Nobody asked: Polestar 2 review

[Deschodt]

This from a serial 911 owner, who recently ditched a 991 due to excellent dealer buy- back and kids no long fitting in back. I needed 4 doors and something easy to drive in town thru 17x top signs for school drop offs, and still retained a bit of fun to it. No more manual for the daily chores (I have some for fun)

I'd been looking at getting another EV for a while, as my solar panels make more power than I need and I have older gas cars I can use if the EV is discharged or I need to drive 300 mi that day. Teslas aren't for me, I never liked how they looked or the lack of a dash on all but the model S, nor the fit and finish. I recognize the value however, and the range, superior supercharger network, etc.. so I'm not knocking Tesla overall... Well their CEO is a nutbag, but that could change.

Polestar was the AMG of Volvo, now it's their EV branch but they seem to have retained some sporty DNA (offering Ohlins shocks for instance). The Polestar 2 - with a name like that I always think "stripper" - is NOT the obvious choice in EVs, it's not the best value for $ choice either - but then again we don't all drive Corollas do we?

Like for like they have a little less range than a Tesla and cost a bit more. It's for people who like the design, quality, the attention to detail, the solid build and in some ways a more conventional feel (with a dash). It sits somewhere north of a slightly cheaper model 3 (Dual motor long range) and south of a way prettier but more expensive Audi Etron GT, say... Also note that Polestar and Tesla are the only ones not charging dealer markups these days, but the fed credits are gone for the volvo offshoot as it's made in China (very well made, honest).

I leased (probably to buy) a Dual motor extended range, but non sport.. The single motor makes zero sense to me as Dual motor = twice the power for $5000 more only, and the real life range is very similar. They have 3 option packs, one heavy on driver safety features, one mostly on comfort stuff, and the sport...About $5K each if you add all 3. The sport has some uber$$ Ohlins shocks (manually adjusted though), and gold Brembos.. I tried them all and decided I could not live without the comfort features (glass roof, heated steering that'll burn your fingers, heated everything - heat pump too that is more efficient, and HK sound) but could spare the rest. That's what happens when you buy a car in January in a bomb cyclone I guess. The bigger sport wheels made the ride too harsh for my taste. The dual motor car makes the same HP as the sport, and the brakes seemed fine to me, not like I'm gonna track it... and you can order an OTA upgrade bumping power on ALL dual motor models from 300 to 350 KW - meaning 408 hp and 487 lb-ft stock, up to 480 HP and 500 something ft/lb, it's mostly more midrange torque and you also get some performance apps to track your launches and a very simple launch control... For $1200 extra from your home, via an app on your phone! LOL !

The car feels more like a big trunk Golf R than anything else I can think of. It looks (and sits) a bit higher but in person it's more a big hatchback than a low crossover . It does not feel high because you can sit way low and all the weight is in the floor pan... Talking about which the floor pan is shared across models so it features a transmission tunnel filled with power cells, too bad for the 5th passenger legs. I like the build quality (and the looks), I am quite happy having picked the stock 19 wheels and regular brakes - the sport ohlins are supposedly awesome once you tune them to your liking but on my test drive and on 20" wheels I found the ride too harsh and bouncy. I'd consider them with a different use case but so far so good.

The power from an instant 0-rpm 487 ft-lb is exactly as you expect it to be, my wife will NOT let me accelerate fully anymore or her stomach relocates someplace left vacant by 2 pregnancies. She hates that and gets truly queasy, and will let me know painfully. That's me being silly because the acceleration is actually very linear and less strong initially than say a Tesla that really whacks your neck. Calibration is more stomach friendly... Polestar quotes 4.2 post OTA upgrade but C&D and some users have managed 3.9s on real tires, it's enough - the best bit being the 50-100 acceleration that is also insane ! 0-60 numbers are a strange thing anyway, compared to an ICE car : even in a 911 which puts down power better than most, you will rarely see the official0-60 numbers unless you are prepared to beat up your car, because it's YOUR clutch and your gearbox ;-) On an electric, who cares ? NO gears, no oil, it's always "Warmed up" and ready to go and those numbers are *always* attainable, over and over and..hold on I feel queasy... So it's a 4 sec number objectively that feels like a 3, subjectively... it's plenty. And then some.

The car uses the same ipad-like center console you've seen on other brands, but it's fairly simple and logical to use, has carplay, and thank you Volvo - there are a few buttons or stalks for stuff you need NOW - like wipers, defrost, defog, radio - something Tesla pissed me off with when I rented one and looked for wipers for 30 minutes. Also the front dash cluster is like that of a modern Audi, with speed, range, and a map... useful, standard stuff.. It's google based and very good - coming from an apple guy, I find the google voice commands have a very impressive strike rate. You can turn on whatever non-safety feature with it, "hey google turn on heated seat for the driver" etc... The ipad thingie will give you range on arrival for nav, etc, all very well done. The comfort pack which I have ("Plus") has air pollution filters and sensors too, unlike Teslas it won't trigger farts but.... it can detect them and scrub them fast!!! that amused my kids greatly and I suspect will be appreciated by me ! The curry hook (like on land rovers) for "to go" orders is but one of many little well thought details on the car, like lighting that dims as you touch it longer.. or the activity key, an extra waterproof key without buttons you can take surfing.. little things, all, but clever all around.. The frameless mirrors being another, the whole thing moves not the glass inside..

