The Polestar 2 is a distinct segment participant in a reasonably area of interest phase of the Australian auto market.
The mid-size battery-electric liftback first launched right here in 2021, acquired slight beauty tweaks in 2022, and was given a extra vital overhaul beneath the pores and skin in 2023 that, most notably, switched it from front- to rear-wheel drive.
These have been all vital – if not borderline obligatory – enhancements for a mannequin that got here with a lot promise from an electrical car (EV) model whose Australian launch coincided with this very automotive’s.
Polestar now has three fashions on sale right here, and the Polestar 2 is each the most affordable and the oldest. Meaning the Chinese language-owned Swedish auto model has had loads of time to get a foothold out there with this automotive, and to ascertain it because the volume-seller of its vary.
However its largest hurdles are twofold. It nonetheless prices a fairly penny even on the backside of the vary, and Polestar is nowhere close to established sufficient in Australia to construct the belief and model loyalty essential to justify these costs, not to mention persuade folks to pay them.
The Polestar 2 got here into 2025 with price ticket that have been at the very least $5000 decrease throughout the board than a 12 months in the past, which ought to have made it a extra compelling prospect for these out there for a medium electrical sedan, and which had been anticipated to spice up gross sales.
WATCH: Paul’s video evaluation of the 2023 Polestar 2 Lengthy vary Single motor
However that hasn’t occurred. And earlier than you contemplate its rivals, the Polestar 2 isn’t even Polestar’s best-selling car in Australia as of late.
That distinction goes to the Polestar 4, a extra radical, rear window-less, mid-size SUV that prices almost $20,000 greater than the Polestar 2. The 4 has up to now managed 245 gross sales in 2025, whereas the two has recorded simply 123 – which is at the very least greater than the eye-wateringly costly Polestar 3 massive electrical SUV, which has discovered 21 new houses this 12 months.
In distinction, the Polestar 2’s most direct rival, the Tesla Mannequin 3, has attracted 2046 consumers to the top of March 2025, whereas even the pricier BMW i4 notched up 309 gross sales and the cheaper BYD Seal managed 302. For some geographical context, the Mannequin 3 and Seal are additionally in-built China, however Tesla and BYD are extra established in Australia.
On check right here is the Polestar 2 Lengthy Vary Single Motor, which sits one rung from the underside of a mannequin vary that provides distinctive Scandinavian design and tech, at a worth. Is it value paying further for a comparatively unknown EV?
How does the Polestar 2 evaluate?
View an in depth breakdown of the Polestar 2 in opposition to equally sized automobiles.
Polestar
Polestar 2
How a lot does the Polestar 2 value?
The Lengthy Vary Single Motor is the second-cheapest Polestar 2 variant on sale in Australia, priced at $66,400 earlier than on-roads.
| Mannequin | Worth earlier than on-road prices |
|---|---|
| 2025 Polestar 2 Customary Vary Single Motor | $62,400 |
| 2025 Polestar 2 Lengthy Vary Single Motor | $66,400 |
| 2025 Polestar 2 Lengthy Vary Twin Motor | $71,400 |
| 2025 Polestar 2 Lengthy Vary Twin Motor with Efficiency Pack | $80,380 |
Throughout the board, it’s roughly $5000 cheaper now than it was as not too long ago as 2024. Meaning it’s now nearer to the Mannequin 3 specifically, and subsequently a way more lifelike proposition for extra Australian EV consumers.
That doesn’t imply it’s low cost although. Probably the most comparable Mannequin 3 is the bottom RWD, which prices $54,900 earlier than on-roads. Stepping as much as the Mannequin 3 Lengthy Vary brings the worth to inside $1500 of the Polestar examined right here, however that mannequin has the benefit of all-wheel drive.
In the meantime, your complete Seal vary is significantly cheaper. The Dynamic and Premium are each rear-wheel drive and value $46,990 and $52,990 earlier than on-roads respectively, whereas the vary tops out at $61,990 earlier than on-roads for the all-wheel drive Efficiency.
There’s additionally the lower-volume Hyundai Ioniq 6, which begins at $67,300 earlier than on-roads.
