2024 Polestar 2 Long Range Single Motor Review

Being the good son that I am, I do my best to visit my parents regularly. It's generally a 90-minute cruise along a motorway to reach them, but lately it's morphed from a mere drive into a mathematical exercise.

Thanks to the electric cars I've been reviewing, I've gone from sitting and steering, to calculating driving ranges, scouting for charging points – and the seemingly endless wait for the car to recharge has added unexpected twists to the journey, too.

There have been instances where these EVs struggle to live up to their promised range, especially under the Australian sun, when cruising our vast roads, and taking into account the fact that the country isn't completely flat.

So where does the Polestar 2 Long Range Single Motor (currently starting at $69,974.00 driveaway) fit into the mix?

The short of it is: this electric car eased my usual range anxiety during the trip, consuming just a quarter of its battery on a journey that typically has seen others dipping into the red by up to 60%.

How is the Polestar 2 Long Range Single Motor to drive?

The Polestar 2 Long Range Single Motor is equipped with an 82 kWh powerhouse of a battery. That figure by itself might not mean much until you experience what it translates to on the road.

On a single charge, this car delivers an astonishing range of 610 to 655 km, which goes a long way to easing range anxiety. Often on my journey up to my folks, EVs can use upwards of 40% and even 60% in some instances, however with just 25% used, I could rest easy knowing I didn't have to run around, hunting down a charging station that actually worked the next day.

In fact, it charges fairly efficiently overnight with that range being added back in from a wall socket. But if you do need to stop on your travels plugging into a fast charger, the battery swells from 10% to 80% in just 28 minutes.

Unlike the outside of the car, the interior is very much the same as the pre-facelifted model. It's a minimalistic, calm space where everything has a place and purpose.

But don't let its calmness fool you – with 220 kW and 490 Nm of torque, there is plenty of punch when you need to get going. From standing still to 100km/h takes a brisk 6.2 seconds.

If you want to keep constantly adding to the range, the Polestar 2 allows you to choose your regenerative braking settings.

You can drive it like a normal car or shift into what is essentially a single pedal driving mode, where instead of using the brake pedal like in most cars, you just ease off the accelerator, and the car slows down all by itself.

It's a bit strange at first – like trying to pat your head and rub your stomach at the same time – but once you get the hang of it, it feels natural and makes driving smoother. I found myself using this mode 95% of the time I was driving.

Handling is well sorted too.

The Long Range Single Motor is stable and responsive, making you feel connected to the road. The ride is a bit firm, but not uncomfortably so. And if you want to change how the car feels on the road, you can easily adjust the ride softness on the big touchscreen inside.

What is the Infotainment and technology like?

Thanks to the Plus Pack ($6,000 extra) the interior was wrapped in WeaveTech material which is essentially a vegan leather made from recycled materials – an add on to consider for the especially eco-conscious. You can't really tell the difference between this and real leather too, with the seats being quite comfortable for long trips.

At the heart, an 11.15-inch infotainment touchscreen integrates with Google's platform, simplifying navigation and entertainment.

The Plus pack offers the cabin with a panoramic roof and a 13-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, which, when coupled with silent motoring, sounds like you're at a concert. Rear outboard passengers enjoy heated seats too.

Despite its sleek profile, the car maintains a spacious feel inside.

The only downside? Rear visibility remains somewhat constrained by design with a small rear window and some chunky C-Pillars. It's not the end of the world though as the vehicle employs technology effectively to mitigate this, ensuring drivers have a clear view of their surroundings.

It's just one of those things you'll need to see if you can live with by test driving it.

What is the boot like in the Polestar 2 long range?

At 405 litres, plus an additional 41 litres of under-floor storage, the Polestar's boot isn't exactly Narnia, but it's more than adequate for most earthly ventures.

For comparison, Tesla Model 3 offers around 425 litres combined front and rear trunk space, while the BMW i4 boasts up to 470 litres.

How safe is the Polestar 2 Long Range?

Standard safety features in the Polestar 2 are comprehensive. These include advanced airbag systems, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and a durable chassis designed to absorb and dissipate crash energy.

Additionally, a vehicle stability control system and a pedestrian detection mechanism enhance the standard safety repertoire.

The optional Pilot Pack, priced separately at $3,500, introduces an additional layer of technology and includes:

• Adaptive cruise control, which automatically adjusts speed to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead.
• Polestar's semi-autonomous Pilot Assist driving system that aids in steering, acceleration, and braking on well-marked roads.
• Blind-spot information system (BLIS) with steer assist.
• Cross-traffic alert with brake support.
• 360-degree camera that provides a bird's-eye view of the car's surroundings.

For the most part all the systems work well. The clear reversing camera keeps the panels straight, and the autonomous driving and lane keep assist features keep you on the straight and narrow.

My only complaint when it comes to driving the Polestar 2 long range single motor is that the cruise control gave me some scares as we approached speed cameras. It did have a bit of a tendency to run over the set speed, especially on descents, like those on the m5 right before the speed cameras.

Apart from that, the Polestar 2 is safe, but even safer for the additional outlay.

I can't help but feel, on a vehicle that costs $70,000, that Polestar should throw the Pilot pack in. Some of the inclusions are standard features on vehicles at this price point and even lower.

My verdict

In the conveyor belt of electric cars hitting the market at the moment, the Polestar 2 Long Range Single Motor surprised me – and it truly pains me to say this – but this one steals the show, from its more muscular dual motor, performance focussed sibling.

This car goes a long way on a single charge sipping on the battery rather than guzzling it and nails my regular road trip, which is really handy.

But, there's a catch. Even though the car isn't cheap, you still have to pay extra if you want all the advanced safety features. At this price, you'd think those important safety features would be included as standard.

It's a great car, no doubt, but it feels like buying a phone and then having to pay more just to get the charger.