1,200 miles
What better way to really road test a car than drive it 1,200 miles around the north of Scotland in a week? Well, that’s what I did recently in the Polestar 2.
It was perhaps a slightly more realistic, yet just as challenging, as the test Top Gear did in the Polestar towing a caravan and slaloming through fields in Northumberland. Either way we both rated this electric vehicle.
Firstly, let me explain the mileage. Together with an AA co-driver, we took part in the EV Rally of Scotland (EVROS) which coincided with the COP26 environment talks in Glasgow. AA patrols provided breakdown support and AA Drive Tech offered EV driver training tips.
The car
Polestar is an off shoot from Volvo and is jointly owned by Geely and the vehicles are made in China. At the more luxury end of EVs the Polestar 2 is well priced.
Prices start at £39,900 for the entry-level 'Standard Range Single Motor' version, which has a 64kWh battery capable of 273 miles of range and an electric motor that's good for 221bhp. Then there is the 'Long Range Single Motor', which has an 78kWh battery with a 335-mile range. It has 228bhp and costs £42,900.
The top-specification is the 'Long Range Dual Motor' edition, which features electric motors on the front and rear axle. The car has 400bhp split 50/50 front-rear, so it’s fast, despite weighing 2.1 tonnes. The price for this is £45,900.
The looks
The Polestar 2 is distinctive. Searching for charging points on the road at night we would always know if another Polestar 2 was ahead of us as due to the distinctive almost rectangle shaped lights which traverse the boot. It is one of those cars that looks different from different angles. From the front it is a modern American car, from the side it could be German and from the rear it is more extra-terrestrial.
The interior
The steering wheel, controls and screen were all pretty intuitive and functional. I found the driving position comfortable even having driven 320 miles across the highlands of Scotland in one day. The space in the back is slightly more cramped than I would have expected but anyone under 5 foot 10 will probably cope well. The boot seemed functional and sections of the rear seat fold down which gives flexibility for transporting longer objects.
The drive
Most of the time I liked the drive. When I realised you could stiffen the steering, I loved the drive even more. Fair to say it is probably better in a straight line than fast cornering, but it coped more than adequately with the Scottish terrain and rain.
I really loved the regenerative braking which has a sliding scale and we had it on full. This meant I could drive for miles and miles without touching the brakes. This really is one foot driving. Going down hills the dashboard showed the extra power going back into the system. When we did need to overtake some of the EV hyper milers it did it with aplomb.
The verdict
I think the fact that I have reviewed the Polestar 2 as a car rather than an electric car shows its strength. It is good to look at and drive. It is comfortable and effortlessly drinks up the miles. It is a massive extra bonus that this car is electric and has a decent range.
I would say ‘book early’ as this car will be the most popular car on the company car list or salary sacrifice scheme coming to a firm near you soon. Check it out.
PS The other verdict is that the north west coast of Scotland is one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world.