Review - Polestar 2 Standard Range

While the introduction of the latest Polestar 2 has been accompanied by some price increases, there are some welcomed upgrades for the lineup, including larger driving ranges and a switch to a more dynamic rear-wheel drive platform.

How well have these upgrades translated to the road, and just how well does the Polestar 2 assert itself against its fierce rivals in the world of battery-electric vehicles? Let’s take a closer look to find out.

Polestar 2 Standard Range Competition

Starting Price: $67,400

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How Much Does It Cost?

The Polestar 2 Standard Range is priced at $67,400 here in Australia, not including on-road costs.

For reference, prices for the rest of the range, including the Polestar 2 Long Range Single Motor stand at $71,400, while the Long Range Dual Motor is priced at $76,400 and the range-topping Long Range Dual Motor Performance Pack is priced at $85,400.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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Polestar 2 Standard Range (SINGLE MOTOR) Specifications

What Features Does the Polestar 2 Standard Range Have?

Polestar’s entry-level Polestar 2 Standard Range comes riding on a set of 19-inch alloys, and receives LED headlights, cruise control, a surround-view camera with front & rear parking sensors, vegan-friendly upholstery, a powered boot lift, keyless entry & start, dual-zone climate control and heated front seats.

On the tech front, the Polestar 2 Standard Range comes packing a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a wireless charging pad, four USB-C ports and an 11.5-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Google services, atop the eight-speaker sound system.

Range Features:

• 19-inch alloys

• LED headlights

• Cruise control 

• Surround-view camera with front & rear parking sensors

• Vegan-friendly upholstery

• Powered boot lift 

• Dual-zone climate control 

• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster 

• Wireless charging pad 

• 11.5-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto & Google Services

• Eight-speaker sound system

Is the Polestar 2 Standard Range Comfortable to Drive?

While it might be the baby of the range, the driving experience on offer in the Polestar 2 is excellent.

The Polestar 2 Standard Range comes powered by a single electric motor that produces 200kW of power and 490Nm of torque, offering a zippy sprint to 100km/h in 6.4 seconds.

Over the previous model, the Polestar 2 puts power down to the rear wheels, rather than the front wheels, making for a far more dynamic driving experience that welcomes a challenge.

On the road, the Polestar 2 feels impressively rapid, and while it’s not an outright performer, the instant injection of torque into the mix gives it some serious acceleration off the line and boosts of speed for overtaking on the highway.

Around town, the Polestar 2’s regenerative braking system offers one-pedal driving that makes a daily commute super simple once you’re familiar with the system, while the steering remains lightweight at lower speeds to make parking more user-friendly.

Pick up the pace and you’ll notice the firm ride quality, with Polestar aiming for a more exciting package with the Polestar 2 than a super comfortable loungeroom driving dynamic, though it’s not uncomfortably taut.

Leave the city streets and you’ll quickly notice the Polestar 2 is happy to dart between corners thanks to the revised drive layout and some suspension modifications that make it truly enjoyable to push on the open road.

Overall, the driving experience on offer in the Polestar 2 Standard Range is impressively versatile, offering all the user-friendly hallmarks around town you’d expect while becoming a true performer when you put its handling to the test.

How Far Can the Polestar 2 Standard Range Drive on a Single Charge?

The Polestar 2 Standard Range has an energy consumption rate of between 14.8 - 15.9kWh per 100km, translating to driving ranges up to 532km from its 69kWh battery pack.

For reference, Polestar 2 Long Range variants receive a larger 82kWh battery pack that offers 654km of range in the Long Range Single Motor, dropping down to 591km in the Long Range Dual Motor.

• Polestar 2 Standard Range: 532km

• Polestar 2 Long Range: 654km

• Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor: 591km

How Quickly Can You Charge the Polestar 2 Standard Range?

Polestar’s 69kWh battery pack can be DC fast-charged up to speeds of 135kWh, which translates to a 10-80 per cent charge in 34 minutes, or a seven-hour full charge with an 11kW AC wall box.

Opting for the Polestar 2 Long Range with the 82kWh battery pack also increases DC charging speeds up to 205kW, offering a 10-80 per cent charge in 28-minutes, or a full charge with a 11kW AC charger in eight-hours.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

Polestar’s interior design in the Polestar 2 is a prime example of how form and function can co-exist, with the layout looking great on the eyes while offering a heap of practical touches.

Up front, the driver and front passenger are treated to a comfortable set of seats and a decent amount of headroom for even the tallest of drivers, with a decent amount of adjustment in the seat itself and the steering wheel.

The centre console separating the driver and front passenger rises to meet the dashboard and houses a large, vertically mounted infotainment display, with a pair of cupholders and some storage inside the folding armrest.

Most of the storage options are hidden away, though, with Polestar’s slick design keeping most of the clutter out of sight, underneath the centre console itself in a clever use of the EV platform.

Move to the rear of the Polestar 2’s cabin and there’s a decent amount of legroom that can accommodate adults without a problem, and while headroom isn’t abundant, it doesn’t feel cramped back here.

Finally, the Polestar 2 has a rear boot measuring in at 405L which, on its own, it’s a huge amount of storage, though capacities increase with the help of an added 30L of storage in the front storage area, bringing its total to 435L.

Is it Safe?

The Polestar 2 has been awarded ANCAP’s maximum five-star safety rating, scoring 92% for adult protection, 87% for child protection, 80% for vulnerable road user protection and 82% for a safety assist.

As standard, the Polestar 2 Standard Range picks up forward and reverse autonomous emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assistance, road run-off mitigation, rear cross-traffic alerts, traffic sign recognition, a surround-view monitor with parking sensors and eight airbags.

Unfortunately, adaptive cruise control is reserved as part of the optional Pilot Pack that adds $3500 to the price tag while offering pilot assist, emergency stop assistance and an upgraded set of LED headlights.

Our Verdict: Is the Polestar 2 Standard Range Worth it?

While the first-gen Polestar 2 was a mighty impressive vehicle, the updated Polestar 2 Standard Range is by far the best we’ve seen yet, and gives buyers looking for a stylish electric vehicle some serious food for thought.

The Polestar 2 Standard Range offers some viable driving figures per charge, exciting handling, a user-friendly nature around town and looks great both from the outside and inside the cabin, making it well-deserving of a spot on your EV shortlist.

If you’re thinking of making the switch, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can help find you the best possible price on your next car.

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty 

2. Eight-year/160,000km battery warranty 

3. 532km of range from 62kWh battery pack 

4. Single electric motor (200kW/490Nm) with rear-wheel drive platform 

5. Five-star ANCAP safety rating