Polaris 2, the Swedish-Chinese high-performance fastback Polestar 2 on a 1000 km route
How is it to drive the electric Polestar 2, whose name comes from combining the phrases “pole position” and “star of racing”? I tested it while driving from near Amsterdam to Wrocław (over 1000 km in just over 10 hours – video link below).
Performance, Handling, and Features
The car is excellent in terms of handling, road adherence, even at speeds over 200 km/h (yes, tested on a German highway). It also features fantastic matrix/Pixel LED lights, great Harman Kardon audio, very good noise insulation (even at 130-140 km/h), and well-tuned suspension.
To recap, the Polestar 2 is a fastback vehicle based on the Volvo XC40 platform with two engines (AWD):
Power: 408 HP
Torque: 660 Nm
0-100 km/h acceleration: 4.7 seconds
Battery: 75 kWh net
In the unit I drove, the degradation after 175,000 km was at 8%. The features include heated seats and steering wheel, a panoramic roof, Google Automotive, 360-degree cameras, and a trunk with a front hatch offering a total capacity of about 450 liters.
Comfort and Interior
The steering wheel is comfortable to hold; I thought the center console would be an obstacle, but I never noticed it at all, and the seats are extremely comfortable. When I got back in the Ioniq 28, I thought my suspension was broken;-) Seriously.
The interior is pleasant and cozy thanks to the fabric upholstery and three-level ambient lighting. The panoramic roof prevents a claustrophobic feeling, nicely illuminates the interior, and discreetly allows city lights to enter at night.
The energy consumption prediction also works very well – the maps show what percentage of charge we’ll have when reaching a charging station, even hundreds of kilometers ahead.
Is this car flawless?
Flaws? I thought the front trunk was a bit deep, but on the other hand, the compartment in the rear trunk (under the main tray) is quite deep.
The second flaw: I drove a model without leather or ventilation, and I’m used to the blue Hyundai Ioniq 28, where ventilation is useful for 10-12 hour drives, especially in spring and summer.
Fun facts and practical features
The car has many nice, practical extras:
Hooks in the trunk and next to the glove compartment.
Three ways to open the trunk lid (from the steering wheel, with the foot, or using the key).
Heated front wipers (nozzles) as well as actuators on the front bumper.
Easy getting in and out (better than the Ioniqu 28).
The car performs incredibly well on the road – accelerating from 90 to 140 km/h is a breeze, and when braking it stays firmly on the road.
Consumption and charging on the road
In spring/summer, the car consumes around 24 kWh per 100 km at speeds of 135-140 km/h. This is similar to my old diesel Toyota Avensis, but with much higher comfort and dynamics compared to the Polestar.
Charging:
Maximum DC power: 150 kW (400 V architecture).
1000 km journey: 4 charges of about 40 minutes each.
The cost for the trip (1020 km) was 98 euros (I arrived at my destination with 24% SoC remaining).
I think for this price (a 5.5-year-old used car costing 60-70 thousand zł), the car is very good, and its charging curve is satisfactory. In fact, it’s cheaper than a diesel vehicle.
Summary
Honestly? The Polestar 2 Launch Edition seems like the natural successor to one of the Ioniq 2 models. But will something else step in to take the place of the Polestar 2 by then? We’ll see
Warm greetings from Marcin Hałat, who also runs the Facebook page Electric Cars Kraków / Małopolska (worth following!).