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Overview
Volvo Polestar was previously Volvo’s racing wing, but it’s now a stand-alone electric subsidiary owned by Volvo and its Chinese parent company, Geely. Its automobiles are manufactured in China and marketed all over the world.
The 2022 Polestar 2 is many things, including a four-door hatchback with sedan proportions and a crossover ride height, but above all, it’s an electric car. Fans of Volvo‘s performance division will recognize the Polestar logo, although it now refers to pure-electric and plug-in hybrid cars. Although the Polestar 2’s strange form isn’t very attractive, its hatchback shape and reduced price make it more practical and accessible.
While Polestar‘s first homemade effort was a stunning £140,000 Polestar 1 plug-in hybrid, this is where things get serious. The first was a one-of-a-kind headline grabber. This is the Polestar 2, a full-fledged production vehicle meant to help Polestar establish itself as a major participant in the EV market.
It’s now aiming for the greatest target of them all: the Tesla Model 3.
It has a well-appointed cabin and an easy-to-use infotainment system. One or two electric motors are offered in the 2022 Polestar 2. The automobile with the single powertrain has front-wheel drive and a 270-mile range. The dual-motor 2 has a shorter range, but the all-wheel drive and much greater power for faster acceleration make up for it.
The Polestar 2 is built on Volvo‘s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform, which also underpins the XC40. The Polestar 2 seems to be a saloon, but it is actually a five-door hatchback with a slightly raised ride height. This gives it a distinct design that’s not quite a crossover but still works well for families.
The Added Value
Polestar is introducing a new front-drive configuration for 2022 as well as lowering the pricing across the board. The new single-motor, front-drive vehicle has a range of 270 miles, while the dual-motor model has a range of 249 miles.
Individual choices are also available, as is the opportunity to select certain packages rather than have them all bundled together. Those who choose the loaded Plus option will have access to a slew of luxury features as well as a newly installed mechanical heat pump, which Polestar claims may increase the hatch’s projected range by up to 10%.
The horsepower and pound-feet-of-torque of the dual-motor Polestar 2 will be increased from 408 to 476 and 487 to 502, respectively, via an over-the-air upgrade.
E-Motor, Power, and Performance
Despite its relative infamy, Polestar has the support of parent company Geely, as well as the benefit of being able to call on sister company Volvo’s engineering and technical expertise. The partnership has paid off, as the Polestar 2 is a more enjoyable car to drive than the Tesla Model 3 — the steering is more responsive, and the decent level of grip gives a more balanced feeling when you’re pushing hard.
The Performance pack’s Ohlins dampers provide a stiffer ride, but they are manually adjustable if owners want to dig in and fine-tune the settings.
The 231-hp single motor is positioned on the front axle, unlike the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive models of the Polestar 2. We haven’t driven this new arrangement yet, the more powerful Launch Edition, which has an electric motor on both axles and produces 476 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque. During our tests, the hatchback hit 60 mph in 4.1 seconds and went from 50 to 70 mph in 2.2 ticks.
Although the Polestar 2 can’t match the Tesla Model 3’s sheer sprinting ability, its performance is more than enough to put a grin on your face, with a 0-60mph time of 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 127 mph, and you still feel that immediate, irresistible shove of electric torque at any speed. Both the long-range single-motor and the standard-range single-motor variants can accelerate from zero to sixty miles per hour in 7.0 seconds.
The Performance option included 20-inch wheels and summer tires, firmer suspension components with adjustable Hlins dampers, and enhanced Brembo front brakes on our sample. In our tests, the Polestar 2’s 0.90g of cornering grip and 157-foot stopping distance from 70 mph were due to this combination.
Polestar also has 3 levels of regenerative braking, the most powerful of which may bring the car to a complete stop without you having to touch the brakes. While the enthusiast kit caters to the enthusiast community, we believe the two will ride better on the stock suspension. Its driving range should also be improved by the specified all-season tires.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe
The single-motor 2022 Polestar 2 is rated at a combined 107 MPGe and has a range of 270 miles. The dual-motor variant is rated at a combined 89 MPGe and has a range of around 249 miles. Our sample covered 190 miles on a full charge on our 75-mph real-world highway route, matching the Audi e-Tron premium SUV but falling short of the Tesla Model 3 Long Range car, which achieved 230 miles. Visit the EPA’s website for additional information on the Polestar 2’s efficiency and range.