To see how the Polestar 2 stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability instrument
What’s the Polestar 2 like on the within?
Overwhelming in its simplicity, particularly in case you’re coming from an older automotive.
There are hardly any buttons in right here – not bodily ones, anyway. In actual fact, it’s so sparse that there isn’t even a button to show the car on; you as a substitute simply hop in, choose Drive, and set off.
We’ll contact on that once more in our drive impressions additional down, however as somebody with restricted Polestar expertise earlier than driving the Polestar 2, I used to be thrown for a loop. We’d count on others to be the identical upon preliminary acquaintance, although not in the event that they’re used to Teslas.
When you’re in and have a second to soak all the pieces up, you’ll discover the Polestar 2 presents a snug, well-sorted inside. The seats are of a top quality in each their development and end, and are simply adjustable due to their powered motion.
A theme all through this automotive (and all different Polestars) is the usage of environmentally pleasant supplies, which are inclined to put on names like “animal welfare traced Nappa leather-based” or “vegan WeaveTech”.
Happily, there was no compromise on materials high quality, and all the pieces is snug and good to work together with – to not point out pleasing for these frightened about their carbon footprint. Every thing in right here has a hint of Mini, at the very least in look.
The dearth of… properly, something, makes it a visually clear inside. Its headline characteristic is that 11.15-inch portrait-style infotainment system, which is your major management centre for your complete car.
Leisure purposes are expectedly discovered right here, however it’s considerably disappointing that Apple CarPlay is just wired, through both of two USB-C ports beneath the central show. That isn’t a dealbreaker – the Mannequin 3 doesn’t have CarPlay in any respect – however it’s one thing we wish to see for this cash.
As tends to be the case with wired telephone mirroring connections, it’s at the very least dependable and isn’t in any respect liable to dropping out on the transfer. When the CarPlay interface is open, Polestar’s brutalist icons and controls will nonetheless be accessible through everlasting ribbons on the high and backside of the show.
The underside is the place you’ll discover climate-related controls, and in case you want greater than what’s usually proven, you possibly can swipe up from the underside for extra nuanced settings.
It’s the same story on the high, the place you might have shortcuts for digicam views, car settings, apps, and person profiles.
They’re all pretty self-explanatory, however it’s nonetheless value stating a few standout options. For one, the apps shortcut is the place you’ll discover the built-in Android Automotive program with Google integration.
It’s easy to navigate and takes the place of typical Android Auto. In right here can be the place you entry Apple CarPlay and different native apps just like the automotive’s vary assistant.
Inside the car settings menu are the Polestar 2’s most important capabilities. Right here, you possibly can change the best way the steering feels, which driver assists are energetic, how the motors behave, and absolutely anything else you’d need to fiddle with.
As soon as once more we’ll delve into this in a while, however the theme right here is simplicity. The menus are all populated by massive black and orange sq. buttons, with info offered in Polestar’s typical bland typeface.
It’s actually distinctive, and we received’t argue that having such daring and primary design components is in any approach distracting. In observe, these menus are exceptionally simple to navigate and skim at a look – greater than could be mentioned about quite a lot of new automobiles with mountains of scrollable menus.
The identical theme carries by to the instrument show. It’s a easy setup headlined by a stripped-back speedometer readout and energy meter, together with different primary info scattered across the place.
The very best half about it’s simply how practical it’s, and that it has Apple Maps integration. There isn’t even a lot to scroll by when it comes to separate menus; there’s solely a pair, and so they’re primarily there to indicate you journey info and vitality consumption.
That is opened utilizing the menu button on the correct of the steering wheel. Issues like quantity can be managed utilizing the directional buttons or the dial discovered on the centre console.
The one grievance we do have is relating to materials alternative, as a result of whereas we do like the best way all of the ‘environmentally secure’ surfaces look, we don’t love the usage of gloss black plastic, even when it isn’t all over the place. It’s present in locations just like the steering wheel, the place it’s plastered everywhere in the buttons.
There’s additionally slightly bit across the funky-looking gear selector, in addition to that small strip of controls forward of it. It seems to be good new, particularly when offset by the light-coloured woodgrain paneling in our tester, however even the little bits get grubby far too rapidly.
