It would have done more. That’s the (impressively) long and (not so) short of it. On a day-long drive out of London, skirting the south coast of England and then charging back into the capital, the Polestar 2 proved itself to be capable, comfortable — and even a bit of a head-turner.
It’s a surprise, that last one. So, before we buckle up and head off, let’s take a look at the thing. Because, to all intents and purposes, it shouldn’t be grabbing the public attention the way it does. The Polestar 2 looks like a Volvo — albeit one from five years in the future (there’s a reason for that; Polestar is a sub-brand of the Swedish automaker). It has softly squinting headlights, a boxy back and only a handful more angles and definition lines than a S60. It looks like a relatively normal saloon — admittedly one with a couple more muscles.
And yet, the heads really do turn. Perhaps it’s because, with only a shade over a thousand of these cars currently on British roads, even motoring enthusiasts can struggle to identify it. Or maybe — and this is what we suspect — people like it because of its understatement. The thing is an electric wolf in suburban clothing; a modestly handsome motor that can really move itself — but move others, too.
It’s unusual, it’s attainable (from £49,900) and it’s covetable. That’s the big three. So no wonder it’s turning heads. And, now we’ve got that settled, let’s set off.
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/vxy259ii/production/5df23a54df906b7a416b20ea2addd7f650fb44af-1301x1509.jpg?auto=format&fit=max&q=75&w=648)
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/vxy259ii/production/1f0a0b1299d7e4c0544ef0d042a254e810da9c8a-1500x1740.jpg?auto=format&fit=max&q=75&w=648)
On the end-to-end, gridlocked roads of London, the Polestar 2 quietly gets on with its job. And that ‘quietly’ is both metaphorical and literal — thanks to the practically silent all-wheel-drive electric powertrain. Driven by 400V Lithium-ion batteries, the car’s two Valeo-Siemens electric motors have some serious power to offer — when they finally roll us out of the central London congestion.
But the delay gives us time to contemplate — and this is what we’re thinking: here at Gentleman’s Journal, we’ve never been bowled over by automatic cars. We’d be happy crunching through gears, winding our own windows and contending with a muscle-pulling lack of power steering. We’d almost say it’s fun. But city-centre driving, as anyone who does it on a regular basis will tell you, is not fun in any car — so the single-speed, automatic-alike gearbox of the Polestar 2 is perfect for all the merging, crawling and general antagonism city centres will rev your way.
And that, chiefly, is because it creeps. ‘Creep Mode’ — while perhaps not the best name for the function — is a wholesome, wholly useful solution to traffic jams. Suddenly, tail-to-tail traffic is transformed from a nerve-wracking, tenterhooks trial behind the wheel to a period of blissful, self-driving salvation. And we’ll put our hands together for any car that can alleviate even some our our city-centre stress.
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/vxy259ii/production/6be6cdab96120c6d65665366f4eff77e1632f610-2560x1707.jpg?auto=format&crop=entropy&fit=crop&h=900&q=75&w=1296)
And then comes the open road. It is here, on the A21’s twisting ribbon of tarmac, that the Polestar 2 really comes alive. It can accelerate from 0-62 mph in 4.7 seconds — which is faster than an Aston Martin DB9. That also means, if you find yourself stranded in the wrong lane at a red light or roundabout, the instant acceleration will manoeuvre you out of almost any tight spot. (Also, if any boy racers try to pick a dual carriageway duel with your grown-up motor, they won’t stand a chance.)
Even on the smaller, single-lane roads of the sandy south coast, the car proves its mettle. The Öhlins Dual Flow Valve (DFV) suspension soaks up wave upon wave of humps and bumps — and Brembo brakes ensure we can turn even the tightest, blindest corners of single-track lanes safely.
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/vxy259ii/production/4d1f2163e7e3dbcd85cfb39cf513ae24f7418168-1500x1740.jpg?auto=format&fit=max&q=75&w=648)
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/vxy259ii/production/d81a1d0ccda4c2ffd5e200459143a087ac4d90dc-1504x1744.jpg?auto=format&fit=max&q=75&w=648)
Inside, too, the car offers more than your everyday saloon. This particular model, with ventilated Nappa leather and reconstructed wood detailing, looks sleekly futuristic — and has the digital kit to cash those high-tech cheques. There’s two-zone climate control, powered driver and passenger seats and highly intuitive Adaptive Cruise Control (again, like the single-speed gearbox, cruise control isn’t something that usually appeals to nuts-and-bolts drivers. But so ironed-out and thought-through is it here that even the greasiest monkeys won’t mind it).
And then there’s the entertainment system. The Polestar 2 is the first car to be fitted with Google Android Automotive; a set-up controlled using a tablet attached to the dash. It’s as ergonomic a system as we’ve ever operated on a modern car — able to quickly flick through radio stations or switch Spotify playlists with ease. Pair such a system with lumbar support and heated seats, and you’ve got the ideal interior for a lengthy, lazy road-trip.
"The Polestar 2 is the first car to be fitted with Google Android Automotive..."
Which brings us to charging. Still driving — past Hastings, Camber Sands and on towards Folkestone — the car apepars to be making a mockery of its own conservative range calculations. The miles are passing faster beneath our tyres than they’re dropping on the dash; with the cruise control, especially, seeming to eke every drop of power from every percent of charge.
In cities, this Polestar 2 should manage a (frankly astounding) 348 miles before it needs charging up. That’s over 50 miles more than the Jaguar I-PACE, and only 50 miles less than the Tesla Model S Long Range Plus — a car for which you’ll pay over £15,000 more. Polestar quotes the combined (city and motorway driving) range figure as 292 miles. But, as we’ll reiterate, we think it would have done more.
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/vxy259ii/production/950e5eaf7ad8c65b124ae81ef30aee8aaa7b98e3-2560x1707.jpg?auto=format&crop=entropy&fit=crop&h=900&q=75&w=1296)
Even when you do need to charge up, connecting to an (albeit rare) 150kW rapid-charging CCS connector will see your Polestar power from 20% to 80% in just 20 minutes. It’s still longer than a petrol pitstop if you’re out-and-about — but not by much.
And the charging process is perhaps the highlight of Polestar ownership. From the green light that sweeps across the dashboard to indicate charging to the space-age connector plugs themselves, this is a car that gives you a real feel of the future. So maybe that’s why people love to look at the Polestar 2. Indeed, after parking up in a provincial coastal town, and charging this ultramodern machine in front of a bunch of onlooking beachgoers, its head-turning credentials start to make sense…
Want more car tests? Here’s why you can’t stay mad at a Morgan Plus Four…
Become a Gentleman’s Journal member. Find out more here.
![Become a Gentleman’s Journal Member?](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/vxy259ii/production/9642f9905994d15af0f4511fd2ab3260c67f56fa-4096x3901.jpg?rect=0,415,4096,3072&w=400&h=300&q=80&auto=format)
Become a Gentleman’s Journal Member?
Like the Gentleman’s Journal? Why not join the Clubhouse, a special kind of private club where members receive offers and experiences from hand-picked, premium brands. You will also receive invites to exclusive events, the quarterly print magazine delivered directly to your door and your own membership card.