First Look Review: Polestar 5 keeps its halo while staying usable

On September 27, 2021, Polestar announced plans to go public with a merger. In the announcement, the company shared teasers, and among the three cars was the Polestar 5.

Around 4 years later, the company is rolling out the four-door GT car in global markets, with the North America foray scheduled for another day. We got to see the Polestar 5 up close in Zurich, and here’s what we experienced.

Design

The 5 is a highly aerodynamic, four-door GT derived from the Precept concept. Polestar had strongly indicated that the Precept is an achievable reality, not a fancy dream or a pure sci-fi imagination. That said, the production version has subtle visual changes.

Polestar appears to have raised the hood’s height, enlarged the lower air intake, and swapped the thin mirrors for conventional ones, and the rear-hinged doors for front-hinged doors. We’re pleasantly surprised that the company has carried over the large wheels that fill the arches.

The nose section houses several sensors needed for the functioning of the ADAS. The LIDAR sensor doesn’t stick out of the roof; the designers have achieved neater integration, which couldn’t be said of the Precept concept.

When we got to the Precept, it’s very very close from the sketching of the idea to the concept, and then now from the concept to production (Polestar 5), I think we are very very close to that idea.

Nahum Escobedo, Exterior Design Manager of Polestar, while designing the 5

Interior

The Polestar 5 features a 4+1 seating arrangement designed around low-set Recaro front seats. The rear seats mirror the design of the front and offer individual recline, heating, ventilation, and massage functions through a dedicated touchscreen.

The driving position integrates a 9-inch display attached directly to the adjustable steering column, a 9.5-inch head-up display, and a 14.5-inch portrait center screen powered by Android Automotive OS with Google built-in.

A Bowers & Wilkins 21-speaker system with 1,680 watts and Tweeter-on-Top technology is available, complementing laser-line ambient lighting and Active Road Noise Cancellation.

Experience in the Polestar 5

Ingress in the Polestar 5 is straightforward, with pop-out door handles that feel familiar from other models in the lineup. Once inside, I sat low to the ground, and the cabin immediately felt distinct yet recognizable within Polestar’s design language. 

The front seats are excellent, with strong back, shoulder, and under-thigh support. At six feet tall, I had enough headroom and could easily find a natural driving position. Visibility through the digital rearview mirror is clear, compensating for the absence of a rear windshield. 

The minimalistic cockpit includes a single knurled dial on the center console for volume and media controls, while most other functions are accessed through the central touchscreen. The drive selector, placed just behind the steering wheel like an indicator stalk, adds a unique touch.

In the rear, access is simple, and the experience feels similar in quality to the front. The two main seats are contoured for comfort, with heating, ventilation, and individual temperature controls. The large armrest includes a storage bin and cupholders which doubles up as the middle seat. However once in place, it feels firm and best suited for a child. 

The flat floor helps movement across the row, and knee room is generous for taller passengers. The backrest reclines electrically for added comfort, and headroom is adequate despite the sloping roofline. 

Rear air vents on both the pillars and center console ensure balanced airflow, while an expansive glass roof brightens the cabin.

Specifications

The Polestar 5 rides on the brand’s bespoke bonded aluminum platform, Polestar Performance Architecture, built for maximum rigidity and lightness. Power comes from an in-house dual-motor setup.

The Dual motor variant produces 550 kW (748 hp) and 812 Nm (599 lb-ft), while the Performance variant delivers 650 kW (884 hp) and 1,015 Nm (749 lb-ft). Acceleration from 0-60 mph takes 3.8 seconds in the Dual motor and 3.1 seconds in the Performance version. Both are limited to 155 mph.

An 800-volt lithium-ion NMC battery with 112 kWh capacity supports DC charging up to 350 kW, achieving 10-80% SoC in about 22 minutes, and AC charging up to 19 kW.

The braking system uses 4-piston Brembo calipers, anodized on the Dual motor and finished in Swedish gold on the Performance. Suspension options include BWI passive dampers on the Dual motor and MagneRide adaptive dampers on the Performance, with bespoke Michelin tires ranging from 20 to 22 inches.

The structure consists of aluminum with SmartZone technology housing sensors, radar, and cameras. The ADAS suite includes 11 vision cameras, one driver monitoring camera, one mid-range radar, and 12 ultrasonic sensors.

Release Date & Price

Polestar sees the 2, 3, and 4 as high-volume cars. The 5 is a niche model carrying the brand’s high-value innovations and elevating its reputation to bring it on par with established German brands. Positioned above the 3, it starts at £89,500 (around USD 119,560) in the British market.

Available to order now in select markets, pricing and availability (of the Polestar 5) for North America will be announced at a later date.

From Polestar’s announcement on September 8, 2025

A prototype of the Polestar 5 was spotted in Delaware (via Youtube) a few months ago sporting Washington registration plates. We’ll update the U.S. pricing and availability when we have more.

While official confirmation is pending, we expect the Canadian-spec Polestar 5 to arrive by 2027, with prices starting at around CAD 150,000.

Polestar 5 FAQs