Polestar 2 Long Range AWD review

Polestar is one of Geely Group’s newest brands. It was first introduced the performance arm of Volvo a decade ago, but a few years back turned into an independent brand focused on EVs. In 2019 the Scandinavians debuted their first model - a sports coupe called the Polestar 1 and it has been expanding its portfolio since.

Table of Contents:

• Exterior
• Interior
• Storage & practicalities
• Driving experience
• Tech features
• Ride comfort
• Cabin noise
• Acceleration and braking
• Consumption
• Charging speed
• Competition
• Verdict

The Polestar 1 was a ridiculously expensive and limited-production vehicle, but the Polestar 2 that came in 2019 was more of a mass-market car. It is a compact to midsize sedan with great practicality and appealing to a much wider audience.

The test unit we are looking at today is a Polestar 2 Long Range AWD. It is the range topping variant with all-wheel drive and the amazing 300 kW (408 hp), which guarantees capabilities no matter the situation.

Since Polestar freshly facelifted the 2, this is no longer a current model, but in case you are looking to buy a used one you might wonder how it holds up next to its competition. It aims at rivaling the Tesla Model 3, although Polestar took a very different approach to creating its car.

Polestar 2 Long range AWD 2020 -

• Dimensions: 181.3 inches x 70.9 inches x 58.2 inches, 107.7 inches wheelbase.
• Drivetrain tested: Long Range AWD - AWD 300 kW (408 hp), 487 lb-ft, 73 kWh usable battery capacity; 78 kWh total battery capacity.
• Other drivetrains: Long range FWD - FWD, 170 kW (231 hp), 243 lb-ft, 73 kWh usable battery capacity; 78 kWh total battery capacity.
• Charging: 150 kW CCS; 10-80% in 30 min.
• Range: 298 miles WLTP
• Weight: 4,762 lb unladen; 5,732 lb gross
• Other features: Scandinavian minimalist styling, Lots of storage pockets, Panoramic roof, OTA updates.

Exterior

Polestar is closely related to Volvo and this is quite noticeable from the outside. The general design language is shared between the two brands, but the Polestar still sports plenty unique touches. The silhouette of the Polestar 2 is angular with many edges, almost SUV-like from the side.

The front is where the connection to Volvo is most apparent. "Thor’s hammer" headlights, which became a Volvo symbol in recent years are the main giveaway, but the rest of the front is different and quite a pleasant sight.

The hood is low and flat and the grille is perpendicular to the ground, which forms a stately look. There is a big vent spanning from end to end low on the front bumper, making the Polestar 2 appear mean and very aggressive.

The hood of the Polestar also carries the four-pointed star logo. The North Star (or Polaris) is known for guiding travelers in the past, which is a great metaphor as Polestar is meant to be the guiding company in terms of advancements and developments in the Geely family.

From the side the Polestar 2 doesn’t have much going on, except for the fact that the rear of the vehicle sits way higher than the slanted front end, making it appear as if the rear end is raised much higher off the ground.

The side of the Polestar 2 looks like it raises from the front to the back.

The wing mirrors are particularly interesting - they are frameless, yet fully adjustable. You might ask how that happens and the simple answer is that the whole mirror cap unit moves along with them. It truly makes the car stand out.

As for the wheels, our model was equipped with the optional 20-inch alloys with a 5-V spoke design and Michelin X-Ice Snow tires for reliable breaking performance during harsh winters.

The rear end of the Polestar 2 is very modern and once again angular, but is sadly not very distinguishable these days. It has a giant LED bar that covers most of the hatch in a U-shape, which is squared off to continue the rugged theme.

For better convenience, even though the Polestar 2 is a sedan and looks like it has a regular trunk, it actually has a hatchback opening, allowing larger pieces to go in.

In the center of the rear end, we once again see the Polestar logo, but actually nowhere on the outside of the car does it spell out the brand’s name or model. You just have to know, which is part of the minimalist idea.

