Tesla is no longer the automaker that attracts most buyers interested in electric cars. The market has diversified a lot, and there are plenty of options to go for. It is just a matter of taste, preferences, and prices. But, if you want something that will make every Tesla owner jealous, we suggest you should check out the new Polestar 2. Yes, maybe the Polestar 1 wasn’t such a successful model, but the Polestar 2 is a huge improvement over the 1 and made things a lot better. The model is Polestar’s first electric vehicle, and for sure it is going to be just the first from a long series. It is just as powerful and faster than the Model 3 and offers a decent range, but most importantly, it offers tech features we have never seen before listed in a Tesla model. Polestar also worked its best to make the EV safer than anything else on the market, and everything has been designed with the environment in mind. Not to mention the fact that the Polestar 2 is also cheaper than most of its competitors.
10 Two Powerful Trims That Challenge The Tesla Model 3
Unlike many of the other electric vehicles out there, the Polestar 2 is offered in only two trims. The first one, the Polestar 2 Single Motor, is powered by a single electric motor - as its name suggests - that delivers a total of 231 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. The motor gets its juice from a 78-kWh battery that ensures a range of 270 miles. When it comes to performance figures, the Single Motor does decent, but not remarkable: it goes from 0 to 60 mph in 7 seconds and up to 125 mph. The most powerful trim is the Polestar 2 Dual Motor. As you probably guessed, it is powered by two electric motors - one placed on the front axle and one on the rear axle - that deliver a combined 408 horsepower and 487 pound-feet of torque. This version is offered with the same battery pack, but because of its increased performance, the range takes a little hit: 260 miles. The sprint from 0 to 60 mph goes down to 4.5 seconds.
9 You Can Add Almost 70 More Horsepower For A Little Over $1,000
To make the 2 Dual Motor even more competitive, Polestar is offering a software upgrade that will make the model both more powerful and faster. Priced at $1,100, the upgrade will add another 68 horses and 15 pound-feet of torque to the Polestar 2 Dual Motor, so that the combined output goes up to 476 horsepower and 502 pound-feet. The 0 to 60 mph sprint time also improved by 0.3 seconds, down to 4.2 seconds. This may not be as fast as the Tesla Model 3 Performance – 3.3 seconds – but it is a lot faster than the base Porsche Taycan which does the same sprint in 5.1 seconds.
8 Designed With The Future In Mind
While there might be nothing about the exterior design that screams "wow", the Polestar 2 is the car of the future. Not one single Polestar 2 review will say anything bad about the way the car looks, and for good reason. The best way to describe the Polestar 2 is "form and function in their simplest expression," and we couldn't agree more. According to the company, "every inch of the Polestar 2 has been designed for pure, progressive performance." The Polestar 2 features a fastback body with Swedish design influences. The front is defined by clean lines, a fake grille, and the headlamps we already talked about. It is also the car's SmartZone - an array of sensors, cameras, radars, and laser scanners that control the car and keep it safe. The mirrors have no frame and they move entirely when adjusted, and the back is defined by the signature rear light blade.
7 Polestar Pixel Technology In The Headlights Is More Than A Gimmick
The Polestar 2 is currently one of the most intelligent cars on the market. Everything from the inside out has been designed to help the driver. For example, the headlights benefit from Polestar pixel technology. This means that each headlight contains 84-pixel LEDs that are controlled individually, so the driver can use the high beams all the time. A camera mounted in front of the car will constantly watch the surroundings, and based on what it detects, the LEDs are switched on and off adapting the light. This way the driver will get the optimal light, and the other drivers won't get blinded. But there is a catch: this technology can’t be offered in the United States because it is currently illegal, so for the moment only Europeans will enjoy this cool feature.
6 Volvo-Level Safety Features
With Polestar basically being a Volvo, it was to be expected for the company to pay special attention to its safety features. EuroNCAP has done a safety rating for the 2021 Polestar 2, and it received five stars. No surprise here. The electric car offers 93% protection for adult occupants and 89-percent for a child occupant – some of the best ratings on the market. But, one of the coolest features on the Volvo Polestar 2 is a new type of airbag that adds extra protection for the front passengers. The new airbags, called inner-side airbags, are placed in the front seats. In case of an impact, they deploy along the car's centerline between the driver and the front seat passenger. This way, they are both protected from smashing into each other.
5 Autonomous Driving That Could Save Your Life
Needless to say, the list of safety features offered in the Polestar 2 is very long. The model comes standard with Volvo's Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) - a suite of driver assistance and preventative safety functions. The suite includes Collision Avoidance and Mitigation with braking and steering support, Run-off Road Mitigation, Forward Collision Warning, Oncoming Lane Mitigation, Road Sign Information, Lane Keeping Aid with steering support, and many, many more. But the coolest one is the Oncoming Lane Mitigation - a feature that helps during collision risks. If an oncoming vehicle veers into your lane and the driver doesn’t respond, this feature issues audible and visible warnings, and it twitches or vibrates the steering wheel in an attempt to avoid the impact. It works to speed up to 85 mph and can be deactivated at any time.
4 Polestar 2’s Driver Recognition System
Remember when we said the Polestar 2 is a very smart car? Another feature that makes it even smarter is its capacity to recognize an authorized driver by detecting the Polestar app on their smartphone. Once the driver touches the door handle, the car automatically loads the preferred settings. The Volvo Polestar 2 can store preferred settings for up to six drivers. They can set preferences for the seat position, mirror adjustments, steering feel, and one-pedal drive settings. All these settings are linked to the signal from the key fob, or the Polestar app, and they are automatically loaded once the car recognizes the driver.
3 The Polestar 2 Is The World’s First Car With A Native Android Automotive OS
When designing the technology for the 2, Polestar has partnered with Google to develop the world’s first car with a native Android Automotive operating system. Because of this feature, services like Google Assistant and Google Maps communicate directly with the car, so you can simply ask for directions just using your voice. Just say "Hey, Google" and the car will listen to you. You can ask for directions, stream music, make appointments, or send messages without even touching the 11.2-inch touch screen display. The car can also connect with your smartphone and your smart home, so you can start the heating and control the robot vacuum while still on the road.
2 Built With Environment In Mind
The Polestar 2’s interior is yet another story. As Polestar plans to have the first climate-neutral car by 2030, the Polestar 2 is the first step in that direction. Just like Tesla, Polestar also went for a minimalistic design, but somehow it's EV has a more futuristic look. Everything on the Polestar 2 interior in vegan, with no animal products being used in the cabin. As standard, the model is offered with embossed textiles in either Charcoal or Zinc. Going for the Plus Pack will change that to new WeaveTech upholstery (vegan) offered in either Charcoal or Slate execution. Polestar is also using yarn made from recycled PET plastic bottles, PVC interior components made from corks, and carpets made from recycled fishing nets.
1 The Polestar 2 Is Relatively Affordable
The 2023 Polestar 2 goes on sale at a starting price of $48,400 for the Single Motor model and from $51,900 for the Dual Motor. When compared to the 2022 Polestar 2, this represents an increase of $2,500 and $700, respectively. While the Polestar 2 may not be the cheapest alternative on the market, it is a lot cheaper when compared to models like the BMW i4 - priced from $51,400. The Polestar 2 Dual Motor is also about $2,000 cheaper than the Tesla Model 3 Performance – a model with similar specs. The Polestar 2 is also eligible for the $7,500 federal tax rebate, which drops the cost of investment significantly.