Mostly what I like about it is that you do not see many on the road, unlike Model3s or Y which are ubiquitous here.. for a reason (the tesla are good deals if you like them, esp now). And the Polestar remains an unknown silent assassin if you wish. In my neighborhood I was driving my beater E46 M3 10mph under the limit and old ladies would throw rocks at me "slow down!!!"... Now I could drive 10 over (but I don't) and they smile - "quiet = slow" in their mind !

The power is awesome but so is the one pedal driving (2 modes, the strongest one will stop the car entirely if you let it), it is all well calibrated and it's very relaxing. I cannot explain this one but I drive this car very chilled, and occasionally explode at a light because I can. I was really tired of crossing the city and stopping every minute on my way to school drop-offs, with a cold gearbox and frozen hands.. In an EV, it's so chill and practically zero use of the brakes...But it's all ready to explode off the line at will. Steering is a bit numb like all EPAS nowadays but you can play with the weight of it adn it's acceptable.. So far zero post purchase regrets, even with Tesla's price drop.

Bummers so far:
- I didn't have a car payment anymore, now I will
- the HK sound system is very good but (by design apparently) very front biased. The rear speakers appear anemic and there is no fader - at all, just preset choices of which passenger gets the best sound. I always liked a rear balance in my cars, apparently I'm told this is by choice, "music should come from the front, and I'm not an audiophile ";-) OK then !
- My garage 220V plug is toast - used to work a few years ago when I had an E-golf beater (electrician coming soon) - the solar guys messed it up I am sure when they played with my electrical panel - and the OTA power bump has not arrived yet - can take up to 2 weeks, in an age of instant gratification that is hard ;-) I have to make do with 480 something lb-ft of torque for a few more days, the struggle is real. 110V charging is not worth mentioning, just don't bother.

Had nothing but compliments on it in person so far, most people do not know what it is, unlike a Tesla, but dig it... I hear someone makes shorter springs already, I may do that if I buy it at the end.

[herr_oberst]

In a city full of Teslas (more ubiquitous than the Prius used to be, at least in my travels) I still take a second look when a Polestar goes by.

Nice review. I don't think they'll be making one for me , at least for a while, but an interesting read.

[Steve Carlton]

I got one in April 2021 and really like it. It took 4 months before I saw another on the road, but I like that. I had a Model 3 before and like this much better. There’s not much headroom getting in it as the roof is a bit low- my only nit. Basically it’s an electric Volvo. I think the Polestar name was used so Volvo could make a different dealer agreement. The head stylist at Volvo is the top guy at Polestar now.

[LWJ]

Awesome! My neighbor / buddy has one. He had a BIG grin on driving up the street. Thanks for the review.

[RNajarian]

A friend gave me a ride in one last fall. Seemed like a solid car. My impression is that it was put together pretty well.

Thanks for the insight.

[PorscheGAL]

Thanks for the review. Tesla Model S Plaid owner here but the Polestar 3 will be made here in my home state of SC and I'm very excited to see our small state get that kind of industry.

I love the comment about your wife and her stomach. Made me laugh because I can relate. I will say someone can get get used to it, especially when that person is the driver

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by PorscheGAL

Thanks for the review. Tesla Model S Plaid owner here but the Polestar 3 will be made here in my home state of SC and I'm very excited to see our small state get that kind of industry.

I love the comment about your wife and her stomach. Made me laugh because I can relate. I will say someone can get get used to it, especially when that person is the driver

Your S plaid is the only Tesla I thing of as genuinely pretty, so well done to you. Not within same budget or same kind of performance here, but the polestar is a good compromise for me.. I was silly and added a "prancing Moose" (old volvo joke) sticker on it, it will probably confuse people even more as 95% have no idea what it is !

[hcoles]

Good review. I've been keeping my eye on this for my wife.

[911boost]

They are a terrible company to work with.

Good luck.

Great review though, I was always a Volvo fan, just not anymore.

[GH85Carrera]

The dead center of the electric revolution. No complaints from the passengers in the new Mustang hearse. It will quietly take you to the final destination.

[Steve Carlton]

Nobody can hear you scream.

[MMARSH]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

I was silly and added a "prancing Moose" (old volvo joke) sticker on it, it will probably confuse people even more as 95% have no idea what it is !

As a long time Volvo owner, I saw the prancing Moose and laughed. Love it.

