Swedish based mostly electrical car maker Polestar is launching their third car in Australia, the Polestar 4, which they describe an electrical SUV coupé. It follows numerically after the smaller Polestar 2 fastback which arrived in 2022, and the just lately launched Polestar 3 SUV.
Polestar 4 slots in between the Polestar 2 and Polestar 3 when it comes to worth, ranging from $78,500 earlier than on-road prices for a Lengthy vary Single motor or $88,350 for a Lengthy vary Twin Motor variant. Regardless of this, Polestar expects the 4 to be their finest promoting car, assured that it’ll comfortably outsell the extra reasonably priced Polestar 2.
Polestar just lately invited The Pushed to Adelaide for the Polestar 4 media launch occasion. Polestar 4 take a look at drives from Polestar areas have additionally been open to the general public since early November, and the primary buyer handovers are resulting from happen in late November.
At first look, Polestar 4 follows the acquainted Polestar design language with glossy general proportions, signature twin blade daytime working lights and full-width tail gentle throughout the rear. Above the tail gentle is the place the Polestar 4 begins to vary from their current lineup, with the absence of glass giving it a singular look from behind.
Rear view digital camera will take time to adapt to
Appears apart, the dearth of a rear window is undoubtedly probably the most controversial function of the Polestar 4. It makes use of a rear view digital camera as an alternative of a standard mirror, which dominated the headlines when the Polestar 4 was first revealed at Auto Shanghai in 2023.
So, how nicely does it work in observe? Sadly, there is no such thing as a easy reply. The vast majority of our time spent driving the Polestar 4 was in the course of the daytime on nation roads in dry climate, so extra testing is required below quite a lot of circumstances to correctly assess how efficient the digital camera based mostly system is.
Within the meantime, I discovered the digital camera based mostly system functioned nicely sufficient for me and didn’t trigger any actual visibility issues whereas driving the automotive. Aside from enabling its designers to open up house for rear seat passengers, Polestar touts the principle advantage of the digital camera system being an improved and uninterrupted line of sight behind the car.
One in every of Polestar’s neat methods to enhance line of sight for drivers is cropping the digital camera feed barely, permitting the view to pan left or proper when both indicator is switched on. The digital camera feed will also be tilted up or down manually, or set to robotically tilt in reverse much like facet mirrors with this function.
As for downsides, regardless of utilizing a 2.5 megapixel HD digital camera and eight.9 inch 1480×320 decision display, the rear view continues to be noticeably grainier than an everyday mirror, notably when viewing faraway objects. This isn’t stunning given human imaginative and prescient is able to perceiving photos equal to a whole lot of megapixels.
Decision of the digital camera and display was not the one draw back although. The focal size adjustment from wanting within the distance to specializing in the display up shut required some getting used to. Over time I feel your mind would alter as a result of this must be no totally different to glancing on the speedo or infotainment screens whereas driving.
The only digital camera feed and 2D display additionally hampers your means to guage distance between objects, as you lose the 3D impact and depth of discipline seen in an everyday rear view mirror. Maybe future variations of the Polestar 4 might make use of a twin digital camera setup with a glasses free 3D display, know-how that appears to be maturing in telephones and screens.
Inside house and luxury well worth the rear view tradeoffs
For my part the tradeoffs when it comes to rear view are value it, as the quantity of house and luxury ranges you get behind the Polestar 4 are greater than only a advertising gimmick. It greater than makes up for the downsides described above, particularly in the event you frequently carry passengers within the again.
The rear seats actually do really feel very spacious and opulent, notably with the elective $8,000 Plus Pack which provides heated electrical reclining rear seats and 3-zone local weather controls through a small display positioned on the again of the centre console.
Even with out the added choices, house within the rear is a lot better than different equally sized automobiles, that means it nonetheless feels luxurious again there. Customary options for rear seat passengers embody air vents on the B-pillars in addition to the again of the centre console, 2x USB-C charging ports and a fold down armrest with cupholders.
General, the rear seat expertise in a Polestar 4 is evening and day in contrast with the cramped and compromised Polestar 2 again seats. The Polestar 4 would subsequently be a lot better suited as a rideshare car than all the Polestar 2s working round at present.
