Polestar 2 Review: Price, range & boot space

Polestar 2 at a glance:

• Body type: Fastback
• Price range: £45,160 - £58,160
• WLTP range: 344-409 miles
• Number of seats: 5 (3 Isofix)
• Boot capacity: 407 litres
• Insurance groups: 34-46

The Polestar 2: Everything you need to know

It's a reflection of how long the Polestar 2 has been on sale that its visual links with Volvo models, both inside and out, are far more obvious than with newer cars from the standalone brand. Yet age hasn't dimmed its appeal in spite of a persistent onslaught of newer rivals in the electric SUV market. Find out why it should be on your shortlist with our full Polestar 2 review.

Yes, the Polestar 2 is promoted as an SUV due to its elevated ride height, regardless of its 'is it a hatchback or is it a five-door coupe' tail-end styling. It's a curious blend of the chunky and the slinky, which ensures its looks set it apart from newer rivals, of which there are a huge and growing number.

This slow -slung SUV look is the chosen approach of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and its close cousin the Kia EV6, yet they don't look like each other or the Polestar. Neither is there a resemblance to the box-fresh DS No8, further dispelling naysayers' claims that there's an homogenised appearance to SUVs.

Should you fancy something that offers a greater degree of carrying capacity, the Ford Mustang Mach-E trades sleekness for a slightly taller and longer roofline.

Then there's the omnipresent Tesla Model 3 to consider. The Tesla isn't an SUV but unlike the Polestar or the other alternatives mentioned, it's a traditional four-door saloon with a separate bootlid, not a large tailgate for accessing the rear boot space. If SUV styling and a larger tailgate is what you want, mind, there's also the Tesla Model Y.

Although the Polestar 2 was given an update in 2023, with the most obvious external revision being its blanked-off front grille, its Volvo heritage remains obvious both outside — those Thor's Hammer daytime-running lights are a giveaway — and inside, with plenty of shared switches, buttons and instrumentation. 

While in isolation that's unlikely to be off-putting, compared with the stronger, more independent visual identities of the more-recently-launched Polestar 3 and Polestar 4, the Polestar 2 feels less contemporary, which could be a source of showroom FOMO. Still, the Polestar 2 has much in its favour, including impressive levels of build quality, and interestingly appealing blends of textiles and materials inside.

That 2023 update is certainly worth dwelling on for a moment because as we'll find out, it was very significant indeed. Not only were the looks revised, but the motors and batteries were completely overhauled, and big changes were also made to the car's underlying mechanical makeup. More on that in a while.

Four levels of all-electric power are currently available for brand new Polestar 2s with a pair of battery sizes, although the smaller of them is only available with the least powerful, rear-wheel drive motor. Everything's relative, of course and in this instance 'least powerful' is a euphemism for 272PS and a 6.2-second 0-60mph time.

For the brawniest 476PS version of the Polestar 2, you essentially upgrade the all-wheel drive Long Range Dual Motor version with the optional Performance Pack - rather than choose a model in its own right - if you crave squirting from 0-60mph in four seconds flat.

It's a similar story when it comes to different levels of equipment as there are no trim levels for the Polestar 2 in the traditional sense. Instead you can choose to build on the standard fixtures and fittings with other option packs — or combinations of them — including Prime, Pilot, Plus, Pro and Climate.

There's a cosy sensation inside the Polestar 2, in part due to the high level of the side window sills, but also due to the elevated centre console and the pinched-in roof towards the rear. Nevertheless, four tall adults can sit inside very comfortably, although a fifth passenger in the rear will make matters feel snug. 

There’s plenty of storage space with a 407-litre boot at the rear with the back seats in use, and a handy 41-litre compartment under the front bonnet, which is big enough for more than just charging cables.

Overall, the Polestar 2 is an appealing package with prices starting at a little over £45,000 for the entry-level Standard Range Single Motor version. Just be mindful of how the costs escalate with extra performance, driving range and equipment.

How we tested the Polestar 2

The Polestar 2 was launched originally in 2019, and having been around for so long, it's no surprise that we've driven the car several times. We've had a go in as many of the different powertrain variants as possible to let you know which ones are the best, and following the incredibly extensive 2023 updates, we've had to do it all over again because the car changed so fundamentally.

Is the Polestar 2 a good car?

Yes. It's always provided an appealing mix of brawny performance, sharp handling, plush interior, decent practicality and advanced tech, and since its 2023 facelift, figures for power and range have improved significantly, too. It's not cheap, but it's not priced outrageously, either. 

