[Test Drive] The biggest discount ever… The luxury charm of the 30 million won Polestar 2

When it comes to brands that have undergone rapid changes with the era of electrification, the Swedish electric vehicle Polestar comes to mind. Until 2017, Polestar was the high-performance division of Volvo Cars and was a sub-brand that added thrilling pleasure to internal combustion engine vehicles. BMW M and Mercedes-AMG were the mottos.

Volvo is one of the brands that quickly responded to the electrification trend. This is a brand that welcomes electrification due to weaknesses in its internal combustion engine lineup. Polestar, which used to make the loudest engine noise within Volvo, became quiet as it converted to an electric brand.

Polestar, which converted to an electric vehicle brand, entered the Korean market in late 2021. Among countries with overseas expansion, it was the third place outside of Europe. It is the second foreign pure electric vehicle brand to arrive in Korea after Tesla. Polestar introduced a new car right away in January of the following year. ‘Polestar 2′ is the protagonist.

Polestar 2 is divided into single motor and dual motor specifications, but the single motor specification is overwhelmingly popular. At the time of pre-contract in January last year, more than 90% of consumers chose the single motor specification. The advantage of a single motor is cost-effectiveness. It has a reasonable driving range (417 km) among imported electric vehicles and is eligible for 100% subsidies.

In addition, Polestar Korea has been selling Polestar 2 at a 15% discount since September. This is a promotion conducted ahead of the launch of the facelift model of Polestar 2. This may be your chance to purchase Polestar 2 at the cheapest price. A year after its release, is Polestar 2 still attractive? We tested the long-range single motor specification, which is the flagship specification of Polestar 2.

Polestar 2’s exterior design emphasizes minimalism. It is characterized by simplicity and understatement. At first glance, it doesn’t look much different from Volvo’s design, but if you look closely, you can see Polestar’s unique details.

The front design is similar to Volvo, even down to the daytime running lights (DRL) named ‘Thor’s hammer’ and the grille shape. However, Polestar’s unique colors were added by changing the headlamp details and grille pattern.

What is surprising is the size of the side mirror. It had side mirrors the size of something you would see on a sports car. Recently released electric vehicles often use cameras instead of traditional side mirrors to improve aerodynamic performance. Instead of a camera that is less usable, Polestar used a frameless type that can reduce the area of ​​the existing side mirror by 30%.

The side has proportions similar to those of a regular internal combustion engine vehicle. This is true using the internal combustion engine platform. Because it was not a platform exclusively for electric vehicles, the wheelbase could not be extended, but practicality was improved by giving it the fastback style that has become popular among electric vehicles. The rear stands out for its differentiation from Volvo. There is nothing that can be called a design element. It’s really simple. All that matters is the Polestar emblem and the ‘L’ shaped tail lamp.

If you want to know the model name and vehicle specifications, go to the side again. There is a sticker attached to the bottom of the driver’s door. It is implicitly revealing its Polestar qualities.

The minimalism shown on the exterior continues inside as well. The overall layout is similar to Volvo. This includes the shape of the steering wheel and the configuration of the vertical center display. However, the size of the center display has increased significantly. It’s a whopping 11.5 inches. Instead of adopting a physical button, a touch button was provided on the display. The display is large and the touch buttons are also large. There are no problems with visibility and operability.

The Korean-style infotainment system developed in collaboration with We Telecom also shines. It has built-in T-map navigation, voice recognition system NUGU, and music streaming app FLO. Phone connectivity systems such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are also supported, but in this car, I wonder, “Why is it necessary?”

It is clearly an infotainment system tailored to the tastes of Korean consumers, but it also has some shortcomings. If you operate T Map in a location such as an underground parking lot or underpass, the GPS will wander for a long time. It is common for GPS signals not to be received in underground spaces.

However, the problem is that even after escaping from the underground space, the GPS signal cannot be received for a long time. A separate button must be provided to immediately reacquire the GPS signal.

Although the interior design was finished with the concept of minimalism, the Scandinavian sensibility was not lost. The Polestar logo reflected through the panoramic glass is reminiscent of the ‘Pole Star’.

The size of Polestar 2 is domestically produced at the mid-sized level. It is similar to the Kia K3 GT (hatchback). The overall length is 4605mm, the overall width is 1860mm, the overall height is 1480mm, and the wheelbase is 2735mm. Because it is based on an internal combustion engine platform, the wheelbase is disappointing compared to competing electric vehicles. This disappointment is felt as soon as you board the second row. With the high center tunnel, it is optimal for two people to ride in the second row.

It is difficult to say that the remaining second-row passenger space itself is spacious. Because the battery is placed at the bottom, the seat is high and there is not enough headroom, which is frustrating. The second row seat backs are standing. It does not support reclining, so you cannot change the angle. If two adults ride in the second row for a long time, they are likely to feel uncomfortable.

The trunk capacity is 405L as standard and expands up to 1095L when the second row is folded. Regardless of the driving method, the frunk space is provided the same at 45L. Since the internal parts are not exposed, it is easy to use as a storage space.

The Polestar 2 single motor specification has an electric motor running only on the front wheels. It has a maximum output of 231 horsepower and a maximum torque of 33.7kg.m. Although it has about half the power compared to a dual motor, it has ample output in everyday life areas. It goes from standstill to 100 km/h in just 7.4 seconds.

Battery capacity is 78kWh. Even though it is not based on a dedicated electric vehicle platform, a high-capacity battery has been added. Although there is a loss in interior space, the driving range is ample. It can travel 417km on a single charge. Among imported electric vehicles priced under 55 million won that can receive 100% subsidies, the model with the longest driving range is the Polestar 2. It was so efficient that the charging distance reached 460km during a week of test driving.

The basic ride quality of Polestar 2 is solid. Not only is the suspension tuned to be firm, but the solidity is felt from the rigidity of the car body. Even if you turn the steering wheel sharply, rolling is suppressed to a large extent. This is thanks to the stiff suspension. There is less bouncing even when driving at high speeds.

The driving stability felt in the first row is excellent. Although it is fundamentally solid, Polestar 2 offers a separate performance package. If you add 5.5 million won, Brembo 6P brakes and Öhlins dual-valve manually adjustable dampers are applied. If you focus on everyday driving, the basic suspension will be sufficient.

As it inherits Volvo Cars’ mature driving assistance system, the adaptive cruise control and lane center maintenance functions are of a high standard. When you press the center button on the left side of the steering wheel, it is immediately activated according to the driving speed, and you can then increase or decrease the speed. Gently maintain a distance from the vehicle ahead. However, when stopped for a long time, it is automatically deactivated. You have to endure the inconvenience of having to activate adaptive cruise control after accelerating again.

Polestar 2 is still attractive even though it has been released in Korea for over a year. It is full of charm, with a generous driving range of over 400km, driving performance faithful to the basics, and a design with Scandinavian sensibility.

The peak of its appeal comes from its price. There are only a handful of electric vehicles that can be said to be “priced reasonably.” What is the price of Polestar 2? Polestar is selling the current model at a 15% discount ahead of the release of a partially modified model. If you receive subsidies from the national treasury and local governments, you can purchase it from the mid to high 30 million won range. Is there anyone who can say that this price range is not reasonable?

One line review

Pros: You can buy a premium product for around 30 million won… Luxury from design to interior.

Disadvantages: Narrow second row and lack of storage space…limitations of the internal combustion engine platform

Editor Seo Dong-min dm.seo@carguy.kr