Capacity, Range and Charge of The Battery
There’s no denying it: the Polestar 2 is a pricey car to own or lease.
However, the Polestar 2 is less expensive to purchase than a Tesla Model 3, and when you consider the reduced operating expenses of an electric vehicle versus its fossil-fuel counterparts, the benefits of owning an EV become evident.
The Polestar 2 is built on the same Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) as the Volvo XC40 crossover, albeit the electrified version of the platform has a 75.0-kWh lithium-ion battery pack beneath the floor. Polestar says that this technology would recharge a dead battery to 80% in 40 minutes thanks to the electrical system’s fast-charging capability of up to 150 kilowatts. The single-motor variant has a range of 270 miles, while the dual-motor model has a range of 249 miles on a single charge.
A full charge from empty should cost a little over £10, thanks to the Polestar’s 78kWh battery delivering 72.5kWh of real useable energy. The Polestar 2 has a range of 232 miles per kWh of energy consumed, with an efficiency rate of 3.2 miles per kWh of energy used.
For example, if you drove 12,000 miles in a year, your yearly energy expense would be only £540. In comparison, over the same mileage, a comparable priced diesel-powered Audi S5 Sportback would cost £1,700 on average.
2022 Polestar 2 Design
2022 Polestar 2 Exterior
There is a natural presence. It’s futuristic without being ostentatious.
The Polestar 2 has been developed from the ground up for pure, progressive performance. The façade has a calm, controlled design that is discreetly but proudly distinctive, from the frameless mirrors to the avant-garde lighting.
There’s plenty of room for the driver and front passenger, as well as storage for beverages and other belongings. The rear passengers have plenty of legroom, and while the glass roof panel does reduce headroom, even the tallest passengers shouldn’t find it too bothersome.
The EV defied tradition by introducing a clean-cut fastback that represents a fresh approach to basic automobile design. The Polestar 2 mixes well-chosen color schemes with clean, architectural lines that are complemented by fine workmanship.
- Brighter lighting
- Frameless mirrors
- Smart doorknobs
- Foot-operated tailgate
- Rims and tires
The Plus package includes a panoramic roof composed of tinted, laminated glass. It creates a sensation of spaciousness in the cabin, minimizes glare and UV rays, and helps reduce cabin noise.
2022 Polestar 2 Interior
The high door tops and cocooning character of the cabin hide the fact that you sit a bit higher than in, say, an Audi A4. It’s also not an exceedingly sporty or austere cockpit. Instead of business-friendly carbon fiber, light woods and textiles are used. Although leather is an option, the inside is by default vegan and so more friendly. The Volvo chairs are really comfortable. This isn’t a Frankfurt office. Or a coffee shop in Silicon Valley. It’s a pine-forested lodge getaway.
The inside of the Polestar 2 is basic yet elegant, combining wood, cloth, and plastic. Clean lines, a sparse color palette, and minimal switchgear give it a contemporary appearance. The Polestar 2 inherits a few design elements from its Volvo siblings, such as the steering-wheel buttons and the knurled start knob, but the overall look is less cluttered. Polestar wraps the inside in eco-friendly vegan cloth to match the electric drivetrain (though you can get leather if you really want it).
The power-operated liftgate opens to reveal a cargo compartment with a capacity of 14 cubic feet. In the frunk, there’s another cubic foot of storage.
There’s enough room in the back for adults to sit behind adults, albeit the smaller glass area makes it feel less spacious than a traditional saloon. The boot isn’t big, but 405 liters should be plenty for most chores, and the opening is huge thanks to the fact that it’s a real hatchback (which Polestar intended as a selling feature beyond the Model 3’s clumsy saloon tailgate). It’s free of charging cords, which are kept in a separate cubby beneath the hood.