When delivered from the factory, each Polestar comes with a decal on each door, signifying which model it is, its power figures and that it is a fully electric vehicle. Obviously this is quickly removed from most owners for a cleaner look. Now the only Polestar writing is what is left inside the headlights and taillights in a very tiny font.

Interior

The cabin of the Polestar 2 is typically Swedish with minimalist features. Everything that is not useful has been removed. The materials used in our test model are 100% vegan (WeaveTech) and the general build quality is among the best outside the luxury car segment.

On our used vehicle, the materials are holding really well and show no signs of wear and tear whatsoever. They may not be the greatest to look at, touch or feel as they are very rough, but they have long proven their durability, having been used on Volvo models for the last decade.

When you open the door you see a predominantly dark interior with some subtle lighter accents. The yellow seatbelts in the Performance pack would give it a little bit of character, but in our configuration the inside of the Polestar 2 is very serious.

The doors have great weight and have a nice sound when closing. They are also trimmed in WeaveTech and have a decorative button where you would place your hand when closing. Interestingly, this accent button is metal in the back, while the front riders get a diamond-like control. This is as much “fancy” as you'll gets inside the Polestar 2 cabin, though.

The doors look identical front and back. Almost!

The seats are also made from the WeaveTech material, which many may find cheap, as it looks much like regular old cloth seats. There is also an option for Nappa leather interior, which we highly recommend as it elevates the experience inside the Polestar 2 to a much higher level.

Once you are in the driver’s seat, you get to hold the steering wheel, which is thick, but very rubbery. The Polestar logo stays prominently in the center, while the buttons on each side of the steering wheel are very minimalist and serve many different purposes depending on what menu you are controlling.

Since the Polestar 2’s primary competitor is the Tesla Model 3, the gauge cluster display is a huge advantage for the Swedish brand. It is a 12.3-inch digital screen that shows many different vehicle parameters in real time, but is sadly not very customizable and always shows all of the information at once. Another drawback is the lack of a head-up display unit, which isn’t available at all for the Polestar 2.

The gauge cluster gets you only so much personalization. But at least it's there!

The center of the dashboard is stylish yet purposeful. The 11.2" vertical center display stays prominently in the forefront of everything. In our model it is surrounded by WeaveTech accents and a fake wooden trim, which truthfully looks tacky and doesn’t fit with the rest of the modern interior.

The dashboard of the Polestar 2 is very beautiful. but we would trade the fake wood for something more substantial.

Below the screen we see a big storage pocket with USB-C and USB-A chargeports. In the same vicinity there are the stereo controls, hazard lights and the defrosters, which Polestar thankfully didn’t hide in some menu inside the infotainment as they get frequently used and it’s good to have them in a convenient spot. The gear lever is part of that same panel and it has a giant cutout inside of it.

The center tunnel merges into the dashboard to incorporate all of the abovementioned components into a seemingly homogenous panel. This frees up storage space on each side of this panel for some small items you often use like maybe your phone, wallet or keys.

Now for the armrest and the cupholders - the situation is somewhat tricky as you have to sacrifice either of them to use the other optimally. The armrest covers the cupholders when in use, but also when you have drinks sitting where they should you cannot possibly reach the armrest.

The Plus and Performance packs feature a panoramic roof, makes the interior feel more spacious than it is. You also get a Polestar logo shining in the front of the sunroof, which looks astonishing, especially in the dark.

This is especially useful in the back, where there isn’t much space for passengers. This 1.95 m (6’4”) tall reviewer doesn’t fit at all in the rear seats. It feels cramped and can work for short trips around the city, but we certainly don't recommend longer trips for tall people in the back.

The legroom is highly compromised and there isn’t much headroom as well. Even much shorter passengers can find the back a bit cramped, which isn’t a great feat for a vehicle that is primarily aimed at families.

On the bright side, there are great conveniences for the rear passengers like heated seats, climate vents and a charger. This should make for a much more pleasant experience, if you can squeeze in.

