Polestar is one of the most competitive brands in the current EV industry even though they offer only two cars at the moment, the Polestar 1 and the Polestar 2. Both of these have raised quite a bit of interest both from EV enthusiasts and general everyday technology enthusiasts.
Polestar likes to say that they are all in when it comes to electric cars which means that Polestar is a standalone brand which only focuses on developing and manufacturing standalone EV platforms. As such, they compete directly with brands such as Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, and all the existing brands like Mercedes, Audi, Jaguar, BMW.
The Polestar 1 comes with both an electric engine and a petrol engine for a combined output of 600hp while the Polestar 2 comes either with a 64kWh battery in the entry-level model or a 78kWh battery for the long-range higher-trim model.
The Polestar 1 has enough electric capacity to drive in EV mode alone for about 50 miles while the Polestar 2 has enough juice to give you around 290 miles between full recharge cycles. The standard Polestar 2 should give you around 270 miles while the Long-Range model should give your closer to 330 miles.
Polestar 1 – The Pioneer
The Polestar 1 was designed and built as a halo car for Polestar in order to increase the brand’s image and make it relevant for the decarbonized car market. The Polestar 1 is a sports car coupe hybrid which means that it packs sportiness and luxury in a single package.
However, the Polestar 1 costs around $150k which means that it’s not accessible for everyone, especially if you consider that Polestar makes only around 150 of these each year. The Polestar 1 is capable of reaching 60mph from a standstill in around 4 seconds which makes it a rather brisk automobile.
The 2.0L both turbocharged and supercharged engine is good for around 375hp while the two electric engines offer around 114hp each. All of this rounds up to about 600hp which means that the Polestar 1 is a true sports EV.
However, the best thing about the Polestar 1 is its incredible-looking exterior design and a fairly decent EV-only range.
Polestar 2 – The one you should get
The Polestar 2 is the true Tesla competitor because it combines quality, safety, and technology as good if not even better than the Tesla. It competes directly with the Tesla Model 3 which means that this car should be the most popular Polestar model out of them all.
As previously mentioned, the Polestar is available with two different battery sizes starting from a smaller 64kWh battery with around 190 miles or the larger 78kWh battery with a more desirable 232 miles. The Polestar 2 uses 1kWh of electricity for every 3.2 miles of driving.
This means that the Polestar should cost you $650-$800 to recharge each year if you drive around 1000 miles per month. A similarly priced ICE car should cost you twice as much over the same mileage which means that the Polestar 2 bests most cars out there as far as efficiency is concerned.
The Polestar 2 also has superior value retention which makes it a great car to own both from new and used.
How to get the most juice out of your battery
All manufacturers out there test their electric cars for range but these estimates are hardly ever reachable because they usually consist out of perfect conditions with knowledgeable drivers that know how to drive an EV in order to preserve as much energy as possible.
It is true that most EV owners out there will never even come close to a manufacturer’s claimed EV range, but there are ways how one can get the most range out of a car if specific steps are being followed. You first need to learn how to drive smoothly without rapid accelerations and also try to use regen braking as much as possible.
Go easy on in-car accessories such as the A/C or heating and be sure to keep your windows closed at higher speeds in order not to impede the car’s aerodynamic profile. Weight is also an important factor when it comes to power consumption so try to travel light if possible.
Finally, don’t drive too fast if there is no need for that as constant high-speed driving eats into the battery a lot sooner.
FAQ Section
Is the Polestar 1 worth buying?
If you are a car enthusiast and you love new and exciting cars the Polestar 1 is worth looking into because it offers something no other car on the market does. It looks great and it is sporty and luxurious at the same time. It holds its value well which means that you should not lose all that much money when it comes time to sell it.
Furthermore, it’s a great grand tourer car that can offer you the highest levels of in-car comfort while also offering you a brisk and exciting driving experience on a winding back road.
Is the Polestar 2 worth buying?
The Polestar 2 is certainly a very welcomed addition to the current EV market because it embodies the whole philosophy of the new-age car. It is efficient and offers sustainable materials inside and out which means that the carbon footprint and the environmental consequence caused by the Polestar 2 are minimal.
It looks nice inside and out and it offers lots of technology amenities and features which should keep you entertained for a long time. It holds its value well and it offers you a decent range without costing obscene amounts of money in the process.
Are Polestar and Volvo the same?
Before Polestar branched out of Volvo they were focused on designing and manufacturing Volvo’s most exciting performance cars. This means that Polestar was to Volvo what AMG is to Mercedes. Nowadays Polestar is a standalone brand focused on decarbonized transport with entirely separate chassis.
However, lots of parts are being shared between Polestar and Volvo which is apparent the moment you lay your eyes on the Polestar 2.