Polestar 2 Range

We've already mentioned that the Polestar 2's 2023 facelift was very significant, and as the table above shows, that certainly applies to the range of the car. Not only were the sizes of the two batteries amended, but the design and chemistry changed also to extend range figures. And as you can see from the numbers above, the improvements were pretty momentous.

Polestar 2 Charging times

Polestar only quotes AC charging at an 11kW rate rather than the 7.4kW maximum that most UK residences can muster where a domestic wallbox is fitted. This is the preferred method of charging EVs as it allows you to also take advantage of cheaper off-peak electricity rates from a variety of suppliers. 

Based on the 11kW times, we estimate a flat-to-full recharge using a 7.4kW connection will take around 10 to 11 hours for the Standard Range battery, and 13 to 14 hours for the Long Range.

On occasions when you're forced to use more expensive DC public charge points, there's a difference in the energy flow rates for the two batteries. With its 180kW on-board charger, the Standard Range option requires 26 minutes for a 10-80% energy replenishment, yet despite its larger capacity the Long Range only requires two minutes more as it can recharge at up to 205kW.

The Polestar 2 has always been offered with four-wheel drive in the Dual Motor versions, and with two-wheel drive in the Single Motor versions. However, a very significant change was made during the 2023 facelift, and that's that the two-wheel-drive Single Motor versions were switched from being front-wheel drive to being rear-wheel drive. The all-wheel-drive Dual Motor cars were also given more of a rear-drive bias.

The differences that these changes made were subtle but appreciable, and can be felt in the car's balance. The front-drive Polestar 2 was already a very neat-handling car, and felt very neutral as it changed direction, but the rear-driven car just feels a fraction more adjustable and playful. The change in the Dual Motor cars can also be felt.

That said, no matter how many driven wheels your Polestar 2 has, or which ones they are, it’s clear that this is a machine that's been designed and developed by people who understand what makes a good car. All the controls are responsive and offer decent levels of feedback. The accelerator and brakes are simple to modulate, and the steering feels direct and connected. Body control is tight and grip is strong, and the car arguably feels lighter than it actually is when changing direction.

The car is civilised on motorways, impressively well accomplished on winding A- and B-roads, and yet also wonderfully mild-mannered around town, making it a doddle to live with day-to-day.

While the Polestar 2's ride quality is generally comfortable, we'd hoped that the 2023 facelift would bring some improvements to the tuning of the suspension's damping. These improvements weren't hugely significant, though, so whatever the age of your car, it can feel a little harsh over the sharpest of bumps, ruts and expansion joints. As such, stick to the smallest 19-inch alloy wheels for the chunkiest tyre sidewalls to help cushion more of the road's imperfections.

Polestar 2 Batteries and Motors

Like we've just been discussing, there were fundamental mechanical changes made to the Polestar 2 during its 2023 facelift, and both the batteries and motors were very much included in this. 

Before 2023, the Standard Range Single Motor car had a 231PS front-mounted electric motor, fed by a 69kWh battery. It'd do 0-62mph in 7.4 seconds, and while it didn't feel as bonkers-fast as some EVs, it was fast enough to satisfy most drivers.

The Long Range Single Motor car, meanwhile, had identical figures for power and performance, but a bigger 78kWh battery meant about 40 miles more range.

The Long Range Dual Motor car also has the bigger battery, but as the name suggests, it added another electric motor to crank the output up to 408PS, chopping the 0-62mph time down to 4.7 seconds. It felt every bit as quick as the numbers suggest, giving you a proper shove in the back when you nail the accelerator.

The Long Range Dual Motor Performance was even more bonkers, with 476PS and a sprint time of 4.4 seconds.

Post 2023, the power unit in the Standard Range Single Motor was shifted to the rear axle, and power was hiked to 272PS, resulting in a 6.2-second 0-60mph acceleration time. Again, we can't see too many drivers demanding more performance than this version gives. The battery meanwhile, was upgraded to a 70kWh item.

The Long Range Single Motor model again primarily benefits from a larger 82kWh battery pack, but this time around, there's also a slight increase in power to 299PS, although torque remains unchanged. Despite hauling around an additional 39kg of lithium-ion battery beneath its floor, it's quicker from a standstill to 60mph at 5.9 seconds.

Again, the next step up is the Long Range Dual Motor, which benefits from a second electric drive unit up front providing all-wheel drive traction, and again, the hike in power is incredible rather than incremental. With 421PS, this Polestar's 0-60mph time drops to 4.3 seconds, and it feels good for every bit of that.

The power output of the range-topping Long Range Dual Motor Performance actually remained unchanged at 476PS, but the 0-60mph time is nevertheless improved, being chopped down to 4.0 seconds.