Exterior of that, the gear selector itself presents like an inexpensive piece of plastic, and it’s the one merchandise within the cabin to take action. Positive, there are another harder-wearing supplies to guard in opposition to shoe marks, however they’re largely out of sight.
The illuminated Polestar emblem on the selector is a pleasant contact. We additionally just like the leather-wrapped steering wheel, which is ‘excellent’ in diameter and thickness, and presents a large stage of adjustment to swimsuit virtually all driving positions. Different areas, just like the armrests, are appropriately padded.
By way of storage, you might have two cupholders up entrance, although just one is uncovered; the opposite is contained in the central storage field and is removeable. Space for storing is compromised with it in place.
There are additionally storage slots and bottle holders within the doorways, slots within the sides of the centre console however with out a big tray or pass-through, and a conventional glovebox with no electrical opening like in different Polestars.
Moreover, you possibly can tuck your telephone away under the central show when plugged in, which can be the place you’ll discover the wi-fi charging pad.
Moving into the again of the Polestar 2 reveals a snug area. Headroom has been preserved as a result of the car doesn’t have a roof line that slopes aggressively in direction of the rear, however you’ll discover much less legroom than in a Mannequin 3.
Legroom for these seated within the center can even be compromised by fairly a big driveline tunnel, however at the very least second-row occupants can bask beneath the panoramic glass roof on sunny days.
Gadgets for consolation again right here embody two rear-facing air vents – albeit with no separate local weather management interface – and two USB-C ports hidden beneath that round lid.
There’s additionally a fold-down central armrest with cupholders, together with storage nets on the entrance seatbacks and storage cubbies within the doorways.
Plus, you get extra of that high-quality upholstery. It’s simply disappointing that this car platform’s inside combustion roots akin to that raised centre hump proceed to compromise inside area.
The Polestar 2’s boot is suitable. Whilst you get loads of area, the load flooring is pretty low in relation to the boot opening, making loading heavy objects more durable.
The ground is in any other case flat, and also you get a storage web on the right-hand aspect to cease smaller objects rolling round. There’s additionally an under-floor cubby that’s comparatively deep, which is an ideal place to retailer objects like a charging cable.
Making it simpler to entry is a powered tailgate, which could be opened utilizing a button subsequent to the steering wheel. You can even unlock the tailgate alone by urgent the button on the important thing.
Regardless of being largely a screen-only inside, you’d be shocked how simple it’s to rise up to hurry. Then once more, it’s value weighing up whether or not you’ll be capable to keep affected person for the primary few months as you learn to stay with the Polestar 2.
It’s basically no totally different to some other Polestar, however we don’t blame you in case you nonetheless need a extra conventional setup.
| Dimensions | Polestar 2 |
|---|---|
| Size | 4606mm |
| Width | 1985mm |
| Top | 1479mm |
| Wheelbase | 2735mm |
| Cargo capability | 407L (rear seats up) 1097L (rear seats folded) 41L (under-bonnet storage) |
To see how the Polestar 2 stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability instrument
What’s beneath the bonnet?
A storage cubby with 41 litres of capability. The Polestar 2 Lengthy Vary Single Motor drivetrain contains a single, rear-mounted electrical motor producing as much as 220kW of energy and 490Nm of torque, with vitality sourced from an 82kWh lithium-ion battery.
| Specs | Polestar 2 Lengthy Vary Single Motor |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Single-motor electrical |
| Battery | 82kWh |
| Battery chemistry | Lithium-ion |
| Peak energy | 220kW |
| Peak torque | 490Nm |
| Drive kind | Rear-wheel drive |
| Kerb weight | 2009kg |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 6.2 seconds |
| Power consumption (claimed) | 14.9-15.8kWh/100km |
| Power consumption (as examined) | 15.1kWh/100km |
| Claimed vary | 659km |
| Max AC cost price | 11kW |
| Max DC cost price | 205kW |
| Braked towing capability | 1500kg |
Our week with the automotive concerned primarily freeway driving, with some inner-suburban stints additionally thrown in. Regardless of the EV-unfriendly freeway skew, our recorded vitality consumption was proper within the ballpark of what Polestar claims.