Good friend of mine works for Volvo and is on the team for developing their upcoming EV cars. They have some good stuff coming. He used to work at Tesla and was part of the team that developed their supercharging network.

[mjohnson]

Just today, Jalopnik.com has an article on a Polestar 2 battery pack-powered electric hydrofoil with ~60 mile range at 22 knots. It might be an actual collab with Polestar or just sourcing the juiceboxes from them.

I'm guessing that the car is faaaar more affordable, but that boat looks really cool!

[hcoles]

Pleases give us updates as you get to know it. Good and bad.

[Deschodt]

Updates? Well I think these cars (decent EVs with good pedal calibration in general) are fantastic city/chore cars and the perfect complement to, say, an aircooled 911 "toy". Chores previously accomplished in my somewhat fun but old-and-creaky manual car are now a pleasure: the steering wheel is toasty, my butt is toasty, the music sounds great, one pedal driving is absolutely awesome in terms of less mental work and more relaxation. And now and then I boot it and giggle like a schoolgirl at the pace of acceleration.

Also, the nasty old lady always walking her 3 dogs in the middle of the road (like sidewalks are optional) has not (yet) given me the stink eye or shouted to "slow down", even though I did drive a tad faster by her on purpose (but still under the limit) to test my theory. Go electric !!!

The kids love it.. But a lot of it has to do with me finally having a modern car (I've always liked oldies so they had lots of school runs in 70s cars, bmw 2002s, early 911s, alfa GTVs over the years) and 4 doors, so they enjoy super bright reading lamps out back, a warm rear seat, not having to fold a seat to get out, and shouting silly question at google.

The headlights are spectacular (to me), the turn signals noise sounds like it comes from the radio and not a relay, it's odd initially but whatever.. I hussled a little the other day on an empty canyon road and frankly you a) have to recalibrate for the acceleration and b) the car feels 500 lbs lighter than it is. If not even less. Say what you will about weight, but weight located down low is not as punishing as I'd have imagined. Neutral handling overall, decent brakes. Really good pedal feel for stop and go and zero transition from regen to brake that I can feel. impressive.

Main gripe is the same: it's not the cheapest vs a Tesla...the OTA performance update has not landed yet. In an age of pay online and download now, I find it irritating. They have my $. It supposedly only comes via 4G, not wifi, so I wait. It'll probably there as I hit "post quick reply"...

Got insurance done, same as my 10y old 991 (same value too), 1/2 my wife's Q7 - go figure ;-)
Overall I cannot recommend that car enough for people wanting something that is fast and discrete, feels well built, and is not the 327th Tesla model3 you saw today. It's still not the best value for $, unless "value" means the above to you, it does to me..

I have not recharged it for a week and it's still on 70% + doing mostly school runs and silly take offs. I'm definitely pleased with my choice of 19s vs 20s - it's not a "soft" car even like that.

[Steve Carlton]

The turn signal sound reminds me of the proximity tracker in Aliens.

Edited for a better video.

[Deschodt]

Yes!!!!

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by hcoles

Pleases give us updates as you get to know it. Good and bad.

So the performance upgrade landed via 4G - after 2 weeks ! Adds launch control - very easy to use and bangs consistent 4.2 sec 0-60, honestly 0-20 is lazy on purpose - it's Volvo code, not porsche code... you can do better on dry roads and warm weather (and possibly non EV tires) for sure. Definitely a software coding limitation on purpose.

What's most impressive about the extra 80hp is 30-80, 50-80, heck 30-100 (theoretically speaking of course). The car doesn't so much accelerate as it jumps where you wanted to go. Boom, you're there... it's bonkers.. this kind of performance is something I only experienced in a 991 Turbo S at PECLA and that was dropping 2 gears and making tons of noise, whereas this happens silently with the driver (me) looking 100% innocent ;-) What? Did I just leave you 10 car lengths behind in 2 sec ? I may have ;-)

Every friend I took out or let drive said the same thing.. "This feels well designed, comfortable and well put together...OMG, it's quick too, F$$k I'm doing 85 already?"...

Minuses: stupid huge fender gaps. They sell lowering springs, dunno why they're not stock. Would turn it into a GTI instead of an outback, stance wise. Cheap enough but requires a 4ft tall special clamp to install them that only dealers have. Not sure I should bother on a lease, unless I decide to buy (that has less to do with the car itself than my future relocation plans). Music's been much better with carplay and bluetooth than with Sirius XM and radio.. Still no Fader but not bad.. That's it. I like it. A Lot. 100% silent assassin with incredible performance and discretion.

PS: every time I use turn signals I think of Aliens now, thanks Steve ;-)

[Grog]

Polestar, owned by Volvo, owned by Greely, a Chinese company.

[Steve Carlton]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

PS: every time I use turn signals I think of Aliens now, thanks Steve ;-)

Set your dash to read motion ahead.