Storage & practicalities

The trunk storage isn’t the greatest with its 15.5 ft³ of space, but is still about average for the class. With the rear seats folded flat, the usable space goes to the whopping 38.7 ft³. That makes it very usable compared to rivals, especially combined with the hatchback opening style.

Regular trunk capacity isn't impressive, but with the seats down and the wide hatch opening you can carry very bulky items.

It is helpful that Polestar has added a lot of gear to store smaller items like hooks on each corner, as well as a cargo divider in the center of the trunk and a massive storage area beneath the main floor.

The Polestar 2 is convenient for your grocery shopping.

The Polestar 2 also provides you with a frunk (front trunk), which is useful for storing items you rarely use or don’t want to be seen by everybody. It is a small frunk compared to Tesla for example, yet most European competitors don’t even offer one so we'll still count it as an advantage.

Driving experience

The Polestar 2 is a very heavy vehicle and that is reflected in its driving characteristics. The Long Range AWD version we drove weights the solid 4,762 lb unladen. This can prove as a negative in tight corners you want to take swiftly as the tires just give up under the mass. But on the other hand, this weight inspires confidence on the highway and the car feels stable and well planted to the ground.

The steering is generally vague and lacks feedback, but once you turn into a corner at speed you know precisely what is going on underneath the tires. Even small uneven surfaces and changes in asphalt quality are notably translated through the steering rack. As for daily use, the steering is light and doesn’t bother the driver in any way, which makes the Polestar 2 an amazing companion.

The great daily driving experience is further enhanced by the soft ride. It is not cushy, but just soft enough so that it never bothers you. The Performance pack comes with Ohlins adaptive suspension, which gives more feedback and cornering ability, but even our regular suspension did impressively well on a mountain pass, given how much weight it has to handle.

The Polestar 2 doesn’t have drive modes, only steering feedback settings, so you better like the settings the manufacturer has given you. Our 408 hp test model is very quick in a straight line and can be neurotic if you step on the gas pedal with anger. However, in normal daily traffic it delivers its power smoothly and doesn’t overwhelm you in any way.

Volvo is world-renowned for its safety standards and in the Polestar it has given their best in terms of driving assistance. You get all kinds of driver aids that help you stay away from an accident, and if you decide you don’t want their help you have to be prepared to turn them off every time you turn on the car.

As we mentioned turning on the car, it is important to mention that there is no traditional start button anywhere. You just press the brake pedal and select a gear on the gear lever and go. This is a great convenience, saving you an extra step and making living with the Polestar 2 just a little bit easier.

Tech features

Technology inside the Polestar isn’t on the highest level, perhaps understandable given the fact that this particular model has been updated earlier this year and now comes with a newer infotainment system. Still, all present tech works well and is easy to use and figure out. The OTA (over-the-air) updates can ensure that the Polestar 2 remains fresh in the coming years and can continue being a competitive rival to newer models.

The touchscreen is very responsive and hides a few interesting features. For example a G-meter!

The infotainment has a great touchscreen and the use of Google services ensures that usability in the future will remain excellent. A downside for some is that Apple Carplay and Android Auto are not wireless and require you to always have your phone plugged in, but this way the connection is actually much better and more stable. You also get built-in apps like Spotify and YouTube Music to keep you entertained at all times.

You don't get much fancy tech features in the Polestar 2, except for the most important.

Sadly, the infotainment also controls the heated seats and steering wheel, as well as the A/C, which is a commonly discussed issue with cars these days. These are settings that are used frequently and hiding them in menus isn’t the greatest user convenience, even though this certainly cleans up the general look of the interior.

Ride comfort

The ride in the Polestar 2 leans towards the softer side, even though the huge weight has its downsides when going over bigger bumps and potholes. The springs have a lot of travel and ensure you get a comfortable ride in general, but at the moment of impact the dampers struggle to control the mass and don’t have a lot of rebound. This effectively means you feel a strong initial hit, followed by a softening rebound afterwards to smoothen out the drive and not make you bounce around the cabin.

