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Testdriving the Polestar 2

Test driving the Polestar 1 and 2 right after each other? We thought it was a great idea! It once again showed us clearly how much the two models from Volvo’s all-new electric sister brand are completely different. Unlike the Polestar 1, the Polestar 2 is not a plug-in hybrid sports coupé, but a fully electric five-door fastback akin to the Volvo XC40, and more specifically its purely electric Recharge version.

We are very comfortable in the Polestar 2. It seems built to fit us like a glove with the fixed center tunnel that acts as a perfect armrest. We can also enjoy the large infotainment screen that looks like an iPad. Attention to detail is not an empty word at Polestar. The interior combines Volvo elements – such as certain control buttons – with an unmistakable Polestar touch. For example, the seats are covered with vegan WeaveTech as standard, a recyclable PVC covering which is lighter than leather, but also more durable and easier to clean than most vinyl materials. The upholstery of the dashboard and the interior doors not only feels very qualitative, they also look picture perfect. The interior of the doors seems to be inspired by a finely knitted cardigan made of piqué cotton, including press buttons. Only the key has been somewhat overlooked, which is made of a non-scratch resistant plastic.

The Polestar 2 is fantastic to drive. It accelerates wonderfully quickly and efficiently – like all electric cars – and also tackles corners with precision. Our test sample was equipped with the Performance pack (6,000 euros). This includes powerful Brembo brakes with aluminum calipers in the already mythical color “Swedish Gold” and Dual Flow Valve dampers from Öhlins. Result: firm grip and traction, resulting in a particularly responsive handling. This responsiveness is further enhanced by the fact that you can choose between three modes for the steering system: ‘light’ – ‘standard’ – ‘firm’ and for the brake generation one can choose between the modes ‘standard’, ‘low’ or ‘off’. ‘ With the brake generation on ‘standard’ we rarely or never needed the brake.

The Performance package may be optional, but the Polestar 2 is the first car in the world to come standard with an Android infotainment system and thus Google Maps and Google Assistant. Features that make life and the driving experience more relaxed. A simple ‘Hey Google’ is enough to ask all kinds of questions: ‘where am I’, ‘navigate to’, … Are the children annoying? Then you can ask your Polestar 2 to tell you and them a joke. Although we generally found them to be rather bland (Why doesn’t an egg freeze? Because it has a yolk in it), the little ones will have a lot of fun with them.

By the way, there are many special features of the Polestar 2. While Volvo limits its models to 180 km /h, the Polestar still will sprint wonderfully up to 250 km/h (not that we have tested that). When accelerating, the Polestar 2 produces a particularly beautiful sound as if when someone blows into a bottle. The ticking sound of the turn signal did bother us. Can best be compared with marbles that collide with each other.

Anyone who is used to rely on their windows and mirrors when reversing will notice that the rear view is somewhat obstructed by the wide C-pillars, but thanks to the extensive camera system, that is not a serious drawback in practice. Driving on camera images is the message! Our test drive lasted a few hours, which was unfortunately too short for a sound assessment of the effective driving range (officially 470 km WLTP), consumption (we recorded 21 kWh during our short test) and the charging performance. But more on that later.

Pros
– Impressive driving
– Great on winding roads and when accelerating
– Solid interior finish
– Standard functions such as Google Maps and Google Assistant make driving more relaxed

Negatives
– The front mini case (35 liters) is only big enough for a small sports bag
– The ticking sound of the turn signals
– View to the rear

Practical info
Electric, battery capacity 78 kWh, 408 hp | CO2 EMISSIONS 0g / 100 km | BUDGET starting price € 58,900 for Belgium.

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