Its New 2024 Models Prove Polestar Is the Ev Brand To Watch Right Now
Swedish electric vehicle brand Polestar, which was only launched back in 2017, is the EV brand to watch right now because it’s moving fast. If you blink, you’re likely to miss a major new release, or concept car, or update. Other EV upstarts like Lucid or Rivian typically garner lots of attention and generate (more than their fair share of) hype, but Polestar is quietly out here putting new cars in showrooms.
Despite coming off a record-year for sales, the Swedish company isn’t resting on its laurels. Instead, Polestar is showing it can listen to feedback from consumers and critics by constantly revising and upgrading its cars. Every new model year — like the 2024 Polestar 2 — brings some welcome surprises.
So, What’s New With the 2024 Polestar 2?
If we could’ve drawn up a wish list for everything we want from an updated 2024 Polestar 2, it would read pretty much like the news release announcing the arrival of these upgraded electric sedans. The headline changes are:
- All-new electric motors, and more powerful battery.
- Rear-wheel drive for the single-motor model (replacing the old front-wheel drive model).
- Driving range is up to 483 km (300 miles) as rated by the EPA.
- More power and torque across the range, and quicker 0-100 times.
- A new front-end grille design that echoes the Polestar 3 SUV.
On paper at least, the changes to the Long Range Single-Motor Polestar 2 make it an extremely appealing option, both for driving enthusiasts and for anyone looking to get into their first EV. The change from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive is unexpected, but very welcome. Rear-drive cars simply handle better; they’re more fun to drive, often rocketing out of corners with a whiff of oversteer should the driver request it.
The new permanent magnet motor and silicon carbide inverter fitted to the Long Range Single-Motor car offers more power too — 299 hp (up from 231 hp) — and wayyyy more torque, 361 lb-ft, up from 243. The 0-100 km/h time is a full 1.2 seconds quicker than before, now 6.2 seconds.
“Changing from front- to rear-wheel drive in the single-motor variants, and re-calibrating the torque ratio in the dual-motor variant for an increased rear-wheel drive feel, elevates the Polestar 2 driving experience to a whole new level,” says Joakim Rydholm, Polestar’s head of chassis development. “The updated Polestar 2 is an even more playful and agile car, retaining its compactness and complete sense of control, while at the same time becoming more mature with added comfort.” In other words, one hot Scandinavian deal just got hotter.
We’re especially pleased to see Polestar has worked on the ride comfort, which, yes, did leave some room for improvement. We’ll be curious to test it out on Toronto’s terrible streets to see if the 2024 Polestar 2 is noticeably cushier than before.
What Are the Changes to the Long Range Dual-Motor 2024 Polestar 2?
It’s been upgraded with the new rear motor too, and Polestar says the torque delivery is more heavily rear-biased than before. That should give this all-wheel drive machine friskier handling, similar to its single-motor cousin.
The result is 421 hp and 546 lb-ft (up from 408 hp and 467 lb-ft) and 0-100 km/h time of 4.5 seconds.
The optional Performance Pack — available to purchase as a one-time over-the-air upgrade — boosts power to 455 ponies and drops the 0-100 km/h time down to 4.3 seconds, giving the Polestar 2 legitimate sports sedan credentials now.
It’s packed with more standard equipment too, including the Pilot Pack, which — deep breath — features blind spot warning with steering support, cross traffic alert with brake support, rear collision warning mitigation system, adaptive cruise, 360-degree camera, Pilot Assist, auto-dimming door mirrors and LED front fog lights with cornering assist. Oh, and if that’s not enough, all Polestar 2’s now have wireless phone charging as standard too.
What’s the Driving Range of the 2024 Polestar 2?
Ah, yes: driving range. The question everyone asks about any new EV. The Long Range Single-Motor Polestar 2, the cheaper of the variants, gets a whopping 483 km (300 miles) of EPA-estimated driving range from an 82 kWh battery.
The Long Range Dual-Motor variant is improved too, with 435 km (270 miles) of EPA-estimated driving range from the same 82 kWh battery. The fact the front motor now automatically disconnects when not in use makes the car more efficient, helping to eek as many kilometres as possible from the battery.
Polestar Is Coming Off Its Best Year Ever in 2022
Despite only having one model on sale for much of 2022, Polestar posted record sales. Preliminary estimates from the company put full-year 2022 Polestar sales at 51,500 cars, up 80 per cent over 2021. The company is bullish on future sales too. In 2023, the brand is expecting another 60 per cent increase, up to 80,000 cars.
Given the fact the Polestar 3 — the brand’s first SUV — should be arriving in Canadian Polestar Spaces this year, and the surprising, exciting upgrades for the 2024 Polestar 2, we’d say the company has plenty of reason to be bullish on its future prospects.
In Canada, the 2024 Polestar 2 will arrive in stores this summer. Prices haven’t been announced yet, but expect a slight bump from last year given all the upgrades.