To see how the Polestar 2 stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability instrument
How does the Polestar 2 drive?
As soon as once more in a no-frills trend, which we respect.
The driving course of begins whenever you unlock the car. As talked about above, there’s no begin/cease button to press when you’re inside and able to go.
As a substitute, the driving force should merely depress the brake pedal and shift into Drive, after which the Polestar 2 is then ‘on’. It’s complicated at first, particularly in case you’ve not been proven across the automotive or are used to jamming a key into the ignition.
When you’re used to it although, you’ll discover it’s fairly intuitive and never too dissimilar to a Tesla. Not that urgent a button is prohibitively tough, however we like that you simply’re capable of bounce in and go on a whim, as long as the secret’s in your pocket.
To show it off, merely pop it in Park, get out, and lock the doorways. This can even take some getting used to, and also you’d be forgiven for struggling to belief that your automotive is off and locked, at the very least within the teething part.
When you’re transferring, unassuming might be a phrase that will come to thoughts.
Even when the concrete-grey end utilized to our tester isn’t a useless giveaway, it’s not shocking that there are not any cutesy sounds or extravagant shows for the driving force to take in whereas on the transfer.
As a substitute, it’s quiet, refined, and easily goes about its job routinely. That’s supported by an absence of intrusive driver help tech, in addition to that snug inside setup with unremarkable but practical ergonomics and help.
A energy is the Polestar 2’s cabin refinement. Travelling alongside at suburban speeds reveals little street noise, with a lot of the sound you’ll hear coming from the car’s motors within the type of a delicate whirr – that modifications on rural highways the place the asphalt tends to be a bit coarser.
The usual wheels and tyres fitted to our tester probably assist with this, at the very least compared with the non-obligatory 20-inch alternate options. These tyres additionally do properly to protecting the automotive’s weight in verify, which at simply over two tonnes is nothing to sneeze at.
As is the case with many different EVs, this comparatively small-looking, jacked-up sedan is sadly fairly heavy. Regardless of that, Polestar has performed properly to not solely masks that but in addition use it as a bonus.
For one, the journey is superb. It is probably not as plush as a number of the bigger, dearer Polestars, however the suspension feels well-tuned and faithfully soaks up bumps and all method of imperfections. There’s an opulent high quality to the Polestar 2’s journey because of this, even whether it is nonetheless on the sportier aspect.
The automotive feels firmly planted in any respect speeds, notably on the freeway. That is the place the load is a profit, and also you get the impression that it’s capable of roll alongside like a reasonably glossy tank as a substitute of a tin can getting blown about by the wind.
One other energy is how subtly fast the Polestar 2 could be. Though our tester was solely rear-drive mannequin, it nonetheless has delivers quietly assured 6.2-second 0-100km/h time, giving it the power to scurry away from a cease and hold you from shedding too many red-light drag races.
That’s on high of the Polestar 2 matching its first rate effectivity declare. I are inclined to do a good bit of freeway driving, besides, it remained remarkably environment friendly.
Serving to that is its one-pedal driving system, which could be toggled between both ‘normal’, ‘low’, or ‘off’ utilizing the car settings menu on the central display. We discovered that even in its ‘low’ setting, the power of the automotive’s regenerative braking was stronger than we might have anticipated.
‘Customary’ mode nonetheless behaves like a typical one-pedal driving setup, however I’d like higher differentiation between the 2 modes. Perhaps that’s simply me, and it’s nonetheless pretty simple to be easy due to its progressive braking utility.
Utilizing the standard brake pedal, in the meantime, can even cost the battery. Not like what we’ve seen in another EVs, the Polestar 2’s brake pedal nonetheless feels because it ought to, with none sponginess or glazed-disc emotions.
You’re additionally capable of toggle auto-hold and choose whether or not or not the automotive will creep ahead from a standstill, as in an computerized inside combustion automotive would, by the identical inside menu, alongside three totally different energy settings for steering weight.
