POLESTAR 2 LONG-RANGE DUAL MOTOR PILOT PLUS REVIEW.

Polestar includes a great level of safety kit for the 2, while reliability should prove to be equally sound. Polestar is still a relatively new manufacturer, but with Volvo contributing plenty of the car's running gear, we'd expect reliability to not be too much of an issue.

POLESTAR 2.

Polestar used to churn out some truly mad creations as Volvo’s skunkworks division. They dabbled in everything from fine-tuning Volvo’s touring racers, to adding a sporty bite into what would otherwise be a bland old family runabout. Now, however, they’ve gone from utter insanity to becoming a vanguard for electrification.

The Polestar 2 is their most recent foray into the EV space. Sure, it might not be as eye-catching of a splash as the Polestar 1. Though as handsome as a two-door grand tourer might be [insert any P1800 flashbacks here], there are only so many who could cash out six-figure chequeen for one. But as Polestar’s entry-level model, the Polestar 2 would put the same pizazz into the hands of more folks.

POLESTAR 2.

Polestar 2 So, they must get this right Well, did they? For a start, our example here has quite a mouthful of a name attached to it. It’s wise that we break it up a bit to make things easier as we go along. We have both the long-range battery and dual motors.

POLESTAR LONG RANGE DUAL MOTOR 

  • Long Range Battery / Main Battery.
  • Comes standard with a 200km/h top speed and 400km electric range.
  • Main Battery / FWD Battery.
  • Unlimited range and top speed, coupled with the ability to optionally go 100km/h from zero.
  • DUAL MOTOR PILOT PLUS PILOT OPTION.
  • Each motor only starts when needed and offers all-wheel-drive, including a selectable mode that frees
  • up a single rear motor for overboost on the low end.
  • Both batteries can be charged up to 80 percent in 30 minutes. A 240v home wall box (just like Tesla) will take roughly an hour.
  • The company says that the home charger is 5 percent faster than an Apple iPhone charger.
  • HIGH-RANGE BATTERY.
  • 1.39 kWh in-house battery
  • Up to 400km of range and 100kph top speed. 100kph is all-wheel-drive.
  • INTERIOR OPTIONS.
  • Lilac with green seats.

What's the difference between the Polestar 2 and the Polestar 1?

POLESTAR 2.

Although the Polestar 2 shares it's chassis and powertrain set up with the Polestar 1, we were told it would be an entirely different beast in every other respect.

The biggest change is the introduction of a bigger front grille that looks more at home on a coupe than a grand tourer. The grille is flanked by headlights with a conventional main daytime running light. The Polestar 2 has a 10 mm longer wheelbase, but it also comes with a redesigned suspension setup with new rear and front elements.

POLESTAR 2.

It’s also kitted with lower-profile tires and reworked shock absorbers. With this in mind, the Polestar 2 feels lighter on its feet than its curvier sibling, though it has yet to be seen how much of a difference that actually makes.

The Polestar name is a beautiful thing. So much so, that it had us hooked from the moment we heard it. No, it doesn’t mean Polestar makes any cars or anything like that. What it does mean is “Polestar Engineered”. It’s the standard name for everything Volvo’s in-house tuning department does.

POLESTAR 2.

The latest product in the line-up is the Polestar 1, which is basically a high-end Volvo S90 T8 with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine to it. But then we have the Polestar 2, and this is the car we’re here to evaluate today.

What makes the Polestar 2 so special?

You may have noticed that the paintwork on this car looks pretty stock, and that’s because it is. According to Volvo, the Polestar 2 is their first attempt to produce a high-volume car on the production line.

User Reviews from owners of the Polestar 2.

POLESTAR 2.

Not knowing how well the Polestar 2 would perform when we pulled into our hotel, we didn’t know what to expect of the upcoming review. And we weren’t sure how well the car was going to ride in California during the winter. After spending an afternoon in some of the biggest rainstorms we’ve had in a long time, however, we knew we had a good car on our hands.

The Polestar 2 proves itself a bona fide motorsports car and makes us feel comfortable taking a quick spin in its spirited conditions.

Speaking of a quick spin, it didn’t take long to see that the Polestar 2 can take the thrills it dishes out, and it easily surpasses all our expectations for driving range.

POLESTAR 2.
Polestar 2 Conclusion.

Polestar is already looking like a very, very smart and savvy newcomer to the EV segment. Even though it’s set to ride on the crest of the wave of the 800-volt charging revolution and has its roots in the great annals of the motoring world, there are still a few design oversights to iron out. In short, you’ll be forgiven if you don’t mistake this for a Tesla, but it’s miles ahead of anything else at this price point.

The 590-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery is the sole link in that chain and it costs $2,100. Obviously, one of the main benefits is the fact that it can provide a range of over 500 km [about 310 miles]. And yet, Tesla has managed to blast ahead by going above 500 km in a single charge as well.