Excessive ranges of consolation and luxurious proceed into the entrance row of the Polestar 4, with a minimalist but trendy vibe that Polestar is well-known for. Fascinating material selections and textures are utilised all through the cabin and in addition assist to elicit the sensation that you’re sitting in one thing particular.
Considerate touches just like the photo voltaic system based mostly inside ambient lighting and indicator noise coming from the left or proper facet audio system might sound small, however they illustrate how Polestar’s obsession with element shapes their ultimate merchandise.
Polestar’s minimalist inside design has taken a couple of steps additional within the Polestar 4, with changes for the steering wheel and mirrors plus opening the glove field transferring to on display slightly than bodily controls, which received’t please everybody.
Nonetheless, as soon as your driving place has been arrange and related along with your driver profile, the Polestar 4 will robotically alter all the pieces to go well with relying on which bodily or digital secret’s used to unlock the automotive.
Fortunately, Polestar has not copied Tesla’s strategy of eradicating stalks both, as there are normal indicator/wiper and kit selector stalks on the left and proper hand sides of the steering column. A single quantity knob with play/pause button high stays the one bodily management between the 2 entrance seats, making it simple for entrance passengers to regulate audio.
Fingers free voice controls via Android Automotive constructed into the Polestar 4 can be utilized to regulate varied options from adjusting the local weather system, audio playback and sending messages whereas driving. In my expertise these voice controls perform a lot better than in most different vehicles, as Google voice recognition simply works.
Cabin space for storing is plentiful, beginning with a sliding console lid behind the quantity knob hiding 2 cupholders beneath. Additional again below the centre armrest is a good sized storage bin, plus a big open part within the centre tunnel with 2x USB-C charging ports and much more space for storing.
The decrease top of the centre console and open part within the Polestar 4 offers way more knee room within the entrance seats in comparison with a Polestar 2. It now not feels uncomfortable just like the Polestar 2 tended to after an extended drive, whereas the driving place nonetheless manages to retain a few of that cockpit really feel.
Assured and quiet journey throughout the vary
I had excessive expectations earlier than driving the Polestar 4, given Polestar’s racing heritage and their obsession with chassis design and tuning. These expectations had been shortly surpassed as we unleashed the Polestar 4 onto the winding roads of the Adelaide Hills and confirmed first-hand that Polestar delivers efficiency that’s not nearly straight line pace.
Each single motor and twin motor Polestar 4 variants dealt with extraordinarily nicely on the twisty, slim and typically bumpy roads we encountered. The suspension soaked up all however the nastiest of bumps, maintaining the automotive feeling planted and assured all through the bends.
Semi-active dampers fitted to twin motor variants did a barely higher job maintaining the automotive composed than passive dampers within the single motor, though the distinction is small and dealing with alone shouldn’t be a significant factor in deciding which Polestar 4 to decide on.
With regards to straight line pace, the Lengthy vary Twin motor Polestar 4 clearly feels a lot faster given it has twice the ability and torque of the Lengthy vary Single motor model. This cuts the 0-100 km/h time down from 7.1 to three.8 seconds, handing it the title of quickest accelerating Polestar thus far.
As soon as the highway straightened out, one other factor I seen was simply how clean and quiet the Polestar 4 is. Street and wind noise are barely noticeable even whereas travelling at freeway speeds. Electrical motor whine can be inaudible so Polestar have accomplished a terrific job insulating the cabin from all kinds of noise.
Wonderful one pedal driving within the Polestar 4 carries over from earlier Polestar fashions, together with the power to cut back the regenerative braking energy or disable it solely through settings relying in your choice.
Driving settings equivalent to one pedal driving are additionally retained between drives and swap robotically together with driver profiles. One exception is the pace restrict warning, however a one contact shortcut button will be added to one of many 4 dwelling display widgets if you could disable it.
Vitality effectivity was arduous to precisely measure as we swapped vehicles and drivers a number of instances in the course of the drive program. The worst determine I noticed was 27 kWh/100 km on our approach uphill to the Barossa Valley. Returning to Adelaide airport the subsequent morning in a Lengthy vary Twin motor with Efficiency Pack set to efficiency mode consumed 18.8 kWh/100 km.
Effectivity must be even higher nonetheless in a Lengthy vary Single motor or Twin motor with vary mode enabled, which disengages the entrance motor through a disconnect clutch. Due to this fact it must be doable to journey over 500 km if utilising the total 94 kWh of usable battery capability.
