The Polestar 2 goes through a midlife makeover. It now has a smoother face and err… “right”-wheel drive

2024 Polestar 2 Standard Range Single Motor

---

Launched: 2024 – Price: 249,000 with COE
Four-door, fastback sedan, five seats
272hp 490Nm, single electric motor, rear-wheel drive
14.8-17.2kWh/100km, 546km range

---

PROS
Drives better than before
Beautiful and timeless design
Versatile boot

CONS
Steering needs more feel
Needs “re-gen” paddles

Photos & Text: Clifford Chow

SINGAPORE

It was three years ago when the Polestar 2 first hit our shores. Of-course back then, Polestar pulled-off all the stops, with the initial car we reviewed being the Long Range variant, equipped with the (very pretty) Performance Pack. Soon, milder variants of what is to be their foot-through-the-door car followed.

Perhaps why I am drawn to the Swedish EV brand, is the part where the brand’s corporate identity is simply visually appealing. I dare say those years I spent in art college have left me something of use. But it is not just in branding that Polestar has done well in. The visually pleasing bit also flows in how their cars are designed.

On that note, the revamped Polestar 2 still looks fresh and more importantly, timeless. While on the surface, the biggest change is a new flat body-coloured grille, while the rest of the car remains largely the same.

For those who are unfamiliar, the Polestar 2 is essentially a “lifted compact fastback”, which is clever, given that it straddles the sedan, coupe and SUV space, while being smaller – which means more attainable. Just the right mix, since they were back then, bringing their first mass market car to err… market.

You still get the same interior, which is not a bad thing. Our car receives Light Ash Deco inserts, which marries well with the recycled Weave Tech material, the latter which makes up most of the dashboard. For the driver, the 12.3-inch full-digital instrument cluster displays arguably one of the neatest examples of typography and design I’ve seen on a car’s instrument panel. In the middle of the dashboard, the facelifted Polestar 2 retains the same 11.15-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen, which runs on the now-familiar Google Android-based operating system. There is also a 15W wireless charging pad, which is great if you do need to charge your mobile device. Audio is taken care-of by way of a 13-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system.

To let more light into the cabin, all Polestar 2 cars are fitted with a full-size moonroof, complete with a reflected Polestar emblem. Overall, the interior is spacious enough for four occupants, while the boot is telling of its Volvo roots, since it has a nifty divider to split your shopping from your gym wear, or to split the dry groceries from the wet… or if you do happen to have a pair of fighting twins, you can split their belongings into two different parts; be it the groceries together with the gym wear… you get the drift. 

So… Here is the important bit – how it drives. The major change to the Standard Range Single Motor car is now rear-wheel driven, which makes for improved take-offs from the lights. More importantly (for me), it sits in a corner better than before. The Twin-tube frequency-dependent dampers do a good job in finding that sweet spot between handling and comfort. However, I would have liked that they did more to pad that firewall, as still it does let in some noise. On the bright side, it is less pronounced, now that the car is RWD. Additionally, the Polestar 2’s regenerative braking settings are somewhat buried in the infotainment.

2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 AWD Review: In All Its Kamm Tailed Glory

The rear motor has an efficient new silicon carbide inverter, and not simply a bolt-off-bolt-on transfer from front to rear. Over here, it produces 272hp and 490Nm (up from 231hp, 330Nm), and benchmarks 100km/h in 6.4 seconds (down from 7.4 seconds)… Not shabby at all if you ask me. Polestar also says that the new motor is more efficient. Combined with a 69kWh Lithium-ion battery that also has different/improved chemistry, the Standard Range Single Motor car is now able to cover 546km (up from 482km). In comparison, the RWD Standard range Tesla Model 3 puts out 279hp, 420Nm and has a range of 513km. So yeah… things are looking good!

And they look even better! Official consumption figures stand between 14.8-17.2kWh/100km. For myself, I easily managed 13.9kWh/100km. 

As for charging, the Polestar 2 accepts up to 135 kW DC, and charges from 10 to 80-percent in 34 minutes. AC destination charging from empty completes in 7-hours.

I like that Polestar did not need to do much to keep their entry car looking fresh, which is a mark of good design. But overall, they have brought us a product that is significantly better than when they first introduced it. And if you were to ask me, among the Polestar 2 line-up, this Standard Range car is the one to go for.

But I have to say, there is quite a bit of competition, if you are looking for a sedan/fastbck. This comes in the form of the earlier-mentioned Tesla Model 3, BYD Seal, Hyundai IONIQ 6 and to take things up a notch, the BMW i4 eDrive35.

Polestar 2 Standard Range Single Motor (MY24)

• 
  The Denza D9 is BYD’s next big thing for Singapore, we went to China to take a look
• 
  Cycle and Carriage Singapore launches new Smart showroom and unveils the Smart #3
• 
  Audi Singapore to premier all-new Lifestyle destination platform by end-2024
• 
  Zeekr X RWD Review: Futuristic urban cruiserweight champ
• 
  Revised Skoda Kamiq receives midlife makeover, now Cat A-friendly