric (though, you can get leather if you really want it). The power-operated liftgate opens to a not-so-cavernous cargo hold boasting 14 cubic feet of space. Need more? There’s another cubic foot of storage in the frunk.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Inside, the driver faces a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster as well as a centrally located iPad-esque portrait-oriented touchscreen. The latter measures 11.2 inches and handles most functions, running Google’s Android Automotive OS infotainment system. It’s not all that different from other modern interfaces: Picture a box subdivided into four squares, each devoted to a different category of apps, be it navigation, phone, or audio. By grouping similar apps into a specific corner of the screen, Polestar believes users will have an easier time finding what they need, thus minimizing distraction. But what’s really great about this whole thing is that it makes Google Maps the integrated nav system and provides useful EV-specific information to the driver, such as where the nearby charging stations are and how long you’ll have to sit there once you arrive. Other things worth noting: You’ll find two USB ports in the front and two in the rear, satellite radio comes standard, and Harman/Kardon provides the sound.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The Polestar 2 comes loaded with several driver-assistance and safety features, which should provide added peace of mind. For more information about the Polestar 2’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Standard adaptive cruise control
- Standard blind-spot monitoring
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Polestar’s limited warranty sticks to the industry standard, on par with that from Tesla. The company also provides competitive coverage for the 2’s electrical components. Surprisingly, Polestar doesn’t offer the same three-year complimentary maintenance program as Volvo, its parent company.
- Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Electrical components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
Specifications
Specifications
2022 Polestar 2 Single Motor
VEHICLE TYPE
front-motor, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $47,200/$52,400
Options: Plus package (sunroof with projected Polestar symbol, heat pump, heated rear seats, Harman/Kardon premium sound system, heated steering wheel, power seats, wireless phone charging), $4000; Thunder grey paint, $1200
POWERTRAIN
Motor: permanent-magnet synchronous AC, 228 hp, 243 lb-ft
Battery Pack: liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 75.0 kWh
Onboard Charger: 11.0 kW
Transmission: direct-drive
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 13.6-in vented disc/13.4-in vented disc
Tires: Michelin Primacy 4
245/45R-19 102V POL
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 107.7 in
Length: 181.3 in
Width: 73.2 in
Height: 58.2 in
Passenger Volume: 96 ft3
Cargo Volume: 16 ft3
Curb Weight: 4460 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 6.8 sec
1/4-Mile: 15.3 sec @ 93 mph
100 mph: 18.6 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 6.9 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 2.5 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 3.8 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 101 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 161 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.88 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 75 MPGe
75-mph Highway Driving: 89 MPGe
Highway Range: 220 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 107/113/100 MPGe
Range: 270 mi
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2023 Polestar 2 Performance
Vehicle Type: front- and mid -motor, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $58,800/$67,650
POWERTRAIN
Front Motor: permanent-magnet synchronous AC
Rear Motor: permanent-magnet synchronous AC
Combined Power: 469 hp
Combined Torque: 502 lb-ft
Battery Pack: liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 75.0 kWh
Onboard Charger: 11.0 kW
Peak DC Fast-Charge Rate: 155 kW
Transmissions: direct-drive
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 14.8-in vented, cross-drilled disc/13.4-in vented, cross-drilled disc
Tires: Continental SportContact 6
245/40R-20 99V POL
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 107.7 in
Length: 181.3 in
Width: 73.2 in
Height: 58.0 in
Passenger Volume: 91 ft3
Cargo Volume: 16 ft3
Curb Weight: 4714 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 3.9 sec
100 mph: 8.9 sec
1/4-Mile: 12.2 sec @ 116 mph
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 4.0 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 1.5 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 1.9 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 128 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 160 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 317 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.92 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY AND CHARGING
Observed: 75 MPGe
75-mph Highway Range: 210 mi
Average DC Fast-Charge Rate, 10–90%: 72 kW
DC Fast-Charge Time, 10–90%: 57 min
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 100/105/96 MPGe
Range: 260 mi
