For those who wish to savour earth-shattering speed and power, wrapped up in a discreet sterile package. Welcome everyone, to the Polestar 2 Dual Motor.
Imagine: You are someone who is looking to snag up a new EV, but not just any EV. This EV has to be fast and agile, with enough power to rocket off into the sunset.
However, you are also in the market for something sensible. Something that isn’t too brash or outlandish, and can even convince your strict mother-in-law that you made a wise and mature decision.
You need something that is discreet, yet has speed and power. And I know just the car for the job.
it takes two to tango.
Picture this. You pull up to a stop light and notice the flamboyant youth in his questionably tuned import pull up alongside. He takes one look at your car and scoffs, thinking to himself “My car will eat this uncle for breakfast.”
Now, watch as his excitement quickly turns into downright shock as you rocket off the line at breakneck speeds, much to the bewilderment of both him and other onlookers. The Polestar 2 may not look the part, but it can definitely stand toe to toe with even the most flashy supercars.
As soon as you step on the fun pedal, you unleash 300kW (or 402bhp) worth of raw power to a pair of beefy electric motors. Couple this with an equally impressive 660Nm of torque, and your mind needs a second or two to comprehend why you just exceeded the speed limit.
How fast can you get a speeding ticket in this thing? All you need is 4.7 seconds, which is all this car needs to rock up the century sprint. Assuming you blatantly disregard any imposing speed limits, you can even push the Polestar 2 up to 205km/h. (For the record, we do not condone speeding)
Plus, with the extended long-range 78kWh battery pack that is good for around 480km, you have plenty of power to both commute around Singapore and smoke unsuspecting victims off the line. Even with less-than-stellar efficiency driving habits, I still managed to garner an average of 20.7kWh/100km in the Polestar 2, which is pretty impressive. Be frugal with the throttle, and I’m confident you will be able to achieve sub-19s.
With customisable Ohlins suspension and low-profile 20-inch wheels, the Polestar 2 can be introduced to any corner at any speed you fancy, and come out the other side still looking composed. Just ignore the lingering echoes of tyre squealing.
While the car is set up nicely to tackle corners, it isn’t as proficient in offering a smooth ride on gentle cruising trips. It can take a hit, but sharper undulations in the road can send jolts up your spine.
if you know, you know.
It may not have the same aggressive and razor-sharp looks as other performance EVs, but that’s where the Polestar 2 shines. Like that quiet kid who sits at the back of the classroom and looks unassuming, but secretly has ripped muscles and an extremely well-toned body.
The Polestar 2 has that “If you know, you know” look, and its clean-shaven looks prevent you from being a target of the usual street light drag race gang. The car takes a lot of design cues from its parent company Volvo but adds on a jacked-up ride height and a swooping fastback-esque tailgate.
A rear light bar integrated into the taillights completes the car’s distinctive silhouette, and the 19-inch rims allow sneak peeks of the bright orange Ohlins suspension. It also lets others around you know that you bought the full 50-calibre dual motor bad boy.
Plenty of appeal on the outside, and it can disguise itself incognito in any carpark. Stealth wealth in all the right places, what’s not to love?
sensible attention to detail.
The inside of the Polestar 2 is as well thought out as a sleek new Macintosh. Familiar Volvo elements harmonise with Polestar’s own touches to create a lean cabin that does away with all of the excess.
Polestar went with a unique design for their digital instrument cluster. There are no dials, instead, you simply get a power meter and a speed reading. It honestly looks like a game of Pong, with that retro Atari look. Simple and classy.
The Android-based infotainment system differs slightly from what you get from the parent Swedish company. With new updates, it now supports Apple CarPlay, a relief for the large majority of fruit users. But, should you not wish to connect your smartphone, you can log into various applications like the Google Play Store and Spotify, and the car can use these apps independently.
Google Assistant works like a charm, and you can even download games from the Google Play store. To pass the time while you’re charging, of course.
The Swedes are masters at sneaking in little trinkets of Scandinavian design cues throughout the cabin, and it doesn’t take long to locate them. Look up, and the Polestar logo is projected onto the roof, much like a Northern star. Dust covers shun dirt away from USB-C ports, and ambient lighting is a subtle but ever-present affair, which gives the interior a warm, fuzzy feeling.
Being electric, the Polestar 2 is made out of sustainable materials. The entire cabin is vegan, down to the leather and trim pieces.
A large panoramic moonroof dominates the, well, roof of the Polestar 2. There’s no sunshade to cover it, but you shouldn’t be overly worried about the dreaded scorching rays of the Sun. Polestar has fitted this panel with extreme tinting, something which would traditionally get you stopped by your friendly LTA professional. This tint works wonders and does a good job of keeping radiant heat out.
Rear occupancy is where the Polestar 2 falls slightly short. The rear door aperture is a little tight, making ingress and egress tough occasions, especially for those who have mobility issues. Due to the tapered roofline, headroom may be an issue for taller folk too.
once it’s set up, it’s as easy as Polestar 1 2 3.
A liftback tailgate offers copious access to the boot, and 405 litres worth of space is sufficient for most cargo applications. For those furniture runs to IKEA, you can fold the seats down 60:40, bestowing you with a cavernous 1095 litres of cargo room.
Small window apertures may hinder rear visibility, but a 360 camera is on hand to aid parking manoeuvres.
The Polestar 2 is rudimentary easy to operate and does not have a start/stop ignition button. Instead, weight sensors in the driver’s seat enable the user to switch gears. It’s as simple as getting in and setting off, which begs the question of why push-start buttons are around for EVs in the first place.
As soon as you “kick it into gear”, the infotainment system flickers into life and gets everything connected up and ready to go. It can be a hindrance to getting everything set up initially, but once you get everything squared away, it’s a breeze to operate.
a toast to the sensible (and mighty fast) one.
The more we drive EVs, the more we come to realise that it isn’t power figures or efficiency ratings we are chasing, but rather driving soul. Having tested a plethora of EVs, it’s a sad reality when most of them are just plain jane. It’s essentially the same formula: giddy acceleration, eerie quietness and high-tech gizmos.
But, the Polestar 2 is different. It invokes a unique sense of driving fun that is intoxicating each time you get behind the wheel. This is a car you wake up to and get excited about hitting the open road. For most people, the single-motor standard range variant is more than plenty. But, for those who crave more, something that can take their breath away (literally), the answer is obvious.
It may not be the fastest EV out there, nor the flashiest looking. But, with its sensible outlook keeping its speedy outer ego away from prying eyes, the Polestar 2 has a special place in my heart.
If you want to check out the Polestar’s sister car, click here!
