First Look Review: 2024 Polestar 2 gets added range & power

Update: Full story revised with first look review component added to the article.

The Polestar 2 gained its most comprehensive update along with the facelift for the 2024 model year. In addition to a refreshed design, it has more significant tech and mechanical revisions that lead to improved driving dynamics and range. It is already available at U.S. dealerships and appearing at various public events as part of its marketing activities. Recently, I got an opportunity to check out the exterior and interior of a Snow-colored unit in detail. Here are my observations of the new EV:

Design

The 2024 Polestar 2 has subtle exterior tweaks, most visible at the front. The updated car has a smooth covered panel hiding most of the grille, and while this Polestar 3-inspired change helps it look cleaner, I think the old model with an upper grille featuring squarish inserts looked more stylish.

The 2 hasn’t received the brand’s new dual-blade light signature and carries forward the old model’s Thor’s Hammer DRLs. The optional Performance Pack brings new 20-inch forged alloy wheels that look sleeker and sportier than the other options – first used in the Polestar 3.

My favorite part of the 2024 Polestar 2 is its rear, where an end-to-end adaptive light blade emphasizes the width of the car and makes it look even smarter. I like the bold rear light, which consists of individually controlled 288 LEDs and adjusts its brightness as per the surroundings to improve visibility and save power.

The welcome/farewell sequence it played when I touch its driver’s door handle added to the car’s futuristic and minimalist character. The sculpted bumper has a lower apron comprising mainly black plastic for that rugged look.

Interior

Inside, I felt the 2024 Polestar 2 was even harder to tell from the old model, although that didn’t seem like a bad thing at all since the latter itself was so upmarket and high-tech. On the flip side, that also means that storage solutions could’ve been better. I felt that there was a lack of enough storage space, and the ones that were offered could’ve been more ergonomic. For example, while Polestar has given two cupholders, only one of them is easily accessible, as the other one is under the center console.

I felt that the rising front center console, along with the high-set beltline, did affect the perceived sense of spaciousness in the car. As a six-foot-tall person, I found the legroom in the front to be good and unhindered by the center console partition, and the under-thigh support just adequate. The headroom felt a bit tight. Accessing the steering wheel was simple, thanks to the generous buttons, and I found the physical controls on it more convenient than the capacitive ones in the newer Polestar models.

The 11.2-inch touchscreen infotainment and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster feature a slick UI, and I expected them to run smoothly and require few inputs, as they’re based on Google’s Android Automotive OS. In my experience, the infotainment system does the job, and the font style, size, and colors make it easy to navigate. It supports Apple CarPlay, and I found the availability of factory-installed and downloadable apps like Google Maps, Google Assistant, SiriusXM, and YouTube convenient.

The new Polestar 2 comes with Google’s Android Automotive OS for the portrait-oriented center screen. It supports over-the-air (OTA) software updates for added future functionality and bug fixes and allows many in-car tasks to be controlled using Google Assistant voice inputs. With the help of the Polestar app and digital key, owners can remotely operate and check multiple systems of the car. It allows for locking & unlocking of the doors, setting up the climate control system, checking the battery status, etc.

The rear seat of the 2024 Polestar 2 is quite firm. The knee room in the back felt just about enough, while the same can be said about the under-thigh support. As a six-footer, the sitting posture was slightly knee-up, and the headroom was fine for everyday trips.

Specifications

the U.S., there are three configurations on offer, as listed below:

1. Long Range Single Motor (RWD)
2. Long Range Dual Motor (AWD)
3. Long Range Dual Motor with Performance Pack (AWD)

Wireless phone charger and Driver Awareness features are new on the list of standard features of the 2024 Polestar 2. The Long Range Dual Motor variant includes the Pilot Pack, an optional package costing USD 2,000 additional if added to the Long Range Single Motor variant, as standard. It includes the following safety and driver assistance features:

• Pilot Assist
• Emergency Stop Assist
• Rear Collision Warning and Mitigation
• LED front fog lights with cornering function
• Adaptive Cruise Control

The Long Range Dual Motor with Performance Pack similarly adds the Plus Pack, which costs USD 2,200 additional in the other two configurations. Plus Pack includes a heat pump, a large panoramic moonroof with a reflected Polestar symbol, fully electric front seats, a heating function for the steering wheel, rear seats, and wiper nozzles, a cabin air quality system, tinted rear window, discreet ambient lighting, a 600-watt, 13-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, etc.

