Polestar 4 Performance Pack

The quality and detail of the materials used are striking, complete with upper section covered in soft felt, and the upholstery and finish of the passenger compartment are of the highest quality. The seats, available in a textile or Nappa leather finish, are heated and ventilated and offer a number of well-designed massage options, all topped off with an impressively quiet ride.

Behind the wheel, the Polestar 4 is very different from the Polestar 2. The gearshift is positioned behind the steering wheel, while the (perhaps overly) minimalist dashboard is equipped with a head-up display. Most of the controls and settings are on the central 15-inch touchscreen, which is simple and intuitive to navigate. The sound of the indicator really could do with some work, though.

544 horsepower in comfort

The Polestar 4 is available in two versions: ‘Single motor’ with rear-wheel drive and ‘Dual motor’ with all-wheel drive. The latter, with its 544hp (400kW) and 686Nm of torque, offers lively acceleration without being aggressive and can reach 100km/h in 3.8 seconds. The single-engine version, although less powerful (272hp/200kW with 343Nm of torque), still accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in 7.1 seconds. Even though it weighs in at 2.2 tonnes, the car handles with precision in corners, but despite the performance pack and their Brembo ventilated discs, the brakes do lack bite.

Both versions have a 100kWh battery, with a range of 620km (WLTP) for the single-engine version and 590km for the model we tested. The rapid-charging system allows you to go from 10% to 80% charge in 30 minutes and can take up to 200kW. It takes 11 hours to fully charge with 11kW and 5.5 hours with 22kW.

A whole range of aids
Polestar has replaced its rear window with a camera (or even three!). The central rear-view mirror is an adjustable screen offering good visibility day and night. It does take some getting used to, though, as it can feel pretty oppressive at first.

With its 12 cameras, 11.64m turning circle, 360° 3D camera and numerous driving aids, this model offers a Level 2 autonomous driving experience, which is very practical, but you have to know how to master it. The vehicle is equipped with a blind spot monitoring system and rear cross-traffic alert,

as well as a very pleasant regenerative braking system and, more generally, one-pedal drive. The Polestar 4 is also equipped with a pedestrian and cyclist detection system that can intervene automatically to avoid a collision, but as is the case with all modern driving aids, vigilance is still required.

In terms of connectivity, the Polestar 4 does not disappoint, with its premium audio system, developed in conjunction with Harman Kardon, offering top-of-the-range sound quality.

The Polestar 4 is a serious contender in the top-of-the-range electric SUV coupé segment, the quality of its finish and level of comfort being its main assets, as well as a good range. That said, at €81,350 with the Performance Pack, it is pretty pricey.

Technical specifications:

• Power: 400kW (544hp) / 686Nm
• Consumption: 7-21.7kWh/100km depending on WLTP cycle
• CO₂ emissions: 0g CO₂/km
• Charge: AC – 11KW / DC – upto 200KW
• Range: 590km WLTP
• Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 3.8s
• Base price: €70,450

Our opinion:

The pros:

• The finish of the materials
• The rear seat
• Space and storage
• Generous boot space

The cons:

• Slightly high fuel consumption
• The sound of the indicator
• The rear-view mirror takes some getting used to

By Jérémy Zabatta
Photo by MDstudio / Michaël Dautremont