Polestar 4 Long Range Dual Motor Review: Avantgarde Appeal

What we like:

Iconic design

Lovely interior materials and ambience

Super fast

What we dislike:

Not very inspiring to drive

SUV coupés were once a thing, and now they are a very Big Thing. It seems every car manufacturer wants to have a slice of this crossover pie. However, instead of just sloping down the roof of a conventional SUV, Polestar took a very different approach with the 4.

Why does the Polestar 4 look so different?

The design-first approach of Polestar led to the complete elimination of the rear window, so that the 4 looks like nothing else on the market. And truth be told, it has succeeded. It cuts a more elegant design than just about every SUV coupé on the road, looking more like an elongated swoopy sedan that’s slightly lifted up. So it is definitely iconic and makes a true statement. Throw in the dual blade front lights, frameless windows and retractable door handles, the Polestar 4 is achingly stylish.

The lack of a rear window permeates the whole experience of the Polestar 4, and that includes the rear seats as well as driving it (we will get to the latter soon). With a more enclosed space, there is a risk of it feeling claustrophobic, but Polestar has stretched the full-length glass roof beyond even the rear occupants’ heads. So it feels surprisingly airy at the back, while the ambient lighting that encircles the seats is also a nice touch. With the 3 metre long wheelbase as well as rear seats that are electrically reclinable, it almost feels like being in a BMW 7-Series or S-Class.

How is the interior of the Polestar 4?

Certainly, the interior quality feels comparable to the limousine class. Soft and interesting textures abound, inspired from the fashion and sportswear industries. It feels both durable and stylish at the same time. There’s tailored knit textile which consists of 100% recycled polyester, as well as traced leather from Bridge of Weir - raw hides from the by-products of the food industry in Scotland.

How are the infotainment and safety systems of the Polestar 4?

The infotainment, as is the practice for previous Volvos, is based on Google’s Android Automotive OS. While the user interface is not the most responsive nor the most intuitive, the integration of Google apps (Google Assistant, Maps, Play) is so very slick that you would even think twice about mirroring your phone via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Actually, that is what Google is heading towards as it is no longer updating Android Auto. It believes that the future of car infotainment is on native apps, instead of connecting a phone.

Other technology included is the SuperVision ADAS from Intel’s Mobileye. 12 cameras, 1 radar and 12 ultrasonic sensors monitor driver fatigue as well as the surroundings of the car. Compared to what’s out there in the market, it’s par for the course.

How is the Polestar 4 to drive?

In the dual motor variant, the car is shockingly fast. The initial throttle response is measured, but once you put your foot to the carpet the car blasts off. With a 0-100 km/h time of just 3.8 seconds, the 544 hp / 686 Nm Polestar 4 LRDM has supercar slaying pace.

Pleasingly, the suspension is adjustable on the fly, unlike the top Polestar 2 model where you had to manually tweak its stiffness from underneath the car. However, while the ride is more composed at speed, it feels a little lumpy around town, no matter what setting you are in. For something that competes in the luxury class, it could do with a more pliant Comfort mode.

That said, show the Polestar 4 some corners and it will probably outhandle its limousine peers too. It is hunkered down to the ground and so handles nowhere like an SUV. Its driving characteristics resemble a sedan more closely. But its steering feels a tad woolly and overall, you never really feel very engaged. I don’t think it’s a big matter for the Polestar clientele though.

And now, about the digital rear view mirror. I never liked this and it’s pretty much the same as in Polestar 4. The camera actually moves if you signal to give you a wider view, like how you may pivot your body for a conventional mirror. But you want that option all of the time and not just when you signal, and it’s just not possible at the moment with a digital mirror. That said, you do get used to it and it becomes second nature after a while. I suppose, for the looks and concept, it is worth the trade-off.

What is the range and charging capabilities of the Polestar 4?

There’s a huge 100 kWh battery fitted to the long-range version here. As a result, the range is pretty impressive - something within 450-500 km is very doable. To help improve efficiency, there is a disconnect clutch that allows the car to disengage the front electric motor when not needed.

Charging is also pretty quick. The 4 can achieve 200 kW on DC and 22 kW on AC charging, the latter figure in particular making the search for a charging station less stressful, as there are a lot more AC chargers than DC chargers around. Most of the industry makes do with 11 kW AC charging, so the Polestar is twice as fast.

Would you recommend the Polestar 4?

The car is very much led by its design, inside and out. That in itself is a big subjective topic, one that I am sure those already drawn to Polestar will appreciate. For that reason alone, the Polestar 4 is probably worth the compromises. Its limo-like features mean it does not have the outright desire to be sporty, but its supercar-like pace will please.

Photos by James Wong

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