Driving Impressions

The 2024 Polestar 2’s biggest upgrade is the shift from a front-drive bias to a rear-drive bias, significantly improving its character. Next-gen motors and inverters, larger batteries, quicker charging, etc., are some of its main improvements. I like the new variant line-up 2, which consists of three configurations.

The base, single-motor RWD variant caters to customers who want maximum range, the mid, dual-motor AWD variant offers all-weather capability with a slight compromise in the range, and the top-end variant, also a dual-motor AWD one, appeals to customers who are performance and driving enthusiasts. The base variant with 299 hp and 361 lb.-ft. of torque can deliver a range of up to 320 miles, the middle variant with 421 hp and 546 lb.-ft. of torque runs out of juice at 276 miles, and the top-end variant with 455 hp and 546 lb.-ft. of torque can go up to 247 miles.

Those who’ve reviewed the 2024 Polestar 2 are generally of the opinion that the base variant speeds up nicely and feels effortlessly quick for normal drives, although some have reported that it’s not so quick that the driver can make highway passes without any planning. The new all-season tires aren’t very noisy, making drives quieter and more comfortable. The regenerative braking system works so well that the driver doesn’t need to use the friction brakes often.

Aspect/Specification	Long Range Single Motor	Long Range Dual Motor	Long Range Dual Motor with Performance Pack
Drivetrain Layout	RWD	AWD	AWD
Power	220 kW (295 hp)	310 kW (416 hp)	335 kW (449 hp)
Torque	361 lb.-ft.	546 lb.-ft.	546 lb.-ft.
0-60 mph Acceleration Time	5.9 s	4.3 s	4.1 s
Battery Pack Energy Storage Capacity	82 kWh	78 kWh	78 kWh
EPA-est. Energy Consumption	29 kWh/100 mi	32 kWh/100 mi	32 kWh/100 mi
EPA-est. Range	320 mi (19-inch wheels)/307 mi (20-inch wheels)	276 mi (19-inch wheels)/266 mi (20-inch wheels)	247 mi
Peak AC Charging Rate	11 kW	11 kW	11 kW
Lowest AC Charging Time (0-100%)	8 hours	8 hours	8 hours
Peak DC Charging Rate	205 kW	155 kW	155 kW
Lowest DC Charging Time (10-80%)	28 min.	34 min.	34 min.

The steering wheel of the 2024 Polestar 2 is confidence-inspiring and feels precise. The new model feels quite firm, and while there is some body roll, it’s not of an unsettling level. It understeers less compared to the previous model year, which is also a noteworthy improvement. The top-end variant can feel a bit too firm, so the ride quality isn’t suited for customers who don’t want to compromise comfort at the cost of driving pleasure.

It’s not nerve-breakingly quick like the Tesla Model 3, but it’s still quick and exciting enough for a car of its type. My pick would obviously be the mid-variant, which offers a balance of performance, capability, and efficiency. 

Release Date & Price

Prices of the 2024 Polestar 2 start at USD 49,900 (excl. USD 1,400 destination charge). Customer deliveries of the new electric car have commenced in America.

Configuration	2024 Polestar 2 Price
Long Range Single Motor	USD 49,900
Long Range Dual Motor	USD 55,300
Long Range Dual Motor with Performance Pack	USD 63,000

Polestar rules out a cheaper EV

The 2 is and will continue to be the entry point into the Polestar brand. While Tesla plans to enter a lower segment with a USD 25,000 EV in pursuit of volumes, Polestar doesn’t see itself doing such volume-brand exercises. Luxury brands typically avoid this trap, as they often end up realizing after significant losses that it’s not a viable plan, leading them to withdraw. Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz plan to reduce models in the lower segments as they expand electrification through their portfolios.

“We don’t have any intention to launch and develop a model below Polestar 2,” Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath said during the company’s Q4 2022 earnings conference call on March 2, 2023. The company doesn’t want to make 10 or 20 million cars annually; that’s not the target of the brand, Ingenlath added.

TopElectricSUV says

The 2024 Polestar 2 offers a fine mix of style, luxury, advanced technology, performance, and efficiency. It’s certainly worthy of being considered as a Tesla Model 3 alternative, and in my opinion, customers emphasizing quality just as much as performance and range would actually find themselves happier in this crossover-ish sedan.

2024 Polestar 2 FAQs