Switching stability management into Sport mode makes it doable to kick out the automotive’s rear-end in corners, notably when it’s moist. The only-motor Polestar 2s are nonetheless restrained sufficient to not buck you off if in case you have a heavy proper foot, and the others boast much more traction with all-wheel drive.
The steering is direct, responsive and feelsome for an EV, and the RWD Polestar 2’s dealing with is sharp sufficient to ship nice street holding and forestall you from keeling over in higher-speed turns. The adjustability in steering really feel presents a great vary for many tastes, and its unfettered point-and-go nature is a product of its rear-wheel drive format, since there’s no front-wheel drive torque steer to take care of.
To spherical it out, the Polestar 2 is solidified by the truth that it shares in Volvo’s respected security legacy. On this case you get Polestar’s Pilot Help, a well-tuned autonomous driving system that works reliably to match the pace of visitors round whereas holding the automotive firmly in its lane.
It has no difficulty getting on top of things with adaptive cruise management energetic both. With these programs off, the Polestar 2 received’t be preventing you for management if it thinks you’re getting too near the lane markings.
Meaning you get the management of a conventional automotive with out the protection nannies present in quite a lot of newer ones. They’re all nonetheless there, in fact, simply patiently ready in case one thing goes genuinely incorrect.
All up, it’s a refined bundle that drives confidently and satisfyingly. There’s not quite a bit we’d change, besides maybe including a good softer suspension possibility. For these with a sportier bent, there are additionally spicier dealing with goodies accessible larger up within the Polestar 2 vary, like adjustable Öhlins dampers.
To see how the Polestar 2 stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability instrument
What do you get?
Regardless of 4 obvious trim ranges, the Polestar 2 shares nearly all the identical gear throughout its vary.
2025 Polestar 2 gear highlights:
- 19-inch Aero alloy wheels with aero inserts
- Michelin Primacy 4 tyres
- Metallic paint
- Pixel LED headlights with adaptive high-beam
- LED entrance fog lights with cornering perform
- Automated high-beam
- Energy tailgate
- 11.15-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Android Automotive with Google built-in
- Apple CarPlay
- DAB+ digital radio
- Google service connectivity included for 3 years
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 4 x USB-C ports (two up entrance, two within the rear)
- Wi-fi telephone charger
- Eight-speaker 250W sound system
- Twin-zone local weather management
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Keyless entry and begin
- Charcoal headliner
- Embossed textile ‘vegan’ upholstery in Charcoal or Zinc with 3D etched deco
- Semi-electric entrance seats with four-way energy lumbar and driver’s reminiscence
- Heated entrance seats
- 60/40 cut up/fold rear seats
- ‘Mid-level’ inside illumination
To see how the Polestar 2 stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability instrument
Choices
Three possibility packs and a number of other standalone choices can be found for the Polestar 2.
Local weather pack: $1500
- Heated rear seats
- Heated wiper nozzles
- Heated steering wheel
- Warmth pump
Professional pack: $1900
- 20-inch Professional alloy wheels
- Black seatbelts with Swedish Gold striping
- Gold valve caps
Plus pack: $3900
- Mounted panoramic glass roof with projected Polestar image
- Electrically adjustable seats together with 4-way lumbar help, driver seat reminiscence, entrance cushion leg extension and backrest storage nets
- WeaveTech seats in Charcoal or Slate with Black Ash decor inlays
- Polestar Digital key
- Air High quality – PM2.5 sensor and filter
- Excessive-level inside illumination
- LED entrance fog lights with cornering
- Energy-operated tailgate with hands-free opening and mushy shut
- Rear load flooring lid-in-lid with bag holder
Standalone choices, relying on the variant, embody:
- 20-inch Professional graphite alloy wheels ($600)
- Pixel LED headlights ($1600)
- Charcoal animal welfare-secured Nappa leather-based upholstery with ventilated entrance seats ($6000)
- Harman Kardon 600W, 13-speaker sound system ($1400, normal on Lengthy Vary Twin Motor)
- Tinted rear home windows ($400, normal on Lengthy Vary Twin Motor)
To see how the Polestar 2 stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability instrument
Is the Polestar 2 secure?