Polestar 2 2023 Update: Why RWD is a game-changer for range

As we've said, Polestar did something drastic - and rather unusual - in 2023 (for the 2024 model year). Where entry-level single-motor variants of the car had previously been front-wheel drive, they were then changed to rear-wheel drive. This was part of a raft of changes that also included new looks, new batteries, increased range, and more power. The switch to rear-wheel drive helped to improve the agility of the car, and also helped with efficiency. With more weight over the driven wheels, traction was improved, meaning less energy is needed for equivalent acceleration.

As you’d expect of a car with Volvo heritage, the Polestar 2 has a comprehensive suite of safety kit. Every version has eight airbags, including inner side bags to create a protective cushion around its occupants.

In 2021 the Polestar 2 earned a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating reflecting the capabilities of its driver assistance systems and its inherent structural strength. Individual categories were rated at 93% for adult occupant protection, 89% for the child equivalent, 80% for other vulnerable road users and 83% for its safety assist package.

We're giving a shout-out specifically to the Polestar 2's automatically adapting main beam LED headlights, which operated superbly during our tests, and didn't garner a single angry main beam flash-back from oncoming drivers.

To ward off potential trouble, there's the optional Pilot Pack assist upgrade, the details of which are explored below in the Specifications section.

A semi-electric deployable tow bar is an optional extra across the Polestar 2 line-up. 

Regardless of battery size or power levels, all versions are homologated to tow braked trailer loads of up to 1500kg, 100kg adrift of the best of the BMW i4 and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 ranges.

Part of the Polestar 2's aesthetic appeal is its play on Scandinavian minimalism: it is, after all, a Swedish brand, even though the car itself is shipped from a Chinese factory.

That paring back is especially noticeable with its rear-view interior and exterior door mirrors, all of which are frameless, with the whole assembly moving and not just the reflective glass in the case of the latter. Physical controls provide their adjustment in the Polestar 2, unlike in the Polestar 3 and 4, where the operation is touchscreen-controlled.

If you’re concerned that the Polestar 2 is more about style than substance, then don’t be. Its front seats are very supportive without being too firm, with plenty of room for heads, legs and arms. As standard, the front seats are partially electrically adjustable, with a broad range of adjustment for both them and the manually positioned steering wheel. Although the window sill level seems slightly high and the windscreen's roof pillars are thick, forward visibility is nonetheless fine, with no blind-spots created to make you feel vulnerable.

Two tall adults can easily sit in the back behind front seat occupants of the same stature, again with good amounts of room for heads and limbs. Matters are somewhat less successful when a third passenger's introduced to the centre of the rear bench. Although the position itself is wide enough for average-sized adults, the cushion is elevated relative to the outer positions, forcing the incumbent to sit higher, their head being forced closer to the roof lining.

There's also a high central tunnel on the floor, with the back of the front centre console above it, meaning the centre passenger has no option but to straddle it, their feet vying for space in the footwell with those of the people sat either side.

Due to the way the rear of the Polestar 2 tapers, both vertically and horizontally, shoulder- and elbow room is also at a premium with three abreast on the back seat. Best to think of it as a regular four-seater with the occasional ability to seat five when needs be.

Thanks to its large tailgate — which disappointingly isn't fitted with a wiper — access to its 407-litre boot space is good, although there is a lip between the sill and the boot floor. That volume includes the 43-litre space beneath the floor where you can hide your charging cables away.

Opt for the Plus pack and further practical aids abound, including hooks in the boot area for shopping bags and a panel that folds upwards, dividing the boot floor in half to reduce the risk of delicate items being hurled around as much.

While it's a useful size, the Polestar 2 lags behind several rivals in terms of carrying capacity. The BMW i4 can swallow 470 litres, the DS No8 between 560-620 litres, while the Hyundai Ioniq 5 splits the difference at 520 litres.

Longer items can go through the Polestar 2's ski hatch, or you can fold the 60/40-split rear seats over - although they don't lie completely flat - for 1097 litres of luggage capacity when loaded to ceiling height. Once again, it's trumped by the BMW i4 (1290 litres) and Hyundai Ioniq 5 (1580 litres) and could well also be bested by the No8 although DS doesn't quote a figure in this configuration.

Pop the Polestar 2's bonnet, and there's a further 43 litres of 'frunk' space, more than ample for a backpack-sized piece of luggage.

Storage space in the passenger area is fine but nothing exceptional, with the usual fare of roomy door bins, a decently proportioned glovebox, a wireless smartphone charging pad beneath the multimedia touchscreen and a small cubby below the hinged front armrest.

