Drives better, is more economical
The EV, born in 2016 as a study model Volvo 40.2 and presented in 2019 as Polestar 2, will enter the 2024 model year with a slightly refreshed version. The biggest news is that the drive is now on the rear wheels and that the Long Range has a new type of battery (from CATL) with a larger capacity and a stronger motor.
Has anything changed on the outside?
Hardly, the only thing that catches the eye is the closed nose, where its predecessor still has a kind of black grille. The panel in the grille is called the Smart Zone Panel and we will see it on all future Polestar models.
What’s new about the powertrain?
As mentioned, the drive moved from the front to the rear wheels and that is an important step forward. We drive the Long Range, which now has an output of 220 kW/299 hp and 490 Nm of torque. You can’t get that on the road properly with front-wheel drive. The battery capacity increased from 75 to 79 kWh. That doesn’t seem like much, but in combination with the promised improved efficiency, it results in a WLTP of 655 km.
How is the Polestar 2’s infotainment system?
What was quite unique for the Polestar 2 at the start is an infotainment system that runs on Android Automotive, so you can install many apps from Google. If you prefer to use Apple Car Play, you can do so via a cable, Android Auto from your smartphone is of course not possible. Recently it has also become possible to watch videos from YouTube and a long route is calculated in Google Maps, including charging stops.
How spacious is the Polestar 2?
The fact that the Polestar was developed as a car that also accommodates a drivetrain with a combustion engine is evident from the placement of the batteries. This is done in approximately the same way as in, for example, a Peugeot e2008. The interior is not very spacious, especially in the back. A plus point is the fact that there is no battery under the footwell of the rear passengers, but the bench is a bit higher because there are batteries underneath. The trunk has a modest volume of 405 liters, and the towbar can hold 1,500 kg.
What driving modes does the Polestar 2 have?
If we go to the ‘driving’ screen, we see that we can set the level of power steering, but we cannot choose a specific driving mode. The degree of recovery can be adjusted from off, via low to high. In the latter case there is actually ‘one pedal’ and you almost never have to move your right foot from the drive to the brake pedal.
How does the updated Polestar 2 drive?
You quickly realize that it has more power and rear-wheel drive. You can press the gas more easily and firmly in a bend, where previously you had to deal with wheelspin quite quickly and therefore an intervention by the traction control. Furthermore, it is still a firmly suspended car and, thanks to the pleasant-feeling steering, it now feels a bit sportier.
Is it more economical than the previous one?
The big question is of course whether the updated Polestar 2 does better in terms of efficiency than the first batch. Because from the reviews we conclude that owners are not very pleased with the consumption and therefore the range. We have now also found a review of the new one and the findings of that rider support our first experiences. At the start, the display showed a range of 530 km, a lot less than the intended 655 km. Anyway, after a day of driving under varying conditions we record an average of 17.4 kWh/100 km. Perhaps not groundbreaking value, but better than before.
More power, more range, therefore also a higher price?
It is still a special appearance and with the drive on the rear wheels it has become a better-steering car. In addition, the new engine appears to be more efficient and, in combination with the slightly larger battery, results in a practical range of somewhere between 400 and 500 kilometers. You really don’t need more. Maybe more space, but it falls a bit short and with a price of over €69,200 (€55,200 without options such as heat pump) as it stands here, it is not a bargain.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl