The Polestar 4 configurator is online in Australia and most European countries. Americans and Canadians aren't yet allowed to play with the online tool. However, we get to see the brand's pricing strategy before things become official for the North American markets. As things stand, it doesn't look like Polestar has an incoming sales champ on its hands. Here's the deal.
Polestar 4's promise is that it is going to be a much better-looking and -performing crossover SUV than last year's best-selling car – the Tesla Model Y. It has no rear windshield and an overall shape that reminds us of a fastback rather than a smaller SUV with an arched rear-end. However, it does look pretty good. Dare we say? It even looks more futuristic than the angular Cybertruck.
But before we can indulge in knowing what this EV is all about, let's look at the British prices.
The single-motor rear-wheel-drive version starts at £59,990 ($76,008), while the dual-motor demands a £7,000 ($8,869) premium. The former has a WLTP-rated range of 379 miles (610 kilometers), while the latter goes 360 miles (579 kilometers) on a single charge.
That's not much of a handicap. If you live in a place where having all-wheel drive is important, the Polestar 4 won't let you down range-wise. However, do keep in mind that WLTP is usually about 20% more optimistic than the Environmental Protection Agency's test cycle. Plus, don't forget that temperature, payload, and driving style will impact the miles you can do on a full battery.
Both "long-range" models feature a 100-kWh battery, and the all-wheel-drive Polestar 4 has a clutch that can automatically disengage the front motor to maximize efficiency while coasting. The two variants can fast charge at speeds of up to 200 kW. At home or at work, owners can take advantage of a 32-amp dispenser because the maximum AC charging speed taps out at 22 kW.
The single-motor long-range Polestar 4 puts out 272 hp and 253 lb-ft (343 Nm) of torque, while the dual-motor long-range doubles those figures. Going from zero to 60 mph (97 kph) takes 6.9 seconds in the entry-level Polestar 4, while the all-wheel-drive variant cuts that time to 3.7 seconds.
Both come with a heat pump and bidirectional charging hardware. However, the vehicle-to-load functionality isn't enabled at the time of writing. Considering that deliveries are slated for August, the automaker has plenty of time to figure it out and make it happen.
Photo: Polestar
Prospective buyers have six colors to choose from (we like Gold and Electron), four cabin material options, and a few more upgrades like the Pro or the Performance packs, the electrochromic glass roof, or the electrically retractable towbar.
The Polestar 4 will have a lot of convincing to do price-wise. Last year's world's best-selling car – the Model Y – has a VAT-included price of £44,990 ($57,008) in the UK. That's £15,000 ($19,007) less than the all-electric newcomer! For that sum, the Brits could buy a Model Y Performance that accelerates from zero to 60 mph (97 kph) in 3.5 seconds.
A fully loaded dual-motor Polestar 4 costs nearly £83,000 ($105,168). That's dual-motor Tesla Model X money! Besides that, the fastback SUV has a manually adjustable steering column, a smaller frunk, an eight-speaker sound system, and no standard ventilated seats. The cool thing is that it has 12 ultrasonic sensors monitoring everything surrounding the EV.
The price may seem a bit discouraging at first. Still, the Polestar 4 has a unique appeal thanks to its interesting silhouette, cabin materials, onboard technology, and the absence of a rear windshield. At the same time, keep in mind that discounts may be offered in a couple of months. That's what happened with the Polestar 2.
All in all, the Polestar 4 may not be a true Tesla Model Y rival. But it surely can attract buyers looking for a different experience who can stomach a higher acquisition cost.
Car shows on TV and his father's Fiat Tempra may have been Florin's early influences, but nowadays he favors different things, like the power of an F-150 Raptor. He'll never be able to ignore the shape of a Ferrari though, especially a yellow one. Full profile
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