That also contains the second front cupholder, with only one otherwise apparently available. It seems an awkward solution, especially given how annoying it can become to the driver when a beverage is sited there.

There's further space beneath the centre console for small items, although its access is awkward and best reserved for items you're unlikely to require until your journey's over.

Fans of reverse-parking will doubtless be pleased to learn that the Polestar 2's charging port is towards the back of the car, on the passenger side's rear wing. This makes it far simpler when using public charging stations with heavy, tethered cables.

Polestar 2 Dimensions

The Polestar 2 measures 4,606mm in length, 1,985mm in width (including door mirrors) and 1479mm in height, while the wheelbase is given at 2,735mm.

There's little to gripe about when it comes to the quality of the materials used inside the Polestar 2. You really have to hunt in the lower reaches of the cabin to find plastics that don't reek of upmarket substance, with all of the physical controls enjoying a well-damped, long-lasting feeling to them.

There's an interesting and appealing mix of textures and finishes on display, particularly on Polestar 2s with fabric upholstery, although less reliance on darker greys for many of the surfaces would be welcome, if only to make the interior feel a little airier.

Central to the Polestar 2's multimedia system - accessed via an excellent voice control system and an 11.2-inch portrait-aspect touchscreen - is its Android Automotive operating system.

Not to be confused with Android Auto smartphone mirroring, this package essentially operates as though it's an Android tablet computer and includes integrated Google Assistant and Maps. It all works quickly with sharply rendered graphics, although enlarged icons would be welcome.

Annoyingly, the climate control settings are have to be adjusted without physical switches or dials, their operation being done through the touchscreen, although the voice control system can also perform that task for you.

Earlier Polestar 2s weren't compatible with Apple CarPlay and while that's long since been remedied, with a neat on-screen interface, it's disappointing that neither it nor Android Auto can connect to the multimedia system wirelessly. 

Immediately ahead of the driver beneath a conventional looking instrument hood is a shared-with-Volvo 12.3-inch driver information display screen. It's suitably clear and easy to read but its limited range of customisation ages it somewhat.

Audiophiles have cottoned-on to the fact that Polestars often have enviable sound systems and the Polestar 2's no exception. Its standard 250-Watt eight-speaker package has two potential upgrades available. Within the Plus Pack is a Harman Kardon package with a 600-Watt amplifier and 13 speakers or, available as a standalone option, is a 1350-Watt, 14-speaker Bowers & Wilkins alternative. 

Not that the standard package is in any way disappointing, the upgrades are astonishing in terms of clarity and sound reproduction, so worthwhile if your budget permits.

Our reviews are updated as often as possible, and this one was last updated in March 2026. Below are the latest prices for the Polestar 2 at that point in time, but do bear in mind that prices change on a regular basis, and without warning or publicising. As a result, please use these prices merely as a guide before checking the car's latest prices for yourself on Polestar's website. 

Also bear in mind the likelihood that these prices might not be where your expenditure will stop: rather than having traditional trim levels, you add to the car's specification with a range of enticing option packs, which you then add on top. These are explored in greater depth in the Specifications section below.

Is the Polestar 2 good value compared to rivals?

How do those prices compare with those of rivals before the cost of extras are factored in? Well, approximately speaking, the BMW i4 will cost you between £52,000 and £71,000, while the DS No8 - rather boldly - isn't far off that at £51,000 to £69,000. In that company, the Polestar 2 looks like pretty good value. That said, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 looks even more enticing, ranging from around £40,000 to around £65,000 for the flagship Ioniq 5 N.

Providing you can charge your Polestar 2 at home — or work — it will prove to be more cost-effective to run than a combustion-engined car offering similar levels of performance. Assuming that you pay for your domestic electricity at the UK's national average rate, a full charge of the Polestar 2's lower-capacity batteries will cost around £20, while the higher-capacity ones will be around £23 to fully charge.

Do the smart thing and switch your home to an EV-friendly energy tariff, which allows you to charge your car overnight on heavily discounted off-peak power, and you'll likely cut those costs down to roughly a third.

Conversely, you can likely treble those initial sums whenever you use DC public rapid chargers, because the power that comes out of those is enormously expensive, so we'd recommend only using these facilities in an emergency.

Changes to vehicle tax rules in April 2025 mean that EVs are no longer exempt from VED Car Tax, so their owners now face the same flat rate from year two onwards as combustion-engined models.

All Polestar 2s also cost in excess of the £40,000 ceiling for the Expensive Car Supplement, which means that you'll be stung for the steep extra charge from years two to six of ownership.

