For a car to be good in snowy and icy conditions, it should come with an all-wheel-drive system, a set of quality winter tires, and an advanced traction control system. Thankfully the Polestar 2 does come as standard with AWD and it also comes as standard with a sophisticated and snow-plowing ready traction control.
All you need to do is invest in a set of quality winter tires and you are looking at a fairly capable winter beater that should be able to tackle snow without any major issues. However, you should also decrease the levels of regen braking if you are driving in snowy conditions because this system could potentially impede optimal slip protection.
Either way, the Polestar 2 is a really good car to drive in the snow for a myriad of additional reasons such as a fairly high ground clearance considering the segment, great visibility, and the torque and smoothness you get from an electric motor.
However, you must inspect your battery and the level of charge before setting off into snowy weather because low temperatures strain the battery more. Be sure to respect all traffic signs, be easy on the brakes, and keep a safe distance from the car in front at all times.
The Polestar 2 – An overview
The Polestar 2 is the very first “mass” production Polestar EV on the current market but it should be followed soon by at least 3 additional models. Polestar aims to snatch a few more comfort and luxury-oriented customers away from Tesla and all of the Japanese manufacturers with the Polestar 2.
The Polestar 2 starts at around $45,900 for the entry-level 64 kWh battery option while the 78 kWh long-range model costs a tad bit under $50k. The least powerful model packs a healthy 170 kW while the range-topping long-range model tops out at a really healthy 300 kW.
The Polestar 2 is a luxury mid-size EV sedan with a clear focus on comfort and ease of use. The exterior design is a bit undecided but the interior design is a lot more intuitive and easier to use than most EVs out there thanks to good old physical buttons which are way easier and safer to use while driving.
The Polestar 2 offers 2 trunk spaces both in front and in the back which make it only average for the class as far as practicality is concerned. The long-range model should be able to do 270 WLTP miles on a single charge while charging it from 10% to 80% through a 140 kW rapid charger should take around half an hour or 12 hours through a home socket.
The Polestar 2 – Snow and ice driving
As previously mentioned, the Polestar 2 is a great winter beater because it comes with AWD as standard and 300 kW of power should also be more than enough to get you out of a tricky situation. Given the fact that all future Polestar models are likely to use this powertrain, it’s reasonable to think that all upcoming Polestar models should also be good in the snow if not even better.
The car also comes with an advanced traction control system that can cater to specific driving conditions such as snow or ice. The car is well balanced and it packs all the weight down low which should minimize body roll and maximize corner control.
The Polestar 2 is a rather heavy car as all EVs are which means that it can be a bit difficult to control if you are not relying on the traction control system. As such, it’s better to always keep it on no matter the outside conditions.
Snow driving school – How you should approach winter driving in general
Knowing how to drive during the winter is essential no matter how advanced or winter-friendly your car is. Be sure to always opt for a set of quality winter tires because AWD with bad tires is a really bad combo, even more so if the car is RWD.
While driving on snow, you need to anticipate way more than you otherwise do which means that you need to brake sooner. Always be sure to keep a safe distance from the car in front and try to pay attention to everyone around you because not everyone is as skilled as you are.
You should be especially careful when approaching downhill or uphill corners so be sure to use your headlights to signal the traffic if there is a need to do so. Try to keep your car in a garage and always wash your car at least once per month if your area is brimming with salt as an ice deterrent.
FAQ Section
Are EVs good in the snow?
EVs are good in the snow because they offer a higher level of control over the slip of the tires and how torque is being distributed across the wheels. They are smoother and able to provide power more consistently which should benefit driving during slippery conditions.
However, be sure to tailor your driving manners accordingly, otherwise, an EV is just as if not even worse than ICE in snow. Because EVs can offer 100% of power at all times, it’s better to tread carefully and slowly.
Which types of cars are best in the snow?
The best snow cars come with AWD, off-road tires, and a higher ground clearance which means that SUVs and certain pick-ups should be the ones to get. It’s safe to say that a sophisticated traction control system and AWD are essential when it comes to winter driving, bar the tires of course.
Sports cars and supercars are notoriously useless during winter because they are way too low to the ground and can easily be used as snow plowers.
What not to do while driving in the snow?
The first thing you always need to make sure of is that your car has a decent set of winter tires on because a set of summer tires and snow don’t go together at all. Secondly, don’t rush it while driving on snow because you will have a hard time slowing down rapidly if it’s necessary.
Thirdly, don’t warm your car up in an enclosed environment such as a garage because that could kill you. Finally, don’t drive with little to no fuel inside the tank, don’t use cruise control, and never turn off the traction control if you are not 100% aware of what you are doing.
