2024 Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor Performance
Price: $76,700 CAD
Colour: Snow
I’ve been keeping an eye on Polestar for a while now. They used to build Volvo race cars before Volvo bought the whole company. They have since evolved into a separate brand. They only do electric cars and the Polestar 2 is their first mass-produced vehicle. Their close corporate relationship means the 2 has a lot, and I do mean a lot, of regular Volvo components in it. Given that Volvo themselves make plenty of full EV’s and offer environmentally friendly alternatives I was plagued by the question – what’s the point of Polestar?
The 2024 Polestar 2 is a fastback sedan. Not the hottest segment in the car world these days but one that I like. Given the initial lower volumes Polestar will likely deliver it makes sense to choose a design that cuts against current trends. While I think a small spoiler might help with the tall rear end on the 2, I have little other gripes with the way this car looks.
In dual motor mode the 2024 Polestar 2 delivers 449 hp and 545 lb/ft of torque. It’s a spirited combination and makes the vehicle a joy to drive. Two motors means AWD which goes a long way to controlling all that power and keeping the car moving in the right direction. While I enjoyed the driving experience I did find the suspension, while comfortable, a little bouncy when you hit a speed bump.
Google Automotive is a curious thing. It’s in all Volvo cars and has a less than stellar reputation. It’s not only regarded as an underwhelming user experience but many of the units have proven less than reliable on a daily basis. I think Polestar was listening to the criticisms of this system because, even though they also feature Google Automotive, it’s a very different animal. You get a much bigger screen in the Polestar 2 and it’s a much nicer thing to operate. I still struggled with certain aspects of its functionality, but this is a huge upgrade and I hope we see it in more cars from Volvo as well as Polestar.
The first time I climbed inside the 2 was the first time I asked today’s question. The 2 has so many parts from Volvo (steering wheel, dash cluster, console shifter etc.) it oozes Volvo. If Polestar is going to simply root through the Volvo parts bin, why bother? You can buy a Volvo that does everything the Polestar 2 does and you don’t have to contend with the uncertainties surrounding a new brand. When you really start peeling back the Polestar onion however, differentiation is possible. You also begin to see where Polestar is heading.
The Polestar 2 is the second car the company has produced. It’s the first one that is for sale to the general public. As time goes on, I believe the purpose is to move it further and further away from Volvo and create its own separate identity. Polestar has no dealers; all sales are done online (thank you Tesla) and because it has no heritage of its own the brand is allowed to be more daring and adventurous than its corporate parent could ever be. If this is the true purpose of the company, I look forward to what comes down the pipe.
