Road Test: 2023 Polestar 2 Dual Motor Performance Plus

Road Test: 2023 Polestar 2 Dual Motor Performance Plus

A Swedish EV from China

This is Polestar’s third model in America, which began with its last gasoline engine car, the sublime limited production 2021 Polestar 1 plug-in hybrid; next was the efficient all-electric 2022 Polestar 2 Single Motor Rear Wheel Drive EV; now, we have the 2023 Polestar 2 Dual Motor EV Performance Plus with all-wheel drive. Next up will be the Polestar 2 with a larger single electric motor and then the company’s first SUV, the Polestar 3. The simple naming aside, all Polestar models offer highly developed electric technology and performance.

Who/What Is Polestar?

Polestar and Volvo were acquired by Geeley, a Chinese automobile company, in 2010. Polestar was founded in 1995 for the purpose of performance-tuning Volvos. Volvo brought them in-house in 2015 when Polestar badging appeared on Volvos, designating that performance was awaiting the driver. In 2018 Polestar became its own stand-alone car company and began its numerical offerings.

So what is a Polestar 2? Polestar says it is a “driver’s car (with the) driving experience enjoyable and engaging.” What we found was an all-electric five-passenger sedan with eye-catching looks that was comfortable and enjoyable to drive, delivering early-on a feeling it was going to be good week.

Power and Range

The 2023 Polestar 2 Dual Motor Performance Plus, built in Luqiao, China, has electric motors on each axle, producing a total of 476 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque. In a few 0-60 miles per hour runs, we averaged 3.9 seconds, which felt quick and merged us onto the freeway with a whoosh. For comparison, the base Polestar 2 Dual Motor is rated at 4.2 seconds, while the Polestar 2 Single Motor takes about 7.0 seconds.

The EPA rates the Polestar 2 Duel Motor at 260 all-electric miles (AER) with an efficiency of 34 kilowatt-hour (kWh) per 100 miles. We took delivery with 240 AER and after 252 miles of combination highway and freeway driving, we had 20 miles left on the dash range read-out. In the 498 total miles we drove during our week in the Polestar 2, we averaged 30.1 kWh per 100 miles. Another way to look at the efficiency for this car is 3.3 miles per kWh of battery. Both measurements are best used to compare EVs as the actual miles you will get from a kWh of battery varies greatly based on the speed you’re traveling, the temperature and the style of driving. 

Battery and Charging

When slowing or stopping, regenerative braking converts kinetic energy into electric energy and stores it in the battery. The level of regeneration can be set on the touchscreen, opting between Light, Standard and Firm, the latter of which we selected in conjunction with the Standard setting for One Pedal Driving with the Creep Mode turned off. This combination resulted in strong regen and a fun way to drive with limited touching of the brake pedal.

The 78 kWh, liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery is charged through an 11.0 kW onboard charger. These are the estimated times for the three charging speeds.

• 120V (Level 1) – 22 hours (0-100%)
• 240V (Level 2) – 8 hours (0-100%)
• 480V DC Fast Charging – 30 minutes at 155 kW (10-80%)

There is an optional mechanical pump that heats the interior without drawing on the battery. Polestar says this can increase driving range by 10-percent as the pump can work as low as 19-degrees Fahrenheit.

Out on the Road

Nearly 500 miles behind the wheel allowed us to settle in and get a true feel for the Polestar 2 Dual Motor Performance. Something different is it has no start button; the Polestar 2 turns itself on when entering the cockpit with the key. All you do is press the brake pedal and put the unique hexagonal shifter in the desired gear, and off you go. The seats are comfortable for long trips and hold the driver tight when cornering. The electronic power steering is agile and has enough welcomed heft to provide for sporty handling of the 4,655-pound sedan.

The smooth and even power, featuring quick throttle response, was easy to drive with a 51/49-percent front/rear weight distribution. The suspension has MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link rear, with both having stabilizer bars. The Performance model also has adjustable Öhlins valve dampers that are configurable to comfort or performance settings. The low center of gravity with the batteries placed below the floor helped the Polestar 2 handle flat around corners.

The dual electric motors, one on each axle, drive all four wheels, which were shod with 245/45 Michelin Primacy Sport Contact 6 summer tires. Mounted on 20-inch Y-spoke polished forged alloy wheels with black pockets, the tires were grippy and, when braking, were a good match for the gold, four-piston ventilated and cross-drilled aluminum Brembo calipers.

A small camping or bicycle trailer can be towed if under 2,000 pounds. There is even a trick ($1,300 option) semi-electric tow bar that, with the push of button, drops from under the rear bumper.

Exterior: Familiar But Different

The Polestar 2 at first can be taken for a Volvo, but upon closer inspection has a look all its own. Polestar calls it an “avant-garde modern design in a five-door fastback style.” We appreciated the clean design that is void of cladding, has minimal chrome accents, no design gimmicks and nothing radical going on. There is a reassuring feeling of a tasteful, practical sedan that will become a favorite as a daily driver. The Polestar 2 has six exterior colors–Space (black), Thunder (light gray), Magnesium (silver), Jupiter (bronze), Snow (white) and Midnight, which was on the metallic blue we drove.