The Polestar 2 has a five-star ANCAP security score primarily based on testing carried out by sister organisation Euro NCAP in 2021.
| Class | Polestar 2 |
|---|---|
| Grownup occupant safety | 92 per cent |
| Little one occupant safety | 87 per cent |
| Weak street person safety | 80 per cent |
| Security help | 82 per cent |
Customary security gear contains:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Car, bike owner, pedestrian detection
- Steering help
- Reverse AEB
- Blind-spot help
- Cross-traffic alert and help
- Run-off Highway Mitigation
- Lane-keep help
- Publish-impact braking
- Site visitors signal recognition
- Entrance, rear and aspect parking sensors
- Encompass-view digicam
- Eight airbags: entrance, aspect, inner-side and curtain
- Adaptive cruise management
- Pilot Help
- Emergency cease help
To see how the Polestar 2 stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability instrument
How a lot does the Polestar 2 value to run?
The Polestar 2 is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre car guarantee and an eight-year/160,000km high-voltage battery guarantee. Impressively, it additionally comes with 5 years of free scheduled servicing.
| Servicing and Guarantee | Polestar 2 |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 5 years, limitless kilometres |
| Battery guarantee | 8 years, 160,000km |
| Roadside help | 5 years |
| Service intervals | 2 years, 30,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | 5 years, 100,000km |
| Whole capped-price service value | Free |
To see how the Polestar 2 stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability instrument
CarExpert’s Tackle the Polestar 2 Lengthy Vary Single Motor
Earlier than getting the keys to the Polestar 2, I wasn’t fairly certain what to anticipate.
It’s simple to have a look at and assume it’s one other electrical sedan – albeit one with a particular Scando design – that not often seems within the wild, made by a model that also isn’t broadly recognized in Australia, at the very least not in comparison with the likes of Tesla and its Mannequin 3.
However after you spend a while behind the wheel, and all these nuances hiding behind its comparatively understated exterior start to disclose themselves. The Polestar 2 well-built and rides like one thing a lot bigger and dearer – with out being excessively massive or exorbitantly costly.
That mentioned, the worth continues to be a essential issue. Whereas it’s considerably cheaper than it was once, there’s no getting round the truth that the bottom Polestar 2 is quite a bit pricier than the comparable Mannequin 3, which shall be an enormous turn-off for a lot of consumers.
Then, there’s the elephant within the room. BYD additionally builds its automobiles in the identical nation as Polestar and, for Australia, Tesla. However the Seal is the one electrical sedan priced from beneath $50,000 on this market.
It’s unlucky that costs for the Polestar 2 aren’t decrease nonetheless, even perhaps sub-$60,000 for the bottom Customary Vary, as a result of it’s a fantastic automotive by any measure.
Its inside is snug and, regardless of being screen-heavy, nonetheless characteristically Polestar with its graphic design cues and normal format. Area within the second row might positively be improved, however that may name for a basic structural change that’s unlikely to occur till the following era.
The reliance on tech is one thing that shall be a studying curve for brand new homeowners, particularly these getting on in years or these coming from a car that’s. It’s 2025, and that’s one thing consumers should get used to when buying round within the new EV market, not simply within the comparatively unpopular sedan phase.
As a part of Polestar’s Australian catalogue, the two is smart. It’s the smallest mannequin within the lineup and now the most affordable by some margin. However when it nonetheless prices at the very least $65k on the street, some potential consumers will discover it tough to see the worth proposition.
The dearth of wi-fi Apple CarPlay continues to be a gripe too, particularly for a tech-focussed model like Polestar. Maybe an over-the-air replace will treatment this, however even then it’s laborious to see the two overtaking the Mannequin 3 to develop into a favorite EV amongst personal clients any time quickly.
Nonetheless, I’ve seen extra Polestar 2s on Melbourne roads in latest months, even when lots of them are rideshare automobiles. However everybody is aware of the Toyota Camry received’t be handing over the crown in that division with out a struggle both, so Polestar’s debut Australian mannequin might properly be destined to stay area of interest for some time but.
Concerned about shopping for a Polestar 2? Get in contact with considered one of CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here
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