Cabin noise

The Polestar 2 is great in terms of insulation from the ambient world. Our testing yielded impressive results, which are almost identical to the Tesla Model S (2018). Sure enough, at high speeds we note a drastic increase in wind and tire noise that gets into the cabin, but the result for a small sedan is nothing but commendable. And when fit with more efficient tires (particularly in the summer) these results are bound to improve even further.

Sound level tests are carried out with a specialized sound level meter placed in the car's cupholders. The test is conducted with air conditioning and radio off and while maintaining a steady speed.

Acceleration and braking

As we previously mentioned, the 408 hp powertrain can be vicious if you step on it real hard. We managed to get an even better result for the 0 - 62 mph sprint than Polestar states. The 4.5 time we did is actually 0.2 seconds faster and we did that on winter tires. The AWD system definitely helps initially as there is virtually no struggle for grip.

On a more negative side, the braking wasn’t as impressive. This is where we should mention that this can significantly change as the 59°F weather we had isn't perfectly suited for the Michelin X-Ice Snow tires we had. The car got from 62 mph to 0 in an outright poor 40 m (131.3 ft).

Acceleration and deceleration are measured with a RaceBox device inside the car. Testing is done with a single person inside the car, with air conditioning and traction control off.

Consumption

When it comes to consumption and efficiency the Polestar 2 really shows its age and why it needed to be updated. It has among the worst results we have measured,and while the winter tires have certainly contributed a bit, it's mostly down to the ageing technology inside and the somewhat high drag resistance. The numbers are still decent, but they are not the best a battery of this size can achieve.

We measure consumption by driving at constant speeds on an identical test route during the day. Testing is conducted with air conditioning, all safety systems and radio on. The data comes from the vehicle's board computer. Specific testing parameters such as ambient temperature are mentioned in the text on a case by case basis.

You can check out the widget below to find out the Polestar 2's range in every combination of speed and temperature you might need. We've used our real world tests and a complex model to provide estimate that should be as close to the actual performance as possible.

Charging speed

The maximum speed of charge in the Polestar 2 is 150 kW and can be easily achieved. It only needs 30 minutes to charge from 10% to 80% in 30 minutes, which is a great value even by current standards. In fact the Tesla Model 3 needs the same time to recharge, even though it has 250 kW maximum power draw.

Competition

As we mentioned multiple times, the Polestar 2’s primary rival is the Tesla Model 3, as the two cost essentially the same when new. The Model 3 has more advanced drivetrain technology and more space both for passengers and for luggage. The Swede offers way better styling though as well as much higher build quality. The used car market, however, shows that the Tesla experiences a more significant price drop and used models cost 30-40% lower than comparable Polestar 2’s.

The second competitor of the Polestar 2 is slightly cheaper and comes in the face of the Hyundai Ioniq 6, which offers more interior space, but comes short in terms of storage area and material quality. However, the Hyundai is a much more efficient vehicle and due to its 800-Volt architecture offers significantly faster charging times.

Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD 2023 - • Hyundai Ioniq 6 77.4kWh AWD 2022 -

Verdict

The Polestar 2 is a vehicle for people that are focused and know what they want from life.Its minimalist approach may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you want a solid vehicle with great build quality and proven longevity, the Polestar 2 is a perfect choice.

It occupies a special niche in the market that Volvo has actually mastered for years. The Polestar 2 gracefully blends between the luxury segment and the more utilitarian vehicles, providing a solid mix of both worlds.

The Polestar 2 does exactly what you want it to and in typical Nordic fashion doesn’t create a fuss about it. Its AWD system will help you fight rough terrains and its potent motors won’t leave you wanting for more power. The non-invasive driving characteristics, great insulation and simplistic interior result in an overall sublime travel companion.

Pros

• Easy and simple to use.
• Great build quality.
• Very powerful and quick off the line.
• Big trunk with foldable seats and many additional pockets.
• Minimalist styling.

Cons

• Cramped rear seats.
• Older on-board technology.
• Some materials feel cheap and rough to touch.
• Consumption is high.