Plug-in Polestar 2 impresses with long range and a local connection
REGULAR readers of this column will know that electric cars generally don’t receive a great deal of coverage.
So why then, you may ask, is the Polestar 2 the lead story this week?
Well, there are two reasons.
Firstly, from the moment I opened the door of the updated model there was something very noticeable. It was the touch, feel and smell of what I’ve always regarded as the world’s best automotive leather, produced just a few miles from here in Bridge of Weir.
It was a refreshing change from the horrid so-called vegan leathers which, as effectively nonbiodegradable plastics, have been fooling consumers in recent years.
Sustainably produced using what’s effectively a byproduct of the food industry, leather is also completely biodegradable. Moreover, it’s made with full supply chain transparency, 100 per cent traceability and zero deforestation.
Be in no doubt that this is proper stuff
manufactured with passion by a company which has innovation and quality at its core as well as real environmental principals rather than pedalling a political agenda.
Bridge of Weir Leather is an option across the Polestar range and that brings me nicely onto the second reason for this story – the car itself.
I’ve never driven a plugin car capable of a
real-world range of over 300 miles but one version of the updated Polestar 2 delivers.
Long range, single motor versions combine 295bhp and a 0-60mph time of 5.9 seconds with a published range of over 400 miles.
Significantly, my experience driving the car last week suggested a realworld range of 300-320 miles should be possible.
That’s a game-changing
figure in the world of automotive electrification, particularly for a premium car with attractive sub £50k pricing.
There is a less powerful model with a shorter range and more performance-orientated versions, but the single motor model with higher 220kW battery is something of a sweet spot in the range.
As well as some subtle interior and exterior tweaks, the 2024 Polestar 2 sees a drivetrain switch from the front to the rear wheels.
This transforms the way the car handles and gives it a level of driver engagement that would satisfy anyone switching into plug-in power from the compact executive’s previous car of choice, the benchmark BMW 3 Series.
On the move, acceleration is instant and addictive while the car is extremely quiet both at motorway speeds and on poorly surfaced country roads.
Inside, the company’s links with Volvo are immediately obvious and that’s no bad thing. The driving position and seat comfort are faultless, rear space reasonable and the hatchback boot enhances practicality.
All the key items of equipment are included but the Plus Pack is definitely worth considering.
At £4,000, it’s not cheap but it does include desirable niceties such as a panoramic roof, Harmon Kardon sound system, heated front and rear seats and steering wheel and powered tailgate.
Polestar models come with a three-year warranty including breakdown assistance with extra cover provided for the battery pack for up to eight years.
“Bridge of Weir Leather is an option across the Polestar range.”