2024 Polestar 2 reaches U.S. dealers; gets added range & power [Update]

Update: ‘Specifications’ and ‘Release Date & Price’ sections updated.

The 2024 Polestar 2 with an updated design is more than a typical mid-cycle refresh. Polestar’s rival to the Tesla Model 3 and BMW i4 now speeds up quicker, drives better, charges faster, and travels farther on a charge. Here’s everything you need to know about the Swedish electric sedan, which has just reached dealers in the U.S.

Design

Design changes on the 2024 Polestar 2 are not vast but certainly welcome. The new electric sedan has a covered design for the grille called ‘SmartZone,’ which improves aerodynamics, and houses a front-facing camera and a mid-range radar unit, like in the Polestar 3. 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.

That aside, the design of the 2024 Polestar 2 is similar to the pre-facelift model. The sedan’s flared wheel arches, high ground clearance, and black body cladding on the lower portion of the body endow it a rugged crossover-like stance from certain angles. The stylish headlamps get the Volvo Group’s characteristic ‘Thor’s Hammer’ LED DRLs that extend right up to the grille. The windows sport thick black surrounds, while the rising beltline leads to a short but prominent rear deck.

The rear of the 2024 Polestar 2 gets LED taillights with a swanky wrap-around effect plus a full-width LED light bar. Its ‘adaptive light blade’ technology consists of 288 separate LEDs that can be individually dimmed or brightened depending on surrounding situations. The sculpted bumper has a lower apron comprising mainly black plastic for that rugged look.

Interior

The interior of the new Polestar 2 is largely untouched. Regardless, it’s a clean and fuss-free environment with subtlety and minimalism being its strong suits. Customers can opt for the zinc-colored Nappa leather that Polestar claims have been produced responsibly with animal welfare in mind, that is traceable and chrome-free. There’s also a two-tone fabric upholstery, along with a fully-vegan option that’s supposedly resistant to dirt and moisture.

Meanwhile, the rest of the cabin trim includes decorative inlays that can be had in black ash, light ash, and ‘3D-etched’ designs. Irrespective of the trim or materials chosen, the interior of the 2024 Polestar 2 reflects the Scandinavian brand’s ethos of offering a progressive design with high-quality fit & finish. The dashboard and center console of the 2 look premium, while the 11.2-inch infotainment screen and 12.3-inch driver’s display aren’t complicated to use either.

The 2024 Polestar 2’s cabin has sufficient space for five occupants, and the seats are both comfortable and offer good support on longer road trips. However, really tall people might find the headroom at the back a bit lacking.

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.

In 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.

Specifications

Variants

Polestar has changed the drivetrain layout and drive bias of the 2 with the mid-cycle refresh, something most automakers would do with a full model (generation) change. FWD configurations of the 2024 Polestar 2 have become RWD and AWD configurations have switched from being front-biased to rear-biased. As a result, the new car is more playful and agile, says Joakim Rydholm, Head of Chassis Development, Polestar.

Performance, range, and charging

Long Range Single Motor

The 2024 Polestar 2’s Long Range Single Motor variant has a newly developed permanent magnet motor and silicon carbide inverter. The motor produces 220 kW (295 hp) and 361 lb.-ft. of torque, which are improvements of 15 hp and 118 lb.-ft., respectively, from the 2023 model. The 0-60 mph is 5.9 seconds – a reduction of 1.1 seconds.

The new Long Range Single Motor variant has a new, larger battery pack with an energy storage capacity of 82 kWh (+4 kWh). It supports DC fast charging at a higher rate – 205 kW (+50 kW). It delivers an EPA-est. range of up to 320 miles (+50 miles).

Long Range Dual Motor

The Long Range Dual Motor variant of the 2024 Polestar 2 adds a new asynchronous motor on the front axle. The combination results in 310 kW (416 hp) and 546 lb.-ft., 14 hp and 59 lb.-ft. more than the powertrain of the outgoing model’s Long Range Dual Motor variant, respectively. Accelerating from 0 to 60 mph takes 4.3 seconds, which is 0.2 seconds quicker. The front motor disengages completely when not needed, for reduced energy consumption efficiency. This isn’t possible in the outgoing model.

Performance Pack

As for the range-topping Long Range Dual Motor with Performance Pack variant, its powertrain generates 335 kW (449 hp) and 546 lb.-ft. of torque. Compared to the powertrain of the outgoing model’s same variant, its total power and total torque are 20 hp and 44 lb.-ft. higher, respectively. The 0-60 mph acceleration time is just 0.1 seconds lower, though – 4.1 seconds.

The Long Range Dual Motor and Long Range Dual Motor with Performance Pack variants of the 2024 Polestar 2 use the same, 78 kWh battery pack as the outgoing model. Their peak DC charging input is no different from the outgoing model in these variants – 155 kW. The Long Range Dual Motor variant delivers an EPA-est. range of up to 276 miles (+16 miles) and the Long Range Dual Motor with Performance Pack variant delivers an EPA-est. range of 247 miles (-13 miles).

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.

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 has confirmed that the new 2 qualifies for the maximum clean vehicle tax credit of USD 7,500, but only on lease transactions. The brand is gradually establishing a small network of showrooms in the U.S. The company has around 35 retail outlets in the country at present, and it’s planning to increase that to 50 by the end of 2023. Globally, Polestar is present in 27 markets.

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 has undergone significant upgrades, despite not appearing much different in terms of looks. With enhancements to performance, range, and charging speed, this new model is even more attractive in its segment, which is currently dominated by the Tesla Model 3.

Also Read: Polestar 7 will be produced in Europe, says company CEO: Report

2024 Polestar 2 FAQs

Featured Image Source: Polestar