Price Range: $49,900–$63,000
Pros
- Quick acceleration
- Keeping the balance of sharp handling and a comfortable ride
- Stylish interior
Cons
- For small items, there is not much interior storage space.
- A new brand with an unknown track
What’s new
- More range and power for single- and dual-motor variants
- Single-motor trim is capable of faster DC charging
- Single-motor models are now rear-wheel-drive.
- First Polestar 2nd generation implemented for 2021
Overview
Polestar is Volvo’s electric sub-brand, which makes the Polestar 2 shares largely with the Volvo XC40 Recharge electric SUV. (Polestar calls them two because it’s the brand’s second vehicle; guess what they named the third one?) The proportions toe the line between car and crossover, and Polestar doesn’t provide clearance for confusion, calling its compact five-seat 2 a “liftback.” That’s a self-conscious word for a hatchback with sloping rear glass—similar to what Audi calls a Sportback.
Spotlight: More power, more range
Polestar made significant changes last year, and it’s doing the same for 2024. The pocket -friendly two has one motor placed on the rear axle, and its battery pack growth starts from 78 kWh to 82 kWh. Dual-motor models keep the 78-kWh pack. New electric motors are more powerful and largely efficient; output for the single-motor rises from 231 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque to 299 horsepower and 361 lb-ft. The dual-motor allows for 421 hp and 546 lb-ft, up from 408 hp and 467 lb-ft. The range increases for the Polestar 2. The EPA rates the single-motor at a maximum of 320 miles versus the 2023 model’s maximum of 270 miles, while the dual-motor tops out at 276 miles, up from 260 miles.
Competitors to consider
Its high-riding stance puts the Polestar 2’s silhouette between the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y. Depending on equipment levels and drivetrains, it can line up against a variety of other EVs, from the Hyundai Ioniq 5 to the Subaru Solterra/Toyota bZ4X twins, and from the Kia EV6 to the BMW i4. Whew. That’s a lot of desirable vehicles.
Which two are recommended?
Polestar provides both the single- and dual-motor 2s in either base form or with a Plus package. Its larger range and rapid, fast DC charging capability make the Long Range Single Motor our desire, and the lower upcharge for the additional comfort and safety features makes the Pilot package a no-brainer.
Polestar 2 models
Polestar misleadingly labels all 2024 Polestar 2 trim levels, both the single-motor and dual-motor configurations, as “long range.” There is no shorter- or standard-range option. So don’t go through that phrase and think you overlooked something. You did not.
Long-Range Single Motor
The entry-level category of the Polestar 2 contains the following standard equipment:
- Single electric motor
- Rear-wheel drive
- 82-kWh battery pack
- EPA-estimated 320 miles of driving range
- 11-kW onboard charger
- DC fast-charging capability (up to 205 kW)
- Adjustable one-pedal drive (releasing the accelerator brakes the car to a stop)
- 19-inch wheels
- LED headlights
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- Keyless entry and starting
- Vegan interior with textile upholstery and floor mats
- Dual-zone climate control
- Heated front seats
- Power liftgate
- Four USB-C ports
- 11.2-inch infotainment screen
- Navigation
- Bluetooth
- Google’s built-in infotainment system
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Wireless charging
Every Polestar 2 comes with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver assist systems, including:
- Forward collision mitigation alerts you of an impending collision and puts the brakes on in certain cases.
- Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal is not in use and can automatically steer to keep lane position)
- Blind-spot intervention (which steers the car back into its lane) is automated if you try to change lanes while a car is in the vehicle’s blind spot.
- Rear cross-traffic warning (beware if a vehicle back to you is about to cross your path while you’re in anti-clockwise)
- Surround-view camera (gives you a top-down view of the 2 and its surroundings in tight parking situations)
- Parking sensors alert you to obstacles that are invisible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking.
- Rear automatic braking (putting the brakes on in an automated way to avoid a collision with an object behind the vehicle)
- Driver attention alert (issues an alert if sensors find you are becoming fatigued)
Several option packages are present to advance the Polestar 2 with extra equipment:
- Plus Pack
- Heat pump to rectify driving range in cold weather
- Upgraded interior lighting
- WeaveTech vegan synthetic leather upholstery
- Wood interior trim
- Power front seats
- Panoramic sunroof
- Heated rear seats
- Heated steering wheel
- Heated windshield washer jets
- Digital key (allows you to use a paired smartphone as the vehicle’s key)
- 13-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system
- Pilot Pack
- Adaptive cruise control (keep a driver-set distance between the Polestar 2 and the car in front)
- Lane-maintenance system (creates little steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
- Emergency braking system (detects an unresponsive driver and brings the vehicle to a stop)
- Adaptive headlights with Pixel LED technology (swivel with a turn of the steering wheel to better illuminate curves)
- Cornering LED fog lights
An optional Tow package takes the Polestar 2’s maximum towing caliber to 2,000 pounds.
Long-Range Dual Motor
In addition to all of the standard equipment from the single motor, the more powerful 2 also includes the pilot pack. Otherwise, the only differences are in the battery and motors:
- 78-kWh battery pack
- Dual electric motors (421 hp, 546 lb-ft)
- All-wheel drive
- EPA-estimated 276 miles of range
- DC fast-charging capability (up to 155 kW)
In addition to the Plus Pack, the dual-motor Polestar 2 is available with a significant improvement in performance:
- Performance Pack
- Software upgrade good for 455 hp and 546 lb-ft of torque
- 20-inch forged aluminum wheels
- Performance tires
- Sport suspension tuning with manually adjustable dampers
- Brembo four-piston brakes with ventilated and drilled front discs
- Gold exterior and interior accents