It’s comparatively uncommon for a automotive firm to make drastic changes to a automotive throughout a midcycle refresh, however that’s simply what Polestar has accomplished with its 2. Regardless that the 2024 Poletar 2 appears to be like practically equivalent to the one it replaces – save for just a few tweaks – beneath, there’s a a lot totally different story.

New drive wheels, extra energy, extra vary and a brand new entrance grille (if you wish to name it that) are the large tales right here, and every of them deserves to be highlighted. With these adjustments, Polestar took an already nice EV and made it even higher, proper as the remainder of its competitors does practically the identical factor.

Full Disclosure: Polestar flew me out to Denver, Colorado, put me up in a pleasant resort and fed me meals, all so I might check out its latest creation.

2024 Polestar 2: What’s New?

Nicely, in a few phrases, lots. Within the pure lifecycle of vehicles, the two is within the candy spot for a little bit of a refreshing. It’s been on sale for just a few years now, so the parents in Sweden determined it was time for a little bit of a change for the sedan/hatchback/crossover/liftback factor.

Not an excessive amount of has modified visually. Truthfully, there are solely a few methods to inform you’re taking a look at a 2024 Polestar 2 and never an older automotive. Considered one of them is wheel design. There are three new rims (a 19-inch and two 20s) to select from relying on the way you spec your automotive. The massive differentiator, although, is the “SmartZone” grille.

It’s an array of sensors and radars which are used for security and assisted driving techniques rather than the common grille. It’s popped up on the entrance ends of Polestar’s new and upcoming vehicles, and a spokesperson for the automaker tells me it’s meant to convey the two extra according to the remainder of Polestar’s future fleet. It additionally comes with among the finest advertising jargon I’ve ever learn. Polestar says it’s supposed to indicate the “shift from ‘ respiratory’ by means of a entrance grille to ‘seeing’ the highway forward reflecting the high-tech nature” of the two. Positive, why not? I’m not offered on the way in which it appears to be like, however the 2 is good-looking sufficient that it doesn’t matter.

The true adjustments to the two come beneath the automotive – stuff you’ll be able to’t see – particularly within the case of the single-motor Polestar 2. The corporate says a brand new 82 kWh battery that may change at 205 kW (20 p.c quicker than earlier than) is nice for an EPA-estimated 320 miles of vary. That’s up 50 miles over the previous automotive.

However, simply because there’s extra vary doesn’t imply energy suffers. It’s up massive. Polestar says an all-new rear-mounted motor produces 299 horsepower and 361 lb-ft of torque. That’s up 68 hp and 118 lb-ft of torque over the previous automotive – each very wholesome numbers. It additionally implies that the 0-60 time has dropped from 7 seconds to five.9.

After all, for the reason that new base 2 is now rear-wheel drive moderately than entrance, it’s much more enjoyable from a dynamics standpoint. Dynamics are a giant a part of why the automaker moved the drive wheels rearward. Engineers wished the automotive to be extra enjoyable to drive, they usually wished to enhance packaging. We’ll get extra into the driving dynamics in a bit of bit.

Don’t suppose that simply because Polestar paid all this consideration to the single-motor 2 it left the dual-motor automotive within the lurch. Large adjustments have additionally come to the highest canine Polestar 2. The automaker tells us that it has two new, extra highly effective motors in addition to a brand new battery, inverters and a extra rear-biased energy supply. The battery stays the identical at 78 kWh, and so does charging: 155 kW. That’s good for 276 miles of vary, up 16 miles over the previous automotive.

In its base kind, the dual-motor 2 now places out a mixed 421 horsepower (up 13 from the previous automotive) and 546 lb-ft of torque (up 59 lb-ft). That’s sufficient to drop 0-60 to simply 4.3 seconds, a 0.2-second enchancment over the outgoing 2. However I get it. You need extra energy. You require velocity. Nicely, if you happen to give Polestar $5,500, it’ll provide the Efficiency Pack in return. That bumps up energy to 455 horsepower, and torque stays the identical at 546 lb-ft. That drops the 0-60 quantity to 4.1 seconds.

When it comes to elective packages, these keep just about the identical. Nonetheless, dual-motor vehicles now get the Pilot Pack customary. If you would like fancy driver-assist tech in your rear-motor 2, you’ll need to pony up $2,000. If you would like the Plus Pack (which is included within the Efficiency Pack), on both automotive, it’ll price you $2,200 – about two grand cheaper than earlier than. That offers you niceties like a Harmon Kardon stereo, panoramic roof, a unique seat upholstery, ambient lighting, a warmth pump, and totally electrical energy entrance seats amongst different issues. It’s most likely definitely worth the value of admission if you happen to ask me. There’s additionally the aforementioned Efficiency Pack obtainable on dual-motor vehicles and the Nappa Pack, which, you guessed it, offers the two Nappa leather-based seats.

