Polestar 2 Single Motor
More affordable version of this stylish electric exec aims to take the wind out of the Tesla Model 3’s sails – and sales On sale Now Price from £39,900
With less power and a lower price than the dual-motor models, Polestar’s electric executive car makes more sense
IF THE STUNNING Polestar 1 plug-in hybrid performance car made the world take notice, the dual-motor Polestar 2 electric executive car confirmed that Volvo’s performance division was here to stay as a maker of world-class electrified cars in its own right.
It’s with this new entry-level model, though, that the brand gets really serious. The Polestar 2 is now available in single-motor guise with front-wheel drive and a choice of battery sizes
RIVALS
and starts at just under £40,000. With that keener price, down from £45,900 for the four-wheel-drive, dual-motor variant, it handily undercuts the Tesla Model
3 Standard Range Plus and other premium electric cars such as the Audi Q4 e-tron and Mercedes-benz EQA.
So, what do you get for your money? Well, the Standard Range version gets a 64kwh battery (61kwh usable) for an official range of 276 miles, while an extra £3000 buys a 78kwh Long Range version that can officially do 337 miles on a charge. For reference, the entry-level Model 3 sits between those figures with a 278-mile official range, although it’s quite a bit quicker; 0-60mph takes less than six seconds, compared with 7.4sec (to 62mph) for either version of the Polestar 2.
Nevertheless, the 2 feels properly punchy both around town and at higher speeds, and it certainly feels quicker than a similar-priced petrol or diesel executive car such as the BMW 3 Series. With the instantaneous way it delivers its power, though, the 2 relies quite heavily on its traction control to prevent the front wheels from spinning in wet conditions.
Not that it encourages you to drive flat out everywhere; if you push hard through a corner, the body leans over noticeably, and there’s quite a bit of float over undulations. The steering is a little numb, too; the Model 3’s is rather sharper and more alert.
If you prefer a smooth, relaxing drive, though, this entry-level 2 is better than in the dual-motor variants; its suspension does a better job of smoothing out imperfections, perhaps helped by not having a heavy second motor to carry around. We reckon Polestar has worked on the brakes, too; they’re now easier to operate smoothly and less wooden-feeling than those of earlier 2s. It’s just a shame that prominent road noise and motor whine hold it back from feeling quite as polished as the Model 3.
On the other hand, the most impressive element of the Polestar 2 – its interior – makes the Model 3’s look, quite frankly, a little cheap, thanks to a handsome mix of squishy dashboard materials and plush inserts. What’s
more, aside from some slightly different seat materials, this entry-level model’s interior is almost indistinguishable from the rangetopper’s. It gets the same Android-developed 11.0in portrait touchscreen, too.
Meanwhile, Polestar has kept things simple by grouping key options into packs. A £4000 Plus Pack brings a panoramic glass roof, Harman Kardon stereo, memory seats and a heat pump (which provides more efficient heating of the interior), while the £3000 Pilot Pack introduces ‘Pixel’ LED headlights that can shape their beam to avoid dazzling other road users, plus a greater suite of driver aids.
This single-motor version is the most rounded Polestar 2 yet, especially in Standard Range form. The only problem is, we suspect, many potential buyers will struggle to see past the Model 3 with its stronger performance and dedicated network of rapid chargers.
SAYS Beautifully screwed together and well priced, but not quite as rounded as the Model 3