The pixel LED active bending head and fog lights turn up-to 15-degrees at speeds to 25 mph, illuminating curves. The LED lighting design continues to the turn indicators, tail and brake lights. When the brakes are applied quickly and forcefully, the lights will flash four times per second warning to the trailing driver. The lift gate is power-operated.

Interior: Scandinavian Influenced

The standard 100-percent vegan interior has no animal-derived products in any of the materials or surfaces. The WeaveTech upholstery, which is completely recyclable, is lighter, more durable and easier to clean than leather. However, ventilated Nappa leather is available for those wanting a luxury touch. Front passengers get power adjustments, including lumbar, and heated seats, with the rear outbound passengers also getting heat. The quirky bright gold-colored seatbelts offer a sharp contrast to the black or gray seats, and make it impossible to say: “I couldn’t find my seatbelt, officer.”

Access was good through the wide-opening front and rear doors, with the tallest needing to duck just a bit due to the fastback design in the rear. The rear seat comfortably accommodates two adults who sit a bit higher than the front occupants.

Behind the rear 60/40 seat, 14.2 cubic feet of cargo space increases to 38.7 cubic feet when the seats are folded-down. Without an engine up front there is a 1.3 cubic foot front trunk/frunk for stashing small items, such as the charging cable.

The wide floating center console intersects the low slung dash at the 11.2-inch color touchscreen. This screen is where the heart of the Polestar 2 lives: the Google Android Automotive operating system with navigation, apps and Google Assistant. Please note this is not Android Auto. What it does do is allows the driver to operate many functions through voice commands, which is a good thing as except for the few controls on the steering wheel, there are no buttons or knobs on the dash. The clean Scandinavian design theme thrives in the cockpit.

Our Polestar 2 Dual Motor Performance came with the Harmon Kardon premium sound system with account-free Spotify downloaded. Apple CarPlay was added in late 2022, as was SiriusXM, but AM radio is not available. The practice of calling out everything to the Google assistant takes getting used to, but works well.

Polestar frequently sends out Over The Air updates, or OTAs, to upgrade or add software that can affect vehicle systems such as touchscreen interaction, driving range, performance and regenerative braking. The OTAs makes it so the Polestar 2 doesn’t need to be taken to a dealer for these improvements to features, safety and performance.

Convenience features include Polestar Connect that allows, in the case of an emergency, pressing a button to reach a live representative, a 360-degree camera, cabin filtration system, rain sensing windshield wipers, alarm, keyless entry, digital key, Homelink, 4 USB-C ports, wireless phone charging, heated wiper nozzles, heated steering wheel, adjustable interior illumination and a panoramic glass roof.

Safety

The 2023 Polestar 2 has not been safety rated by the NHTSA or the IIHS, but coming from Volvo where safety is built into the company’s reputation, the 2 should be rated highly. Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS), some of which come in packages, include multiple airbags, ABS braking, traction control, Pilot Assist and adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning with steering wheel assist, cross traffic alert, and low and high speed collision mitigation with automatic braking.

The rear collision warning senses a fast approaching vehicle from behind, and flashes the brake lights rapidly and tightens the seatbelt tension. Post-collision automatic braking locks the brakes when the car comes to a complete stop.

Pricing

The 2023 Polestar 2 Dual Motor Performance Plus we drove had a base price of $61,600. Add in the optional $1,250 metallic paint, the $3,400 Pilot Pack, and the mandatory $1,400 destination fee, the total came to $67,650. Speak with your dealer about any available federal or state tax credits that could reduce the price you pay.

Warranty

• Basic – Four years/50,000 miles
• Battery – Eight years/100,000 miles
• Motors – Eight years/100,000 miles
• Roadside Assistance – Four years/Unlimited miles
• Corrosion Protection – 12 years/Unlimited miles
• Scheduled Maintenance – Three years/30,000 miles

Observations: 2023 Polestar 2 Dual Motor Performance Plus

Electric cars and SUVs are getting more sophisticated and remain my favorite driving experience. Oh sure, ripping around in a sports car with a gasoline engine is a blast, especially those with a manual. But an EV offers performance and efficiency, and oh yeah, don’t forget the torque that no gasoline engine can match. The Polestar 2 Dual Motor Performance is built and designed to induce a grin.

So how does the Polestar 2 stack-up against it’s competition? If a sedan is on your shopping list, you will be doing yourself a disservice if not considering it when shopping electric vehicles. The Kia EV6 GT and Tesla Model 3/Y Performance are worthy competitors, so driving all three should be on your To-Do list.

Clean Fleet Report spent a week in the highly equipped Polestar 2 Dual Motor Performance and was left wanting more time behind the wheel. The handling and power delivery are something to brag about, while it is also efficient and practical. The trunk is large enough to handle all the gear for two on a long road trip, and the charging will take minutes before you are off again.

The Polestar 2 is the first of a full line-up of all-electric vehicles coming from the company. Next up will be the Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 SUVs, followed by the Polestar 5 luxury GT sedan. We are very hopeful the stunning and sexy Polestar 6 hard-top convertible also goes into production.

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Story and photos by John Faulkner.

Disclosure:

Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.

Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and diesels. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.