The Polestar 2 has discovered its identification, in its fourth mannequin yr. With little or no else to single it out as completely different, it’s pulled off an unlikely transformation—shedding its front-drive origins and turning into a rear-wheel-drive-focused efficiency automobile this yr. 

Based mostly on a drive final week on some twisty Colorado Rocky mountain roads, the brand new base $51,300 single-motor entry mannequin appears just like the one to get—and the one which appears to get itself. It’s additionally the one bestowed with up to date battery tech, quicker charging, and an EPA vary score of as much as 320 miles. Based mostly on first impressions with vary, that seems reproducible, too.

The only-motor mannequin’s 82-kwh pack has up to date CATL cells—nonetheless NCM (nickel cobalt manganese) for the U.S., simply with extra vitality density. It additionally comes with faster fast-charging—as much as a peak 205 kw, from the 155 kw potential from the 78-kwh pack and its LG cells. That drops the 10-80% road-trip cost time to twenty-eight minutes, from the smaller pack’s 34 minutes. And in both case, the Polestar 2 will get an 11-kw onboard charger, permitting a full cost on 240 volts at dwelling in eight hours, however for slower stopgap charging, a 16-amp connector that’s 240-volt appropriate is included.  

2024 Polestar 2 single motor

Entrance or rear motor? Who’s on first, Polestar?

Again in 2019, the Volvo government overseeing the event and evolution of the Polestar 2 with its unique sibling, the Volvo XC40 Recharge, informed Inexperienced Automobile Experiences that whereas their shared platform, CMA, was primarily a front-wheel-drive structure, single-motor variations of those fashions may go along with front- or rear-wheel drive.

4 years later, after a curveball, within the type of a single-motor front-wheel-drive Polestar 2, that “you’ll have to see” remark has been pitched to the plate, with rear-wheel-drive variations of those fashions, which clearly search—and discover—extra of the standard European performance-car taste they’ve hinted in any respect alongside. 

To get there, Polestar dropped next-generation motors and inverters into the two. The Polestar 2 is Swedish-engineered, however it’s in-built China (sorry, no tax credit score) and dips deep into the ecosystem of its dad or mum firm Geely. The brand new motors observe the identical design as those who now go into the 2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge, however they’re sourced from China somewhat than from Sweden. 

2024 Polestar 2 single motor

2024 Polestar 2 single motor

2024 Polestar 2 single motor

The brand new permanent-magnet motor used on the rear wheels offers single-motor variations a score of 299 hp and 361 lb-ft of torque, permitting a 0-60 mph time of 5.9 seconds. Twin-motor Polestar 2 fashions get a brand new motor in entrance, too—an asynchronous (induction) motor that may successfully coast alongside throughout light-load cruising situations, leaving the ability supply to the rear wheels. It provides twist when the traction is required or in all-out acceleration for the mixed energy supply, including as much as a mixed 421 hp and 546 lb-ft of torque—or 455 hp and the identical torque score with a software-enabled enhance in Efficiency Pack fashions, enabling 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds. 

Polestar additionally says they’re an incredible pairing with this mannequin’s newfound rear-drive dynamics when consumers need to add AWD. Whereas the permanent-magnet motor in again gives the near-instantaneous kick, the entrance motor’s supply is much less abrupt. 

2024 Polestar 2

Electrical crossover—simply not of the utility form

The Polestar 2 is about six inches shorter than the Mannequin Y and Mannequin 3. In the meantime, it’s taller than the Mannequin 3 however shorter in peak than the Mannequin Y. 

That stated, it drives low and nimble, way more like a sedan akin to Mannequin 3 or Ioniq 6 than the quickly increasing array of different electrical crossovers. For those who can filter out the excessive beltline, it feels such as you’re driving a comparatively low-set automobile. 

The Polestar 2 stays constructed on Volvo’s CMA platform, shared with the gasoline Volvo XC40, the electrical XC40 Recharge, and the associated C40 Recharge, plus varied different abroad fashions underneath the Geely umbrella. Right here, the pack is T-shaped, working under the middle console of the automobile and just under the again seat. That has packaging benefits in that it permits a low seating place—for these within the entrance seat—however it has extra of a cockpit format than the spacious, ethereal front-seat impression of different trendy EVs.