Driving The 2024 Polestar 2

Every little thing you recognize to be true about electrical automobiles and their acceleration is true within the Polestar 2. Off the road, this factor is fast – particularly the twin motor automotive. It feels prefer it has each little bit of 455 horsepower and 546 lb-ft of torque, if no more. It’s additionally acquired passing energy, too. Step on it at 60, and this factor will rocket previous nearly every little thing else.

The only motor automotive is notably less-quick. The numbers aren’t dangerous at 299 horsepower and a 0-60 of underneath 6 seconds, however you are feeling the velocity drop off after you’re above 70.

In both automotive, if you happen to flip ESC to sport, you’re going to really feel some pure rotation from the again finish whereas going by means of corners. Curiously, there’s a bit extra oversteer within the all-wheel-drive automotive. As I discussed earlier, engineers tuned it to have extra rear bias, so if you happen to mash it in a nook, the rear will need to come round. The identical factor will be stated for the single-motor automotive. However, as a result of it has to make do with lots much less horsepower and torque, it can not really overcome the traction of the rear tires.

Transferring on from energy, the steering in each vehicles is the same old electrical automotive imprecise we’ve come to know and, effectively, cope with. It’s adjustable, although, so you may make it really feel actually heavy. Placing it in it’s lightest setting means you’ll be able to transfer the wheel with a pinky. Don’t use the center setting, although. The center floor is for losers.

Like nearly each electrical automotive, the Polestar 2 comes arrange for one-pedal driving. There are a number of totally different ranges for it, and if you would like you’ll be able to flip it off fully. I elected to go away it on the entire time. OPD is a enjoyable little ability to grasp if you happen to’re so inclined, and even in its most aggressive setting, the two’s system is silky easy. The twin-motor automotive’s system does really feel a bit extra grabby than the one’s, however that’s seemingly because of the truth that there’s extra, effectively, motor.

When it comes to trip and insulation from the highway, each vehicles are actually stable. Up entrance, the suspension soaks up nearly every little thing, and little or no highway noise enters the cabin. It may be a really serene place to be. The again… not a lot. You get a superb quantity of highway noise again there, and the rear suspension doesn’t really feel practically as comfortably tuned because the entrance, however then once more it does drive pretty effectively in a sporty setting. Tradeoffs.

Oh yeah, rapidly. The driving force help suite works very effectively, although I do want it will comply with extra intently whereas adaptive cruise was activated.

Inside The 2024 Polestar 2

You most likely observed I haven’t talked concerning the automotive’s inside a lot. Nicely, that’s as a result of not a lot has modified. The 2024 2’s inside is sort of equivalent to the automotive it replaces. When you ask me, that’s a superb factor. It’s an exquisite place to be, and possibly one of many higher interiors this facet of $100,000. It doesn’t matter what trim or mannequin you go along with, occupants are handled to numerous soft-touch surfaces, attention-grabbing patterns, tech that works as designed and neat supplies that set it other than different vehicles.

There are additionally sufficient touches that allow you to know you’re driving one thing that isn’t your run-of-the-mill automotive. The panoramic glass roof will catch the attention of anybody inside, and it’s mandatory because it offers you extra headroom than the usual roof automotive. Transferring on, you’re additionally going to note that you simply’re lacking a begin button, but it surely’s form of neat to simply get in and drive, and it has the best blinker noise I’ve ever heard.

In terms of tech, every little thing simply works. The vertical middle display screen is straightforward sufficient to make use of that even an fool like me can function it with ease. CarPlay hooks up good and straightforward if you happen to aren’t into utilizing a local interface, and the gauge cluster display screen may be very crisp, however not overly customizable.

Every little thing on this automotive works in concord to make a really enjoyable package deal. I find it irresistible.

Summing Up The 2024 Polestar 2

If it was my cash, I’d go for the rear-wheel drive automotive. Round city, it feels simply as quick because the extra highly effective, dual-motor automotive. However, you get much more vary and also you’ll save some huge cash.

Talking of cash, the single-motor automotive begins at $51,300 (together with vacation spot). The twin-motor will price you $56,700 to begin. Load that dangerous boy all the way in which up, and also you’ll be just a few {dollars} in need of $72,000. Regardless of the way you slice it, there’s an honest worth right here.

When you’re available in the market for an EV, the Polestar 2 ought to be at or close to the highest of your record. It’s such a splendidly cohesive, easy-to-use package deal that’ll make you surprise how different automakers have made vehicles so troublesome to navigate. The adjustments Polestar has made to the two have reaffirmed it as probably the greatest electrical automobiles you should buy proper now.