Lowest carbon footprint of any Polestar
Polestar 4 is launching with the lowest carbon footprint of any Polestar thus far, with cradle to gate emissions of 19.9 – 21.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide equal (tCO2e) relying on the variant. For comparability, Polestar 3 launched with 24.7 tCO2e and Polestar 2 with 26.1 tCO2e in 2020.
The discount in carbon footprint from manufacturing has been achieved by producing the Polestar 4 in a manufacturing facility powered by 100% renewable electrical energy, elevated use of low-carbon aluminium sourced from renewable powered smelters in addition to the next share of recycled supplies used all through the cabin, proudly labelled for occupants to see.
There may be additionally a concentrate on circularity, with Polestar claiming “The overwhelming majority of supplies used to fabricate Polestar 4 are recyclable on the finish of the automotive’s lifespan.” Battery packs utilized in Polestar automobiles are additionally designed to be simply repairable, in comparison with some EVs the place the entire battery pack should be swapped if it develops a fault.
Polestar must be recommended for his or her sustainability efforts, for they’re pushing the boundaries on this space and inspiring the business to observe go well with by publishing detailed life cycle assessments for all of their automobiles.
There may be nonetheless an extended technique to go till Polestar can produce a local weather impartial automotive although. The Polestar 4 is a 2.2 – 2.3 tonne SUV with 100 kWh battery, so you possibly can’t assist considering that carbon emissions could possibly be diminished even additional if Polestar produced lighter and extra environment friendly vehicles that require much less battery capability for related driving vary.
That is notably true given the battery modules contribute the most important share of the carbon footprint by part, as proven within the chart beneath from Polestar’s life cycle evaluation of the Polestar 4.
Conclusion
A glossy exterior design, glorious efficiency and a spacious, luxurious inside are all highlights of the Polestar 4. You will have to check out the rear view digital camera for your self to see if it’s a deal breaker although. Increased decision 3D digital camera and display know-how might doubtlessly get rid of the downsides skilled with the present system.
Evaluating throughout the lineup, Polestar 4 improves on the Polestar 2 in some ways, equivalent to inside house and storage choices. When you frequently carry passengers within the rear seats, the Polestar 4 is a giant step up that your passengers will certainly admire.
Measurement smart, the Polestar 3 and 4 are very related, with Polestar 4 measuring simply 60mm shorter and 19mm wider. Until you need the added luxurious, V2G or drivetrain options like true torque vectoring and air suspension that Polestar 3 provides, a Polestar 4 offers a lot of the house and utility at a a lot decrease beginning worth.
Desk of key specs for the Polestar 4
Variant
Lengthy vary Single motor
Lengthy vary Twin motor
Beginning worth excluding ORCs
$78,500
$88,350
Paint colors and choices
Optionally available packs, Pilot Pack included as normal:
Professional Pack – $2,500
Plus Pack – $8,000
Efficiency Pack (Twin motor solely) – $7,200
6 exterior metallic colors:
Magnesium – Customary
Electron – $1,500
Storm – $1,500
House – $1,500
Snow – $2,300
Gold – $2,300
Battery dimension
100 kWh gross, 94 kWh usable
Battery chemistry and producer
Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC), CATL
Vary (WLTP)
620 km
590 km
Pushed wheels
Rear-wheel drive
All-wheel drive
Energy / Torque
200 kW / 343 Nm
400 kW / 686 Nm
Most charging pace
200 kW DC, 11 kW AC or 22 kW AC with Plus Pack
Charging time
22 kW AC (0 – 100 %) – 5.5 hours200 kW DC (10 – 80 %) – half-hour
Exterior dimensions
Size: 4,840 mmWidth: 2,139 mmTop: 1,534 mmWheelbase: 2,999 mmFloor clearance: 166 mm
Kerb weight
2,230 kg
2,355 kg
Space for storing
Frunk: 15 LBoot, rear seats up: 526 L (together with 31 L below flooring)Boot rear seats folded: 1,536 L (together with 31 L below flooring)
Service interval
24 months / 30,000 km
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Tim has 20 years expertise within the IT business together with 14 years as a community engineer and web site reliability engineer at Google Australia. He’s an EV and renewable power fanatic who’s most enthusiastic about serving to folks perceive and undertake these applied sciences.
