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The Polestar 2 is a really fascinating automobile. Not solely does it come from a Swedish firm that most individuals have by no means heard of however it’s that model’s first EV and but, one way or the other, is maybe the best electrical automobile presently on sale.
Imagine it or not however Polestar, a sub-brand of Volvo and Geely, has been producing the two since March 2020 at its Luqiao CMA Tremendous Manufacturing unit in China. In that point, it has been the topic of rave critiques in each single market the place it’s offered. So, desirous to see simply how good the EV is, we not too long ago lived with one for per week to find simply what makes it particular.
Australian gross sales of the Polestar 2 commenced in January 2022 the place it’s obtainable in three configurations.
Sitting on the base of the vary is the Polestar 2 Commonplace Vary Single Motor and priced from AU$69,526 ($49,488) together with all related charges, taxes, and registration prices. A Lengthy Vary Single Motor can be obtainable and beginning at AU$74,211 ($52,823) drive-away. The instance we examined was the Polestar 2 Lengthy Vary Twin Motor that’s priced from a really cheap AU$79,421 ($56,531).
Learn Additionally: Aussies Can Now Rent A Polestar 2 Through Hertz
Our tester was costlier because it was geared up with the AU$8,000 ($5,694) Efficiency bundle that provides 20-inch Y-spoke polished solid alloy wheels with Continental SportContact 6 tires, gold Brembo entrance brake calipers, drilled ventilated entrance brake discs, Ohlins Twin Circulation Valve adjustable shock absorbers, the dynamic chassis, gold valve caps, and gold seat belts entrance and rear. With a complete value of AU$87,421 ($62,226), it matches up properly towards the AU$86,153 ($61,323) Tesla Mannequin 3 Lengthy Vary and simply undercuts the faster AU$100,871 ($71,799) Mannequin 3 Efficiency.
The precise specs
Powering the flagship mannequin that we examined are a pair of electrical motors producing 300 kW (402 hp) and 660 Nm (487 lb-ft) of torque. Nonetheless, earlier this 12 months, the automobile producer rolled out a software program replace for the automobile that provides an additional 50 kW (67 hp) and 20 Nm (14 lb-ft), leading to a complete of 350 kW (469 hp) and 680 Nm (502 lb-ft), figures higher than these of even the Mannequin 3 Efficiency.
This added grunt means the Polestar 2 Lengthy Vary Twin Motor can hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.4 seconds versus the 4.7 seconds that it used to take. As well as, the 80-120 km/h (50-74 mph) dash time has been lowered to 2.2 seconds, half a second faster than earlier than.
Feeding these motors with their juice is a 78 kWh battery pack. Polestar says the two Lengthy Vary Twin Motor is nice for between 455 km (282 miles) and 487 km (302 miles) of vary on the WLTP cycle, positioning it barely forward of the Commonplace Vary Single Motor with its claimed 445 – 478 km (276 – 297 miles) of vary and the Lengthy Vary Single Motor with a spread determine sitting between 515 km (320 miles) and 551 km (342 miles).
Volvo fashion
Upon laying eyes on the Polestar 2 for the primary time, we had been instantly struck by the intriguing fastback-style form. It’s nearly similar in design to the unique Volvo Idea 40.2 and, due to this fact, exudes the identical degree of suave and class as current Volvo fashions.
The entrance finish is characterised by a set of placing headlights with Thor’s hammer-style LED daytime working lights. A gloss black entrance grille additionally catches the attention, as does the matter black Polestar badge on the hood of our tester. It’s definitely fairly a placing automobile, regardless that most individuals don’t know what it’s. The truth is, when the Metropolis of Melbourne issued us with a parking positive for sitting in a parking area for 2 hours longer than permitted, the parking inspector crammed out the make and mannequin of the automobile as ‘Unknown.’
Nonetheless, it’s the rear half of the Polestar 2 that’s maybe essentially the most intriguing. For starters, there are these daring LED taillights and lightbar, the huge C-pillars, and the surprisingly excessive tailgate. All of it makes for a really chunky however funky design and is a breath of recent air from a number of the humdrum designs coming from Polestar’s German rivals.
Sophistication personified
Step contained in the Polestar 2 and anybody who has pushed a contemporary Volvo will instantly really feel a way of familiarity. Certainly, key components such because the steering wheel have been lifted straight from the Volvo XC40 and that’s no unhealthy factor. The truth is, we’ve lengthy been followers of Volvo interiors and the cabin of the two is a joyous place to spend time.