2024 Polestar 2

2024 Polestar 2

2024 Polestar 2

The format yields a better seat level for these in again. Getting out and in of the again seat is just a little unusual too, however that has extra to do with the unexpectedly quick rear door cuts. The rear doorways themselves recommend from the surface that it’s going to be simpler, however taller occupants will discover it’s a pinch to get out and in. 

On this main motor switcheroo, the driving attributes of the Polestar 2 once you first get into it have not modified a lot. And neither has the packaging. The motor itself rests on a subframe that itself is completely different, however the geometry of the entrance and rear suspension hasn’t modified. The seating place and cargo areas entrance and rear are additionally carry over—and the 1.2-cubic-foot frunk and 14.3-cubic-foot rear cargo maintain stay the identical both method. Flip the seats ahead and it may be boosted to 38.7 cubic ft. 

2024 Polestar 2 single motor

Making sense dynamically—simply not for everybody

In a route that took us by means of Denver metropolis streets, out on freeways, then on Rocky Mountain highways previous Boulder to Estes Park and again, it was initially fairly obvious in our single-motor mannequin that Polestar had dialed up firmness considerably for the setup. With the bottom 19-inch wheels and tires, there’s a good quantity of highway noise—maybe greater than the outgoing fashions. Total, it’s a brittle, probably noisy trip for city commuting and may not be for everybody. 

As quickly because the roads turned twisty, it began making sense. Whereas the Polestar 2 nonetheless feels heavy, it’s an incredible deal extra nimble, and at its finest within the single-motor rear-drive setup. It’s a highway really feel that’s not in contrast to that of older AMG fashions and M vehicles—simply heavier. 

For probably the most half, this revised mannequin doesn’t have the earlier mannequin’s uncertainty on heart when unwinding between tight corners, though particularly within the dual-motor mannequin it stays a weak level, with out a lot highway really feel or weighting. However I seen my preferences modified versus earlier variations; right here the usual or agency steering settings appeared extra acceptable for the automobile. 

Whereas I preferred the single-motor model higher in most methods, the regenerative braking merely doesn’t really feel prefer it was approaching as sturdy within the rear-wheel-drive mannequin because it did within the front-wheel-drive mannequin—though, by the specs, Polestar says that it might pull as much as 100 kw from brake regen, which is similar as AWD fashions.

2022 Polestar 2

Individually, dynamic settings are accessible on a easy menu display. There, you’ll be able to set the steering really feel as mild, commonplace, or agency; flip one-pedal drive (and brake regen) to straightforward, low, or off; and toggle creep (whether or not the automobile inches ahead with a raise of the brake pedal). 

After a automobile swap, we have been off for a stint within the dual-motor model, with the Efficiency Pack, including as much as $62,200. Whereas a lot faster—gasp-inducing, actually, at foot-to-the-floor blasts—it merely didn’t really feel as balanced or comfortable with itself because the rear-wheel-drive model. There was one exception, although; oddly, it had much less highway noise and extra of a refined trip maintaining out highway coarseness—doubtless extra associated to the tender summer season efficiency tires than the dampers. 

Single- and dual-motor variations of the Polestar 2 embody twin-tube, frequency-dependent dampers, with a front-strut, rear multi-link suspension association. Fashions with the $5,500 Efficiency Pack add Öhlins monotube dampers. They’re manually adjustable, and the model I drove was set to the center of three settings.

2024 Polestar 2

Efficiency Pack variations additionally add Brembo 4-piston calipers in entrance, with bigger drilled-and-ventilated aluminum discs (instead of the usual strong metal discs), plus bigger metal discs in again, in addition to 20-inch cast alloy wheels in a brand new Y-spoke sample and carrying Continental SportContact 6 efficiency tires. 

The load distribution isn’t all that a lot completely different throughout variations—as a result of the heavy battery pack stays within the center. All-wheel-drive Polestar 2 fashions stay at a 51/49 weight distribution entrance/rear. Entrance-wheel-drive Polestar 2s have been by no means that far out of steadiness, at 55/45, however the rear-wheel-drive Polestar 2 flips that to 48/52. Total curb weights of the single- and dual-motor for 2024 are at 4,429 and 4,647 kilos, respectively—up very barely vs. 2023 for the single-motor. Sure, that’s nonetheless just a few hundred kilos greater than the Tesla Mannequin 3, when outfitted with about the identical battery capability, however not way more than the Hyundai Ioniq 6.

