Polestar 2: test, features and price of the electric car that challenges the Tesla Model 3

Luca Frigerio

November 18th

– Milan

The history of Polestar began in the motorsport world, more precisely in the context of the Swedish touring car championships at the end of the 1990s. The stable from which it all started changes owner and name, but always remains closely linked to the Volvo brand, so much so that during the first decade of the 21st century the first collaborations on production models begin. The Polestar set-up soon became synonymous with sportiness for the Swedish brand which, in 2015, formalized the purchase of the starred brand with a single objective: to launch itself into sustainable mobility with new models characterized by a strong sporting connotation. Polestar’s potential is first shown on the Polestar 1, a two-door high-performance plug-in hybrid coupe, followed by an all-electric sedan that ushers in a new family of zero-emission vehicles. This novelty is called Polestar 2 and is launched in a market segment dominated by the American Tesla Model 3: to discover the real potential of the Scandinavian project we had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of the sedan around Milan, where we put it to the test both in a city and suburban context.

Polestar 2: how it’s done outside

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The new Swedish brand does not hide its strong bond with Volvo, which in practice translates into excellent build quality. The shapes are quite squared and the combination with a range of neutral colors creates a harmonious and almost relaxing effect from the first glance. The lower contour of the body is characterized by a light crossover-style black band which, in addition to streamlining the trim, masks the dimensions of 4.60 meters in length by 1.86 meters in width. In the rear, on the other hand, the 405-litre boot hides practical solutions for stowing all kinds of luggage and, in order not to lose load capacity, the technicians have carved out another small space under the front bonnet for storing the charging cables.

Polestar 2: how it’s made inside

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Open the doors exudes an air of simplicity, but the careful design and soft upholstery that cover most of the surfaces create a premium and high-tech environment. The front seats have wide adjustments and, even if the high platform forces you to keep your legs slightly curled up, there is still plenty of space to travel in relaxation. The rear bench, on the other hand, is a little more limited: in fact, in addition to the tunnel which could put the central passenger in difficulty, the distance between the foot support surface and the lower part of the seat is limited and steals some surface area for stretch your legs. On the technology front, however, Polestar has focused on an 11.2″ display in a vertical position, like a tablet: the management of the info-telematic system is signed by Google, therefore, in addition to the remarkable simplicity of the various menus available, the user can take advantage of many features close to the world of smartphones. One of these is Google Maps navigation, integrated with the car to better manage autonomy and charging points based on the selected route and battery percentage. It’s just a pity there are few physical commands, however the voice assistant is quite accurate and allows you to manage the numerous functions without taking your hands off the wheel and taking your eyes off the road.

Polestar 2: power and battery

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The Swedish brand has prepared an interesting combination of power and battery versions to satisfy all users since launch. The basic offer of the Polestar 2 is powered by a single engine positioned on the front axle capable of delivering a power of 231 HP and a torque of 330 Nm. This set-up is flanked by two battery packs: the first with 69 kWh promises about 476 km with a full charge, while the second 78 kWh allows you to grind up to almost 550 km. The top of the range, on the other hand, is based on the larger battery, but is also equipped with a second electric motor on the rear axle which, in addition to ensuring four-wheel drive, raises power to 408 HP and torque to 660 Nm. , among the optional packages available, Polestar has prepared the Performance Pack which brings power to an impressive 476 HP and adds contrasting aesthetic elements, Brembo calipers, 20″ wheels and Öhlins suspension manually adjustable to 22 positions, a true detail “shotgun” mechanics who want to project themselves into the mobility of the future.

Polestar 2: how are you doing/1

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For this preview test, we focused on the top of the range which, according to the estimates of the Italian branch, should be the most requested by our public. Unlike many competitors, the Polestar 2 does not have engine maps: the accelerator response, therefore, is always very smooth and allows the handful of power available to be managed with great precision. The steering, adjustable in hardness, is quite precise and makes the car feel in your hands without however transmitting that sports car support which could get tiring in everyday use. In fact, even if unfortunately the gloomy weather conditions did not allow us to discover the real dynamic potential of this novelty, the first impressions are very positive: thanks to the low center of gravity, the set-up remains composed and it is possible to tackle the bends decisively.

Polestar 2: how’s it going/2

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If on the one hand the sustained configuration of the Öhlins suspension gives that extra added value to the Polestar 2, on the other it struggles to digest the more demanding bumps such as cobblestones and rails. On this front, the presence of the Performance Pack obliges the car to be raised to modify the stiffness of the set-up, just like in the racing world, a perhaps slightly extreme solution for a daily car. Overall, however, this Swedish novelty wins over for its ease of use and great driving pleasure both at slower paces and when you are in the middle of a winding road.

Polestar 2: availability and price

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The new Polestar 2 is already available in Italy at a price starting from 50,900 euros for the basic version and rising to 54,400 euros for the Long Range and 57,900 euros for the Dual Motor respectively. The sales network projects, however, opens the door to a future without the classic dealerships we know now: the Polestar Spaces are arriving in Milan and Rome, real urban galleries where you can discover the models and live the experience together with the dedicated staff. In these stores, however, contracts are not signed: in fact, the purchase takes place exclusively online, while the physical support of Volvo is used only for maintenance interventions, so as to be able to guarantee a wider and more guaranteed network.

Polestar 2: strengths and weaknesses

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The new Polestar 2 at a glance.

• Like it: well-kept environment and materials, enhanced by the panoramic roof; ease of driving and steering well calibrated according to use; front seats widely adjustable and comfortable even after hours of driving.
• Do not like: poor rear visibility emphasized by the low quality of the 360° camera; the suspension with the Performance Pack is stiff and difficult to adjust; The high floor steals some space from second-row passengers.