Over 12 months in the past, I drove a Polestar 2 from Sydney to Canberra on the best way to the Australian EV Affiliation convention. It was fairly an expertise and the automotive itself turned many heads within the nation’s capital.
Simply over a yr after that take a look at drive, this week I discovered myself in the identical metropolis, test-driving the newly refreshed Polestar 2, the MY 24, which now gives a much bigger battery in some variants, longer vary, and a sporty really feel – and a much bigger asking value.
The thought behind the upgrades is to get extra out of much less. Polestar says the Polestar 2 can now journey as much as 22% additional, eat as much as 9% much less vitality, and cost as much as 34% sooner, due to {hardware} upgrades together with bigger batteries and new motors.
Meaning, nevertheless, a better price ticket. Whereas costs for a lot of EVs are falling, Polestar 2 MY24 are dearer – an additional $3,500 for the bottom mannequin and $2,400 for the prime quality mannequin. This desk beneath reveals how the prices – earlier than on roads – grade larger with every added function.
Polestar entered the Australian market about 18 months in the past and has up to now delivered gross sales of greater than 3,000 Polestar 2 EVs. Globally Polestar has produced its 150,000th automotive, which is a large achievement for an EV maker in its first three years.
Listed here are a few of my takeaways from driving the refreshed Polestar 2 round Canberra and regional NSW.
Stylish exterior styling
![Polestar 2 Lined Up Riz Akhtar](https://b2232832.smushcdn.com/2232832/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Polestar-2-Lined-Up-Riz-Akhtar-1160x870.jpg?size=1160x0&lossy=1&strip=0&webp=1)
One of the apparent elements of the Polestar 2 refresh is the entrance grill, which has been changed by a smoother design with simply the entrance digital camera opening on show.
From the aspect, it up to date mannequin seems to be much like the earlier technology automotive. Michelin tyres add to the sensation of sportiness and effectivity within the refreshed mannequin.
![Polestar 2 Lined Up Rear Riz Akhtar](https://b2232832.smushcdn.com/2232832/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Polestar-2-Lined-Up-Rear-Riz-Akhtar-1160x870.jpg?size=1160x0&lossy=1&strip=0&webp=1)
On the within, it’s clear to see that the extent of premium really feel from the earlier mannequin continues. Whether or not it’s the strong “thunk” of the door closing after you get into the motive force’s seat, or the important thing which nonetheless holds a really trendy minimalistic look.
The selection of supplies within the cabin makes it a very nice area to be in for each the motive force and passengers. The driving force-focused centre console and the gear shifter do present a really particular really feel when shifting from Park to Drive.
With the important thing in your pocket or contained in the automotive, shifting the automotive from into drive is seamless and the automotive is able to take off as quickly as you press the accelerator.
![Polestar 2 Interior Passenger-side Riz Akhtar](https://b2232832.smushcdn.com/2232832/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Polestar-2-Interior-Passenger-side-Riz-Akhtar-1160x870.jpg?size=1160x0&lossy=1&strip=0&webp=1)
However it’s the drive expertise that’s the large change yr. It’s simply within the longer vary, which is fairly important – but additionally within the really feel of the drive.
I drove the bottom variant, which has had its motor moved from the entrance to the again. That could be a large change, and it appears price the additional price.
Having motors on the rear for the single-motor variant – reasonably than the entrance within the earlier model – just isn’t such an enormous deal in a straight-line however shifting out of the town streets and onto curvy mountain roads, the refreshed mannequin comes into its personal with its sporty drive.
The brand new automotive feels well-planted on the street because it drives into corners and hairpins. Being rear-wheel drive, the torque steer is nearly gone within the refreshed mannequin which provides additional confidence on the street.
This mixed with the suspension setup on supply makes it a enjoyable automotive on the street, absorbing bumps and rougher mountain street surfaces with ease.
The bigger battery packs within the long-range variants, and the improved effectivity have additionally delivered a big enhance in vary.
The one-motor lengthy vary variant now will get as much as 654 km of WLTP vary which is a bump up of 103 km over the earlier mannequin. Even the standard-range automotive now will get 54 km of extra vary, bringing the vary determine as much as 532 km.
![Riz Akhtar](https://b2232832.smushcdn.com/2232832/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Riz.jpg?size=100x100&lossy=1&strip=0&webp=1)
Riz is the founding father of carloop based mostly in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV knowledge, perception stories and tendencies. He’s a mechanical engineer who spent the primary 7 years of his profession constructing transport infrastructure earlier than beginning carloop. He has a ardour for vehicles, significantly EVs and needs to assist scale back transport emissions in Australia. He at the moment drives a pink Tesla Mannequin 3.