2024 Polestar 2

Polestar 2 effectivity particulars

Our drive route took us a pair hours from the mile-high metropolis—ascending one other practically half-mile in elevation. On it, we averaged practically 3.8 miles per kwh over about 90 miles, in accordance with the journey pc. Then over about 110 miles for the return, meandering a bit off-route, we noticed 4.1 miles per kwh. There was no effort to drive effectively on this route—somewhat to benefit from the drive and alternate between enthusiastic and touring types. Outdoors temps have been within the 80s. 

The Polestar 2 is available in three completely different fashions—lengthy vary single motor, lengthy vary twin motor, and lengthy vary twin motor with Efficiency Pack. These latter two fashions, by the way in which, are rated at as much as 276 miles and 247 miles, respectively.

The usual-feature listing is spectacular, with power-adjustable entrance seats, an influence tailgate, rain-sensing wipers, and entrance, sear, and aspect parking sensors all included. 

All Polestar 2 variations embody a blind-spot warning system, cross visitors alerts, rear collision warning, and as much as 9 airbags. 

Non-compulsory on all fashions is the $2,200 Plus Pack, which features a warmth pump, heated rear seats, a heated windshield, heated windshield-washer nozzles, front-seat cushion extenders, reminiscence driver-seat settings, a digital-key system, and a panoramic roof, amongst different extras. Polestar’s targeted driver-assistance options come as a part of the $2,000 Pilot Pack (included with dual-motor fashions), including adaptive cruise management, together with Pilot Help performance for braking and lane-keeping smarts as much as 80 mph. Standalone choices are restricted to ventilated Nappa leather-based, metallic paint, a folding tow bar (2,000 kilos!), and 20-inch alloy wheels. 

2023 Polestar 2

2023 Polestar 2

2023 Polestar 2

Whereas I just like the comparatively minimalist gauge cluster and switchgear—together with the way it does away with the ability/ignition swap—I’m nonetheless not a fan of the remainder of the interface. Some local weather controls require digging into the display interface, and audio leisure depends extra closely on the info connection than in different autos. For those who stay round your Android cellphone and the Google ecosystem, you’ll discover this interface to be particularly simple.  

The system consists of information service with Google connectivity for 3 years, with a complementary Polestar Join service and app. Over-the-air updates will probably be supplied for the lifetime of the automobile, it says.

And for those who hadn’t seen from the pictures, probably the most noteworthy design change for the 2024 fashions is the incorporation of active-safety sensors beneath a neat cowl in entrance.

2024 Polestar 2 single motor

Polestar 4 comes between 2 and three

As remodeled because the Polestar 2 is perhaps with this, it’s a late bloomer and Polestar the model is prepared for a visible second act. Other than the 375 uncommon Polestar 1 PHEVs offered within the U.S.—most sitting in collectors’ garages—the two is the primary face of Polestar. Additional, this design appears little completely different from the Volvo idea automobile it began with, which was first proven greater than eight years in the past—Thor’s hammer daytime working lights and all. 

That’s going to start out altering quickly, with extra visible separation from Volvo beginning with the South Carolina–constructed Polestar 3 that arrives subsequent yr, and the $60,000 Mannequin Y–rivaling Polestar 4 quickly following. Then, a yr or two later, Polestar-exclusive drive elements will arrive with the Polestar 5 flagship efficiency EV and the Polestar 6 electrical roadster prepared in 2026 to chase the Tesla Roadster 2.0, at any time when that may arrive. 

With that in thoughts, does the Polestar 2 make a variety of sense in dual-motor Efficiency Pack type, topping $62,000? Versus the Kia EV6 GT, the Tesla Mannequin Y Efficiency, or the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, it does not really feel as exhilarating. However at simply over $50,000, the bottom Polestar 2 is a hoot as a rear-drive, Euro-flavored electric-car anomaly. 

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Polestar supplied journey and lodging with a view to facilitate early product entry.