The electrification process in the automotive industry is on a big swing these days, and it is hard to find a major carmaker that doesn't work on electric vehicles. Moreover, many manufacturers established new brands reserved for electric vehicles only.
One of these companies is Polestar, a brand owned by Volvo and its Chinese parent company. So far, we've seen the Polestar 1 model, which is a plug-in hybrid, while the Polestar 2 goes all-electric.
The main battle in the segment of electric cars is about range and performance, but the Polestar 2 takes a slightly different approach. It doesn't impress in the usual aspects but rather attracts buyers with its unusual styling, impressive interior design, and outstanding list of tech and safety features.
Is that enough to beat Tesla and other established manufacturers? Time will tell.
The First Generation of Polestar 2 (2019-present)
After a few years of development, the Polestar 2 was officially presented in 2019 at Geneva Motor Show. Based on the Volvo 40.2 Concept, it has brought a unique design approach, at least in terms of aesthetics.
We’re referring to the way that Volvo designers were combining design elements of a crossover with a five-door liftback, resulting in a vehicle that stands out from the rest.
Design of the Polestar 2
Mechanically, the Polestar 2 is based on the familiar CMA platform. This architecture was developed jointly by the Swedish company and Geely. The first vehicle that debuted on this platform was the XC40, so it's no wonder that the Polestar 2 shares many parts with Volvo's small crossover.
The two models share a lot of components, but this one comes with a couple of exclusive features, particularly the chassis and suspension setup. The suspension includes twin-tube, frequency-dependent shock absorbers, while you can also pay extra for adjustable suspension.
When it comes to brakes, this electric car comes with ventilated discs on all four wheels, and what's worth mentioning is that there are three levels of regenerative braking.
The highest level can bring the car to a complete stop without you touching the brake pedal. Progressive steering that adapts to the vehicle's speed is also part of the standard equipment.
Dimensions
The Polestar 2 is a small luxury crossover that measures 2,735mm (wheelbase), 4,606mm (length), 1,859mm (width), and 1,479mm (height). The Performance package lowers the ground clearance by 6mm, and in that case, the height is 1,473 millimetres.
On the inside, you may count on 405 litres of cargo space in the trunk and additional 35 litres at the front. Also, the company claims 1,500kg of max towing capacity.
Powertrain and Battery
The Polestar 2 is available in three variants when it comes to powertrain and battery. The base version comes with a single electric motor mounted on the front axle. The max output goes around 165 kW and 330 Nm of torque, enough to move this crossover from 0 to 100 km/h in about 7.5 seconds.
The Standard Range Single Motor version comes coupled with a 64-kWh battery pack, which is good for 440 kilometres on a single charge, according to the WLTP test cycle.
Models with a single electric motor are also available with a 78-kWh battery. These are called Long Range Single Motor, and in this case, the max range goes up to 540km (WLTP). Also, this version features slightly higher output, while the max torque remains the same (170kW and 330Nm).
Finally, there is a version with dual electric motors, which is available only with a bigger 78-kWh battery. The two electric motors provide a combined max output of 300kW and 660Nm of torque, enough for a 0-100 sprint time of 4.7 seconds. The max range goes around 480 kilometres (WLTP).
Typically for the CMA platform, the electrical system supports fast charging of up to 150 kW. According to the manufacturer, the bigger 78-kWh battery needs about 40 minutes to charge from 5% to 80%.
Also, it’s worth mentioning that the company gives an 8-year or 160,000km warranty on the battery, whichever comes first. The rest of the vehicle comes with a 5-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Features
One of Polestar 2's strongest points is its generous number of standard features, and since we’re talking about a vehicle that's practically a Volvo, it makes sense to start with safety systems.
Every Polestar 2 comes standard with AEB. It includes cyclist and pedestrian detection, steering assistance, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, driver attention monitoring, reversing camera and rear parking sensors, run-off road mitigation, and oncoming lane mitigation.
Speaking of safety, it’s worth mentioning that this SUV has scored an adult occupant protection score of 93%, a child occupant protection score of 89%, and a vulnerable road-user protection score of 80%.
Tech features are even more impressive. Every Polestar 2 comes standard with an 11.2-inch infotainment system that uses Android-based software, keyless entry and start, an 8-speaker audio system, and phone-based locking/unlocking.
There is also a generous list of standard convenience features, which includes dual-zone climate control, ambient lighting, heated front seats, hands-free power tailgate, and rain-sensing wipers, to name a few.
Buyers can also pay extra for a couple of optional equipment groups. The first one is called Pilot Pack that includes several driver-assistance features, such as adaptive cruise control, pilot assist, surround-view camera, side parking sensors, blind-spot assist, rear cross-traffic alert.
The Plus Pack is all about convenience features, including goodies like a 13-speaker audio system, heated rear seats, heated wiper nozzles, heat pump, panoramic roof, and wireless charging.
Finally, there is the Performance Pack, with upgrades like forged 20-inch alloy wheels, Brembo brakes, adjustable dampers, and “Swedish gold” interior and exterior details.
Polestar 2 Recalls
As we’re talking about the company’s first all-electric vehicle, it’s no wonder that some issues occurred during the initial production year. We saw a couple of recalls as well.
The first one happened in October 2020 due to a software defect that caused a loss of power to the vehicle whilst driving. This was fixed via a manual update. The second recall happened the same month because of faulty inverters.
Want to learn more about cars? Make sure to bookmark our Carpedia page.
By Nebojsa Grmusa