The Polestar 2 has a generous boot area of 405 liters, which expands to 1,095 liters when the rear seats are folded. It has an advantage over the Tesla Model 3 saloon in that its hatchback boot opens up considerably wider than its American counterpart, making loading bags much simpler. The car’s nose, or “frunk,” has an additional 35 liters of storage space, albeit it’s actually just big enough to hold the charging cords.
Infotainment and Connectivity
A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a prominently situated iPad-like portrait-oriented touchscreen greet the driver on the inside. The latter, which measures 11.2 inches and runs Google’s Android Automotive OS infotainment system, is in charge of the majority of operations. It’s not dissimilar to other current user interfaces: Consider a box divided into four squares, each dedicated to a distinct type of programs, such as navigation, phone, or music. Polestar thinks that by grouping comparable programs in a single quadrant of the screen, users would have an easier time locating what they need, reducing distraction.
It contains a built-in “Hey Google” voice assistant, as well as the ability to sign in to your Google account to personalize your settings, connect to your Spotify account, and use Google Maps. You’ll be able to download your own applications from the Google Play store, so if you want to use Waze to navigate or listen to Apple Music, you’ll be able to do so. There’s no Apple CarPlay yet – it’ll be here soon – but this is the first in-car infotainment center in years that doesn’t feel like it would be better with the inclusion of CarPlay.
The best part is that it integrates Google Maps into the navigation system and delivers helpful EV-specific information to the driver, such as the location of nearby charging stations and how long you’ll have to wait once you arrive.
Other noteworthy features include two USB ports in the front and two in the back, satellite radio as standard, and Harman/Kardon audio.
Driving & Safety
The fact that the original Long Range Dual Motor is a fast automobile does not need to be emphasized. Despite the Polestar 2’s weight, the 487lb-ft of torque sent instantaneously to all four wheels propels it forward with ease, accelerating from 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds and topping out at 127mph, rather than Volvo‘s 112mph restriction.
The roll-on performance, on the other hand, is significantly less forceful than what the Teslarati prefers, making the two simple to drive smoothly both in town and when you see an overtaking space. models have 243 lb-ft of torque and can go from zero to sixty miles per hour in 7.0 seconds flat, which seems fast enough for real-world driving.
Polestar provides a high degree of safety equipment for the two, and their dependability should be as strong as well.
The Polestar 2 has a slew of driver assistance and safety features that should give you extra peace of mind. Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites for additional information on the Polestar 2’s crash-test results. Among the most important safety elements are:
- Standard adaptive cruise control
- Standard blind-spot monitoring
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
2022 Polestar 2 Price
| Variants | Price |
| 2022 Polestar 2 Single Motor | $47,000 |
| 2022 Polestar 2 Dual Motor | $51,000 |
Polestar has slashed the price of the Polestar 2 by anywhere from $14,000 to $15,000, depending on the model. The dual-motor version gets the best deal, and despite its shorter range, we prefer its more powerful powerplant.
The optional Performance package is unlocked when you choose the two with two motors. It comes with forged 20-inch wheels and high-performance tires, as well as improved brakes and adjustable dampers. The only catch is that they must be adjusted manually.
Polestar 2 Insurance
For insurance purposes, the Polestar 2 is classified as a group 42 vehicle, but the Tesla Model 3 is classified as a group 48-50 vehicle, resulting in higher costs.
Industry testers, Thatcham Research, determined that Tesla only provides “basic” levels of vehicle security, resulting in increased insurance prices.
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Polestar’s limited warranty is in line with industry standards and is comparable to Tesla‘s. In addition, the firm offers competitive coverage for the electrical components of the Polestar 2, which, unlike its parent company Volvo, does not provide the same three-year complimentary maintenance package.
- A four-year or 50,000-mile limited warranty is included.
- The warranty on electrical components is for eight years or 100,000 miles.
- There is no free planned maintenance.
- You Can Also Read Our 2021 Geely Emgrand EV Review.
