The Polestar 2 is a compact electric vehicle with four doors and seating for five, wrapped in a stylish yet practical hatchback shape with more than a little Scandinavian flavor thanks to its Volvo roots. An update for the 2024 model year aimed at improved handling brought standard rear-wheel drive for the base variant; all-wheel drive remains available.
Related: 2024 Polestar 2 Review: New Layout, Same Issues
Other changes are minor and include a new front bumper housing additional sensors. While the update has succeeded in livening up the Polestar 2’s handling, the EV still lacks the performance and driving engagement of competitors like the BMW i4, Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Tesla Model 3 Performance. Other rivals have nicer interiors, with better materials quality and more advanced multimedia systems. The Polestar 2 continues into 2025 with minor changes.
Cars.com Detroit Bureau Chief Aaron Bragman spent a week with a new RWD Polestar 2 and found it to be an agreeable if not groundbreaking EV. Tap the link above for his expert review, or for a quicker look at the highs and lows, read on for five things we like about the Polestar 2 and three things we don’t.
What Do We Like About the Polestar 2?
1. Quick Fix
One of the lesser-talked-about advantages of EVs is their modular construction that uses a battery in the middle of the vehicle and one or more electric motors at each end. This allows engineers more flexibility with the powertrain layout, and in the Polestar 2’s case, switching from front- to rear-wheel drive for improved handling. The trick worked for the 2, as did changing the dynamics of the AWD version for more RWD bias. Both layouts are more engaging than the previous versions.
2. Hatchback Practically
Hatchback body styles are not as popular as they once were, but they are every bit as practical as they’ve ever been. The Polestar 2 is a perfect example, with a large opening able to swallow up larger items and a cargo area rivaling one you’d find in an SUV, but with more carlike handling and a lower liftover height.
3. More Juice
The freshening brings a big increase in power, with base single-motor RWD variants now good for 299 horsepower and 361 pounds-feet of torque — substantial increases from the old model’s 231 hp and 243 pounds-feet. The increase drops the 2’s 0-60 mph acceleration time to a manufacturer-claimed 5.9 seconds, 1.1 seconds faster than the old version.
4. Better Range
A new larger capacity 82-kilowatt-hour battery results in increased range and the ability to travel up to 320 miles on a charge, according to the EPA. Polestar says that under ideal conditions, this version can go from 10%-80% charge on a DC fast charger in about 28 minutes at up to 205 kilowatts.
5. Ride and Handling
Polestar has done a commendable job of balancing ride comfort with responsive handling for the 2, and the electric hatchback manages to soak up bumps well without the wallowing feel often experienced with heavy EVs. Most drivers probably won’t notice the revised RWD bias, which really only makes itself known when pushed on twisty two-lane roads. While the change does make the 2 more engaging, it is still no sports sedan.
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What Do We Dislike About the Polestar 2?
1. Ho-Hum Interior
The 2’s interior has reasonably comfortable seats and decent room up front, but rear-seat head- and legroom are less generous. The cabin design is clean and modern, but materials quality and the overall ambiance fall short of competitors. The colors and materials are bland and uninteresting, and the use of rubberized recycled materials on the dash and seats can make the cabin smell like a wet suit.
2. Multimedia Woes
The Android Auto-based infotainment system uses Google Built-In, bringing the convenience of Google apps and navigation to the cockpit — as long as you’ve got a cellular data connection. Without one, you’re kind of stuck, but fortunately, Apple CarPlay is also included. Beyond that, we’re not big fans of the system, which is poorly organized and can be challenging to navigate. It’s made worse by the fact that there are hardly any physical controls, meaning virtually all climate, audio and other functions can only be controlled through the touchscreen.
3. Questionable Value
Our tested Polestar 2 carried a starting price of $51,300 (including the destination charge), which wouldn’t be so bad if the EV’s alternatives didn’t offer much better value. A Hyundai Ioniq 6 SE Standard Range is thousands of dollars cheaper and is at least as nice inside and out, and even a fully loaded Ioniq 6 Limited with AWD is not much more money than a base Polestar 2.
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