Your entire cabin of the two is vegan-friendly and contains a bunch of recycled supplies. We’re notably keen on the material used on components of the door panels and throughout the transmission tunnel. Instantly catching the attention is the huge portrait-oriented 11-inch touchscreen rocking the Android Automotive working system.
So many automobile producers these days are fumbling round with growing their very own infotainment programs and take a look at as they could to steer consumers in any other case, many simply find yourself utilizing Apple CarPlay or Android Auto as an alternative. By putting in the Polestar 2 with an Android working system straight out of the field, Polestar avoids this dilemma. Whereas iOS customers might have a bit time to change into accustomed to the system, those who use different Android gadgets will discover it simple to navigate and the inclusion of the Google Play Retailer and a 3 12 months subscription to Google Companies is a superb characteristic. The seamless integration of the Google Assistant can be very useful.
Elsewhere, the cabin of the Polestar 2 options a big digital instrument cluster in entrance of the driving force. Our check automobile additionally got here with the AU$6,000 ($4,270) Plus Pack that features a 13-speaker Harman Kardon Premium sound system, fastened panoramic sunroof, Polestar’s WeaveTech seats, fully-electrically adjustable seats with lumbar help, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, heated washer fluid wiper nozzles, power saving warmth pump, ambient lighting, wi-fi smartphone charging, and a tinted rear window.
Because the Polestar 2 is underpinned by Volvo’s ICE-based CMA platform, there’s a giant transmission tunnel working by means of the middle of the cabin. Whereas it’s cumbersome, we by no means discovered it to be a problem. Discovered within the rear of the EV is 405 liters (14.3 cubic-feet) of cargo area, together with the extra 41 liters (1.4 cubic-feet) beneath the false ground.
Does it carry out in addition to everybody claims?
The driving expertise delivered by the Polestar 2 is great. First is the acceleration.
Contemporary off the automobile receiving Polestar’s software program improve, we launched the efficiency timing app and instantly recorded a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time of 4.4 seconds. This time was simply repeatable on good surfaces and even because the battery proportion dropped to single digits, the Polestar 2 didn’t decelerate in any respect and would nonetheless persistently hit that 4.4 second mark. We additionally recorded 4.3 second sprints to 100 km/h on a few events.
After all, it’s not simply the acceleration that makes the two Lengthy Vary Twin Motor so pleasant to drive. We discovered the braking efficiency to be glorious and whereas it may be a bit annoying adjusting the extent of regenerative braking by means of the touchscreen, the obtainable one-pedal driving mode works brilliantly. These huge Brembo brakes additionally do a really positive job of bringing the automobile to a cease.
Polestar 2 fashions geared up with the Efficiency Package deal come outfitted with Ohlins adjustable dampers, as talked about. In the usual setting, these dampers present a superb center floor between a agency journey and a luxurious journey, absorbing bumps brilliantly and all the time making the automobile really feel like it’s planted firmly to the bottom. There are 22 settings for the dampers however as they’re manually adjustable, really tweaking the journey means it’s important to jack up the automobile, get your arms soiled, and twist the dampers to our desired specification. We suspect that is one thing solely a small minority of householders will ever take into account doing.
A real all-rounder
The general sophistication and poise of the Polestar 2 can be very spectacular. Highway and wind noise have been stored to a minimal and the automobile feels simply as house cruising down the freeway because it does being hustled by means of a mountain street. It feels noticeably sportier than the Kia EV6 fashions we examined a few months again and is simply as well-engineered because the costlier BMW i4.
Along with the Efficiency and Plus packages that our check automobile had, it was additionally geared up with the AU$3,400 ($2,420) Pilot lite bundle. This added LED entrance fog lights with a cornering operate, routinely dimmed exterior mirrors, 360-degree digicam, Pilot Help, Adaptive Cruise Management, Emergency Cease Help, Blind Sport Info system with steer help, Cross Site visitors Alert with brake help, Rear Collision Warning & Mitigation, and Park Help.
Throughout our time with the Polestar 2, we coated a contact over 300 km (186 miles) and averaged 23.4 kWh/100 km. That’s not notably spectacular, though we did do numerous freeway driving all through the week. When pushed round city, that consumption determine drops into the excessive teenagers.
Good. Merely good.
The electrical automobile market continues to warmth up and whereas Tesla continues to dominate the gross sales race, customers could be sensible to be aware of the alternate options on supply from rival manufacturers. Not solely does the Polestar 2 really feel like a greater general bundle than the Tesla Mannequin 3 however additionally it is one of many best EVs that cash should buy.