Overview
The Polestar 2 is a premium, five-door electric fastback that blends distinctive Scandinavian design with athletic capabilities. Competing directly in the executive EV sector against rivals such as the Tesla Model 3 and BMW i3, it stands out with its slightly elevated ride height and rugged, minimalist appeal. Following significant mechanical overhauls that transitioned single-motor variants from front to rear wheel drive, the Polestar 2 continues to offer a compelling balance of impressive real-world range, robust build quality, and modern technology.
Design
Visually distinct, the Polestar 2 fuses crossover-inspired ground clearance with a traditional fastback silhouette. Exterior styling features clean surfacing, a body-coloured SmartZone front grille housing safety sensors, and signature Thor's Hammer LED headlight signatures. Frameless side mirrors, sharp character lines, and a full-width rear light bar emphasize its sleek, tech-forward aesthetic without resorting to overly-aggressive styling.
Interior
The cabin delivers a clean, Scandinavian minimalist design crafted with high-grade, sustainable, and vegan-friendly materials. A high transmission-style tunnel creates a cockpit feel for the driver, and interacts with a sharp 12.3-inch digital instrument display alongside a portrait-oriented 11.2-inch central touchscreen running an Android Automotive OS. The infotainment system provides native Google Maps, Google Assistant, and app integration, supplemented by Apple CarPlay compatibility.
Performance & Powertrains
The range is split across standard and extended-range powertrains. The Standard Range Single Motor features a 70kWh battery driving a single rear-mounted electric motor that produces 272 hp. It achieves up to 344 miles of range and charges at up to 180 kW DC. The Long Range Single Motor pairs an 82kWh battery pack with a 299 hp rear motor, capable of reaching a range of up to 409 miles. Peak DC fast-charging speeds reach 205 kW, allowing a 10-80% top-up in approximately 28 minutes. The Long Range Dual Motor adds a front motor for AWD, producing 421 hp and 740 Nm of torque. It delivers up to 368 miles of range. The Performance Pack boosts the dual-motor output to 476 hp, enabling a 0-62 mph sprint in 4.0 seconds. It adds manually adjustable Öhlins dampers, upgraded Brembo brakes, and 20-inch forged alloy wheels. Handling across the lineup is planted and controlled, though the ride leans toward the firmer side compared to conventional executive saloons.
Practicality
The fastback body style integrates a practical liftback tail opening into a 407-litre rear boot, complete with underfloor storage and a fold-away partition. Folding the 60/40 split-rear seats expands cargo capacity to 1,095 litres. Up front, a 41-litre frunk provides ideal storage for charging cables. Rear seat passenger space is comfortable for two adults, though headroom and footroom are tighter than some EVs due to the high floor line and central tunnel layout.
Buying
Pricing for the lineup starts at £44,950 for the Standard Range Single Motor, rising to £48,895 for the Long Range Single Motor, £52,895 for the Long Range Dual Motor, and £57,895 with the Performance Pack. The EV Hub Recommended Configuration is the Long Range Single Motor for the optimal sweet spot. It offers a market-leading range of up to 409 miles, 205 kW fast-charging, and strong RWD performance without the price and efficiency trade-offs of dual-motor setups.