2025 Polestar 4 Debuts With Up to 544 HP, No Rear Window

Competes with: Cadillac Lyriq, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Kia EV6, Tesla Model Y

Looks like: A lower-riding, sloped-roof Polestar 3

Powertrains: 544-horsepower dual electric motor (all-wheel drive) or 272-hp single electric motor (rear-wheel drive); 102-kilowatt-hour battery

Hits dealerships: 2024

After teasing just a single photo of the 2025 Polestar 4 last week, the Geely-owned electric-vehicle brand has revealed its second all-electric SUV at the Shanghai auto show. With naming conventions that go in chronological order (not in order of size), the 4 will slot between the Polestar 2 sports sedan and the slightly larger Polestar 3 SUV when it arrives in the U.S. next year. The coupe-style SUV brings more powertrain options, increased horsepower and faster acceleration to the table along with one other unique element — a missing rear window.

Related: Polestar 4 to Debut in Shanghai Next Week

New Exterior Isn’t Looking Back

While the 4 closely resembles the 3 in many respects, Polestar says it designed the SUV from the ground up instead of simply modifying the 3 to give it a sloped roof. As a result, the SUV’s headroom and rear occupant space are optimized, says the brand. The 4 measures roughly 2 inches shorter than the 3, but the SUVs share a similar wheelbase, which is a good indication that their interior space is comparable. The 4 is also about 3 inches shorter and has less ground clearance than its counterpart.

The 4 gets many aerodynamic elements like a low nose, flush door handles, frameless windows and rear aeroblades, but perhaps more noteworthy is what the 4 doesn’t get — a rear window. The missing window was first seen on Polestar’s Precept concept, and although it seems counterintuitive, the brand says the vehicle’s roof-mounted rear camera projects a live feed through the screen in the vehicle’s rearview mirror and actually improves safety.

“With Polestar Precept we previewed a stunning new occupant experience by removing the rear window and pushing the rear header, which plays an integral safety role, further back. This means that rear occupants can now have a unique experience in our SUV coupe,” said Maximilian Missoni, Polestar’s head of Design, in a statement.

Sustainable Interior Aims for Comfort

The 4’s interior uses many sustainable materials, including a new knit fabric made from recycled polyester that was first seen in the Precept, along with eco-conscious vinyl, recycled fishing nets and ethically sourced Nappa leather upholstery.

In addition to sustainability, the five-seat SUV places a focus on rear occupant comfort. According to the brand, the missing rear window allows the vehicle’s panoramic glass roof to extend beyond the second-row head restraints, creating an open and comfortable environment in the rear seats. The glass roof offers an available electrochromic feature that can switch from opaque to transparent visibility.

Second-row occupants also get their own media and climate controls positioned between the front seats. Additional highlights inside the 4 include ambient lighting and new soft-touch materials and color choices.

Performance-Oriented Powertrain, Faster 0-60 Sprint

Upon its arrival, the Polestar 4 will offer two variants: a single-motor RWD version and a dual-motor AWD model; each will be paired with a 102-kilowatt-hour battery. The RWD model gets up to 272 hp and 253 pounds-feet of torque based on the brand’s estimates and a 0-62 mph time of 7.4 seconds. Meanwhile, the higher-performance dual-motor setup boosts power and torque to an estimated 544 hp and 506 pounds-feet, respectively.

Polestar says that the AWD 4 will be the brand’s fastest vehicle yet, with a 0-62 mph sprint of under 3.8 seconds, putting it in range of rivals like the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT (3.8-second 0-60), Kia EV6 GT (3.4 seconds) and Tesla Model Y Performance (3.5 seconds).

Range and Charging

While the dual-motor 4 promises a notable advantage when it comes to power and acceleration, the single-motor model brings a longer maximum range — up to 300 miles versus 270 miles with AWD. Both range figures are preliminary estimates from Polestar, and the SUV has not yet received an EPA rating. The Polestar 3 sees similar range estimates, while several competitors offer a longer range; the Model Y gets a maximum of 330 miles, for example. According to Polestar, the 4 will go from 0% to a full charge in 5.5 hours with a Level 2 charger, while a public DC fast charger will take the battery from 5%-80% in 32 minutes.

Tech and Safety

Like its stablemates, the 4 will use an Android Auto operating system with Google Built-In, which can be hit or miss; Cars.com editors found it frustrating in the Volvo XC40 Recharge (Volvo and Polestar are related brands), while the Polestar 2’s system was more user-friendly. The system is accessed through a standard 15.4-inch landscape-oriented touchscreen with Apple CarPlay connectivity and over-the-air updates. Speed, battery and range information, along with driver-assist functions and navigation, are displayed on the vehicle’s 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster or projected onto the windshield through a 14.7-inch head-up display.

A series of cameras, radars and sensors are used for the vehicle’s driver-assist systems and driver-monitoring camera, and Polestar’s Pilot Pack comes with a semi-autonomous Pilot Assist system that aids in acceleration, braking, steering and lane changes.

Pricing and Release Date

The 2025 Polestar 4 is expected to make its way to the U.S. in 2024, following its launch in China in late 2023. More details on the U.S.-bound model will be available closer to its arrival, but according to Polestar, it will start in the ballpark of $60,000. Meanwhile, the Polestar 3 starts at $85,300 (including a $1,400 destination charge).

Among its competitors, the Cadillac Lyriq starts at $58,590; the Ford Mustang Mach-E at $50,295; the Kia EV6 at $50,025; and the Tesla Model Y at $51,380 ($58,380 for the Performance variant).

More From Cars.com:

• 2021 Polestar 2 Review: Is This the Future of Sports Sedans?
• 2024 Polestar 3 SUV Debuts With 300-Mile Range, Up to 517 HP
• Good News, Polestar 1 Buyers: Your Balance Is Now Just $152,500
• Polestar 2 Arrives to Challenge Tesla Model 3
• More Electric Car News

Related Video:

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.