What’s new within the 2024 Polestar 2?
2024 Polestar 2 assessment: The larger query, I feel, is what isn’t? Nearly all the things beneath the pores and skin has been up to date and improved right here, from the motor and battery to the pushed wheels (shifted from front-drive to rear-drive) and the usual security tools.
As midlife updates go, they don’t get rather more complete than this.
The thought, says Polestar, is to lastly ship the automobile this 2 was all the time alleged to be. Which is why this Polestar 2 Single motor Lengthy vary doesn’t simply introduce a brand new, extra environment friendly and extra highly effective motor — lifting energy outputs from 170kW and 330Nm to 220kW and 490Nm — but it surely additionally now powers the rear wheels, quite than the entrance tyres.
These are massive energy will increase, too, with this mid-tier Polestar 2 now promising a dash to 100km/h in brisk 6.2 seconds.
There’s additionally an even bigger battery and a greater driving vary (which we’ll come again to in a second), and the new-look entrance finish is now residence to Polestar’s ‘SmartZone’, which features a digicam and radar, unlocking additional commonplace security tools.
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What does the brand new Polestar 2 price?
It will possibly’t all be excellent news, proper? There are value rises throughout the board right here — of as much as $4k, relying on the mannequin — however in Polestar’s defence, there’s additionally much more bang for these bucks.
The 2024 Polestar 2 lineup is as follows:
Commonplace vary Single motor: $67,400*Lengthy vary Single motor: $71,400*Lengthy vary Twin motor: $76,400**All costs MSRP earlier than on-road prices and subsidiesFor extra data or to configure a car, go to Polestar.
There are all of the powertrain and security upgrades, after all, however the remainder of the tools checklist is basically unchanged.
Cabin tech continues to be dealt with by a 11.2-inch centre display screen, which joins the customisable show within the driver’s binnacle. There are additionally embossed textile seats that are powered up entrance, and there’s dual-zone local weather, wi-fi telephone charging and Apple CarPlay, the latter of which can pipe your podcasts by means of an eight-speaker stereo.
Exterior, the Polestar 2 Single motor Lengthy vary wears 19-inch alloys, and scores LED lighting and DRLs.
How does the brand new Polestar 2 drive?
Quick reply? Higher.
The swap to rear-wheel drive has made a distinction that’s instantly noticeable right here. Our street check was fairly transient, and took in usually rain-soaked British roads, however even in these less-than-ideal situations the Polestar 2 felt participating from behind the wheel, with little in the best way of wheel spin irrespective of how aggressive I acquired with the accelerator.
However it’s when cornering that the driven-wheels swap makes itself greatest identified, with the Polestar 2 now delivering that satisfying feeling of being pushed by means of a bend, quite than pulled out of 1.
The steering is nice, too. It’s not tremendous gentle and sharp, like it could really feel in Tesla product, however as an alternative gives up a pleasant weighting that makes your inputs really feel extra deliberate, however that additionally feels confidence-inspiring and pure sufficient.
The trip, although, continues to be tuned agency, and you’ll positively really feel the dodgier street surfaces beneath you. That stated, the retuned suspension does really feel a bit extra compliant than the 2023 mannequin, even on the non-compulsory 20-inch alloys of our check automobile.
What’s the Polestar 2’s vary, battery capability and charging time?
There’s extra energy, but in addition extra vary, with a brand new 82kWh, 27-module lithium-ion battery from CATL changing the 78kWh unit within the 2023 mannequin, lifting driving vary to a promised 654kms (WLTP).
The Polestar 2 may also now settle for 205kW DC quick charging, which can take the Singe motor Lengthy vary from 10-80 % charged in lower than half an hour.
Polestar says three-phase energy and a Wallbox will take you from empty to full in eight hours. A 7.0kW wallbox ought to take extra like 12 hours.
How secure is the brand new Polestar 2?
The Polestar 2 nonetheless wears a five-star security ranking, and the model has moved to deal with a few of the criticisms connected to its previous plan of promoting you security in choice packs.
This time, blind-spot monitoring with lively intervention, cross-traffic alert, rear collision warning and mitigation and a 360-degree digicam are all commonplace, with that ‘SmartZone’ we talked about earlier now residence to the protection mind. That stated, adaptive cruise management with lane preserve help nonetheless exists as a part of a add-on pack.
What’s the Polestar 2 possession expertise like?
Anticipate a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee for the car, and eight-year, 160,000km protection for the battery (to 70 % capability).
Servicing is situation primarily based, however Polestar says, on common, upkeep will fall due each two years or so. Talking of which, the servicing for the primary 5 years (as much as 100,000kms) is free of charge.
Polestar 2 verdict
Rating: 8/10
Higher in virtually each means, the 2024 Polestar 2 is a wholly completely different beast to the mannequin it replaces. And it would simply be considered one of higher driving electrical automobiles within the nation.