Despite its design, performance, and engineering-led remit, the Swedish brand, Polestar, is also incredibly logical in its thinking. The Polestar 4 tested here, therefore, is the fourth model it has ever released. The ‘4’ has nothing to do with its positioning in the ever-expanding electric line-up. Indeed, its standing in Polestar’s hierarchy needs a little explaining, as it sits between the entry-level Polestar 2, which was the firm’s first electric vehicle (EV), and the far-more-expensive Polestar 3 SUV. But you might ask: ‘What is the Polestar 4?’ Even that isn’t all that easy to answer, though Polestar attempts to by calling it a crossover with coupé-like aerodynamics and SUV-like spaciousness.
Exterior design and image
It just looks like a car to us. A particularly smooth and stylish one, admittedly. Viewed from most angles, it appears to be a five-door hatchback, and only the black portion running around the base of the car hints at any SUV inspiration. The Polestar 4 hides its size well, too, as it’s larger in all directions than the Tesla Model 3, for example, when you might think it’s a rival to that car at a glance. The Polestar oozes class and distinction where the Tesla does not.
Move around the rear of the Polestar, however, and you’ll notice something is amiss. You might not realise it at first, but then you’ll see that it has no rear windscreen at all. An expansive glass roof disguises this at first as it extends behind where the rear passengers’ heads sit and it certainly is a talking point. Polestar’s explanation for the unusual layout revolves around lowering the overall height of the vehicle – in the name of design and aerodynamics – without compromising on interior space.
Interior and practicality
And you may be a little shocked when you pull open the rear doors and peer in, as there’s vast passenger room in the back of the Polestar 4. Tall people will be able to stretch out, even if there are tall people in the front seats, and there’s a remarkable amount of headroom as well. Sure, the central rear seat isn’t as comfortable as the outer two, but its occupant gets almost as much legroom, and there are plenty of air vents to keep everyone comfortable.
If the rear seats are full, the driver will appreciate the camera-based rear-view ‘mirror’. This small screen, in the same place you’d find a traditional rear-view mirror, is fed from a camera located at the trailing edge of the roof, and it offers up a wide, crystal-clear, colour view of the road behind. It does take a little adjusting to at first, but it offers plenty of advantages over a regular mirror, including improved visibility at night.
When looking forward, the driver will appreciate the large touchscreen with sharp graphics, though we would like a few more buttons in the cabin – even the door mirror positions must be adjusted through the display, never mind the climate control. Admittedly, the minimalist design approach is appealing, and the Polestar 4 is also notably festooned with lots of storage space, including an especially voluminous centre console, divided up into several useful areas.
The boot itself holds over 500 litres and is easy to access thanks to a wide-opening electric tailgate. It has a two-level floor and a big underfloor storage well, too. The rear seats fold down flat if you need to carry something very large and there’s extra space under the bonnet up front, which is perfect for keeping a charging cable separate from luggage, for example.
Price and electric range
You could spend over €80,000 on a Polestar 4 if you really wanted to, as the top-of-the-range, dual-motor version starts at €77,090 before you add anything from the alluring list of options. And it feels like a car worth that outlay too. But the entry-level model, the Business Edition, is exceptional value at €56,490 (after EV incentives) and, while it’s the least powerful version on sale, it is no cut-price special, as it still features all the mod-cons expected of a high-tech executive car.
The Business Edition is based on the LRSM powertrain – standing for ‘long range single motor’. That means it has the biggest battery offered, with an official range of up to 620 kilometres on a charge. Our experience indicates that most drivers should easily exceed 500km.
The LRSM setup can alternatively be had in ‘Plus’ specification for €67,090, if you really do want all the bells and whistles.
Topping the tree is the LRDM (dual-motor if you didn’t work it out yourself) with a motor on each axle and peak power of up to 544hp. If that’s why you’re buying this version, may we suggest you also tick the ‘performance pack’ option box? That adds a set of gorgeous 22-inch alloy wheels, classy Swedish gold accents, and a little chassis tweaking to proceedings.
Polestar driving experience
We’ve previously driven the dual-motor model with the performance pack and it’s a real occasion of a car, with more acceleration than anyone really needs in the real world. But only a small percentage of buyers appreciate such things and we reckon most will be content with how the single-motor Polestar 4 drives with its 272hp electric motor at the back.
It subtly gets under your skin thanks to the high-quality feel of the cabin, the perfectly weighted steering and brakes and the way it shrugs off most road surfaces while still being controlled in the corners. It’s astoundingly capable and safe when you need it to be, yet offers keener drivers a little engagement, too, rivalling rear-drive BMWs in that respect. It is, in short, the kind of car you’d take for a drive just for the sake of it.
But even those that wouldn’t dream of doing such a thing will appreciate the civility, quietness, and all-round driving experience of the Polestar 4. It’s a polished contrivance.
One to buy?
Casting our eyes across the market, it’s not easy to pinpoint the Polestar 4’s direct rivals. It seems to compare directly with the BMW i4, for example, but the Polestar is far more spacious. The Tesla Model 3 and Y are also in its crosshairs, but they can’t touch it for quality. If you do come to the conclusion that the Polestar is indeed the only electric executive car for you, rest easy in knowing that the logical choice is therefore the entry-level Business Edition.
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