Video Review: 2024 Polestar 2 – can one big change make all the difference?

Only a few years ago, Polestar was a name known by relatively few people, because its main job was taking Volvos and making them a little quicker and more interesting to drive. But in 2020, Volvo turned it into an electric brand and launched the Polestar 2, with sights set firmly on taking sales away from Tesla; the 2 was aimed squarely at the huge-selling Tesla Model 3.
It was a job very well done. The Polestar 2 has a plusher interior than the Model 3 (thanks to all the Volvo bits), a more refined driving experience, and because it’s a hatchback, a much more usable boot. You could easily argue it’s the better-looking thing, too. But if it had a problem, it was that the basic versions were front-wheel drive. Sure, that doesn’t make much difference (if any) to the majority of people just casually going about their business in their Polestar… but for driving enthusiasts, it put the car at a significant disadvantage compared to the rear-wheel drive Tesla. Rory explains exactly why that is in the video. So the question is, is it enough to propel (quite literally) the Polestar 2 ahead of the Model 3? The Tesla has been pivotal in bringing EVs to the mass market, with more than one million sold.

A closer look at the updated Polestar 2

Most of the changes for the latest Polestar 2 are under the skin. Power for the (now rear-wheel drive) single motor version is up from 231 horsepower to 299, and torque from 330Nm to 490. Huge uplifts, and ones that get it to 62mph 1.2 seconds quicker, now in 6.2. Dual motor, four-wheel drive versions are now 421 horsepower as standard – they were 402 - or 476 horsepower with the Performance Pack. Get that and your Polestar will hit 62mph in 4.2 seconds – quicker than ever. Plus, vitally, Long Range models now get a larger 82kWh battery, which means the range tops 400 miles from a single charge for the first time - on paper, at least. The only real visual change for the 2024 Polestar 2 is the grille, which is now a smooth panel called the “Smartzone”. It’s called that because it has the safety cameras and radars in it. And as usual with updates like this, there are some new wheel designs and the standard equipment list has been improved – much of it designed to make the car even safer. It is basically a Volvo, after all. Rear collision warning and cross traffic alert are now standard fit. As is a wireless phone charging. There’s much more to talk about, but you’ll have to watch the video on our YouTube channel to get all the information. And if you haven’t already, make sure you hit that subscribe button.