It's not all bad news on the taxation front, though, because company car drivers can take advantage of the 4% Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) taxation rates for the financial year 2026/27. Just be sure that the Polestar 2's listed among your firm's options before you get too excited.

Insurance groupings for the Polestar 2 stand at between 34 and 46 depending on spec.

Polestar 2 Common Problems: Is a used Polestar 2 reliable?

The Polestar 2 is generally seen as a fairly reliable car, but issues certainly aren’t unheard of, especially with the infotainment system: freezing and glitching have been reported by owners.

Polestar 2: Frequently asked questions

How much does the Polestar 2 cost in the UK?

The official list prices of the Polestar 2 start at around £45,000 for the Standard Range Single Motor version, rising to around £49,000 for the Long Range Single Motor version. The Long Range Dual Motor version has an official price of around £53,000.

Is the Polestar 2 front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive?

That depends. The most powerful versions are all-wheel drive. Initially, the two-wheel drive versions were front-wheel drive, but that changed in 2023 when Polestar changed the car to rear-wheel drive to improve efficiency and performance.

What is the boot size of the Polestar 2?

The Polestar 2’s boot capacity is given at 407 litres, but it’s important to remember that this figure includes a 43-litre space that’s found underneath the boot floor.

Across the Polestar 2 range is a single, unnamed trim level regardless of battery size or electric motor number. Instead of the usual specification hierarchy, Polestar instead offers option pack bundles, which we outline below.

Standard features for the Polestar 2 include:

• 19-inch Aero diamond cut and gloss black finish alloy wheels
• Automatic LED daytime-running, head and tail lights
• Automatic main beam
• Automatic windscreen wipers
• Frameless, heated, electrically adjustable and folding door mirrors
• Ground lighting in all four exterior door handles
• Keyless un/locking and starting/stopping
• Electrically operated tailgate
• Front, side and rear parking sensors
• Rear-view camera
• 12.3-inch driver's display screen
• 11.2-inch multimedia touchscreen interface
• Integral Google Play apps including Google Assistant, Google Maps and Spotify
• DAB digital radio
• Bluetooth and Wi-Fi device connectivity
• Wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring
• High-performance audio system with 250-Watt amplifier and eight speakers
• 15-Watt wireless smartphone charging pad
• 4x USB-C sockets, two each front and rear
• Heated, partially electrically adjustable front seats with lumbar adjustment
• Embossed textile upholstery in Charcoal
• Black seatbelts
• 3D Etched deco interior theme
• Dual-zone climate control with air filtration system
• Adapative Cruise Control
• Lane Departure Warning
• Lane Keeping Aid
• Driver Alert Control
• Rear Collision Warning and Mitigation

Polestar 2 option packs

Solely available for the Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor is the Performance Pack:

• 20-inch Performance alloy wheels
• Continental SportContact 6 tyre upgrade
• Swedish gold tyre valve caps
• Brembo brake upgrade with Swedish gold-painted calipers
• Ohlins Dual Flow Valve manually adjustable suspension dampers
• Power output increase to 476PS
• Performance software upgrade
• Swedish gold seatbelts

Extra features of the Pro Pack include:

• 20-inch Pro graphite alloy wheels
• Swedish gold tyre valve caps
• Black seatbelts with Swedish gold stripe

Opting for the Climate Pack adds:

• Efficiency boosting heat pump for the high-voltage battery
• Heated windscreen washer nozzles
• Heated outer rear seats
• Heated steering wheel

Choose the Plus Pack if you fancy:

• LED front foglights with cornering function
• Digital key hardware which allows designated smartphones to be used as a key
• Hands-free opening and soft-closing electrically powered tailgate
• Full-length panoramic glazed roof with projected Polestar logo
• Fully electrically adjustable front seats
• Bio-attributed MicroTech upholstery in Charcoal
• Black Ash deco interior theme
• Harman Kardon premium sound system
• High level interior illumination
• CleanZone air quality system with particulate filters
• Liftable boot floor with bag hook

Go for the Pilot Pack to add:

• Auto-dimming door mirrors
• 360-degree parking camera system
• Pilot Assist
• Driver Awareness monitor
• Emergency Stop Assist
• Blind Spot Information System with Steer Assist
• Cross Traffic Alert with Brake Support

For further convenience, the Prime Pack comprises:

• Dark-tinted rear privacy windows
• Climate Pack
• Plus Pack
• Pilot Pack

With additional comfort in mind is the Nappa Upgrade consisting of:

• Ventilated front seats
• Bridge of Weir Nappa leather upholstery in Zinc or Charcoal
• Light Ash deco interior theme
• Storage nets on front seatbacks

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