Polestar 2: A 5000-Mile Quick Review

I have officially crossed the 5000-mile mark on my 2022 Polestar 2 Long-Range with Pilot Package. They say if you look back at your car after you park every time, then you made the right choice. This is still a daily occurrence for me. With only a few bumps in the road of Polestar ownership, I can honestly say this is a fantastic all electric vehicle, even with the odd quirk or two.

The good

Styling

The first item is more opinionated, so we will get that out of the way first. The styling of the Polestar 2 may not be for everyone. I personally love the boxy, yet sharp feel of it. The rear end puts me into a scene out of Cyberpunk, with the rear continuous LED brake lights. While at the front of the vehicle are Thor's Hammer LED headlights that provide a unique look that adds to the esthetic.

The interior is also a pleasing place to be in. It is not as minimalistic as the Tesla Model 3, but minimalism is certainly a key design factor of the interior. The entirely vegan material interior provides a driver oriented cabin, all while being Eco friendly. Instead of the open air feel of a Model 3, the Polestar 2 feels more like you are entering the cockpit of your own personal jet. You settle into your seat and all the instruments needed to fly your Polestar 2 are easily accessible. The high rise center console adds to this effect while leading to the 11.2-inch infotainment touchscreen just before the Polestar logo illuminated gear shifter. Every touchpoint is pleasing.

Fastback Powered Lift gate

A lot of my previous cars were hatchbacks. I love the versatility that hatchbacks provide. That being said, I still really like the styling of a sedan. The Polestar 2 is almost the best of both world. It provides a sedan-esque styling with a whopping 15.5-cubic-foot cargo measurement. This car doesn't have a typical trunk.
Instead, a hatchback-style cargo space is revealed when the rear powered deck lid is raised.

Driving Dynamics

I almost always take the scenic route with this car. The chassis provides a responsive feel when turning into those curvy bits of road. The dual motor drivetrain then propels you with 408 horsepower and 487 lb-ft of torque out of the corner. Every time it is intoxicating.

Almost all EVs have that addicting 0-60 times, and the Polestar 2 achieves this with a quick 4.6 seconds. But the even more addicting piece is while around tight corners. Even when fitted with its standard Michelin Primacy 4 tires, the compact Swedish car maintains a planted position and provides outstanding grip.

At 05:00 in the morning, the Polestar 2 can also provide a peaceful and easy commute when you are looking to slow things down. With the Pilot package, you get access to Volvo's Pilot Assist function. This safety assistance program makes driving on the highway and long commutes a cakewalk with minimal driving fatigue. I did a longer review on that here.

The Bad

Seating Position

This is probably just a "me" thing, but I find that I cannot find the best seating position. I am 5' 10" so I have plenty of headroom, but I find that I wish that the steering wheel would be able to adjust out a little more. Even just another few inches would make it more comfortable. This is obviously highly subjective. The seats are still comfortable, but it leaves a little to be desired in seating position.

While I'm on about the seats, I find it odd that without the plus package you do not get a power recline option. You get an awkwardly located manual adjustment knob. All other positional movements are powered, except recline. It just seems weird to lock just that behind the plus package.

Interior Space

The Polestar 2 is not the largest car. Although the trunk provides a large amount of storage space, it is a little tight when fully occupied. It is not often that my car is fully occupied, though, as I mainly just drive it to work. However, on the few occasions that I did have a fully loaded car with 4 adults total, it was a bit tight. Often times this was for lunch runs, so this would include drinks and food as well. The rear passengers were a little cramped, but the middle section of the seats folds out to provide 2 cup holders, which is nice.

In the front was another issue. That coworker was a bit larger at 6' 3". He had to put the seat pretty far back to fit, and was still cramped. Obviously this made the passenger behind him a bit uncomfortable. It certainly wasn't like trying to fit said passengers into something like a fiat 500, but was slightly confined.

The cup holder situation has been the focal point for a lot of reviews. Some people have even resorted to buying accessories to solve the issue. With one of the two cup holders being hidden underneath the arm rest, thus removing the possibility to use the arm rest when two cups are in the front is less than ideal. Though, as someone who generally drives by themselves, one cup holder is more than enough.

Break Down With Less Than 500 Miles

I go into more detail in this post, but at around 350 miles on the clock, I had to have my new polestar 2 towed back to the service center. At the end of the day, it ended up being a software error that required a simple OS reload, however it definitely put a damper on the honeymoon period of new car ownership. The service center, with some encouragement, provided solid service and resolved my issue without much inconvenience to me. Even so far as to drive 100 some miles from the service center to drop off a Polestar 2 loaner at my work.

Occasional Rattles

I guess I am super particular about this one. Rattles are the bane of my existence and in an EV these are often amplified, due to the already quiet nature. The Polestar 2 has a generally solid interior. Everything feels very well put together. There are little to no gaps in the panels and materials used are of good quality.

There are a few rattles that have been plaguing this car. I have seen multiple reports of noise coming from the A and B pillars and seat belt assembly. I personally experience both on non-smooth roads. It is easily drowned out by music, but still an annoyance. Apparently, Polestar Spaces are aware, and it is easily resolved, but not without having to take the panel apart.

Fantastic Car Despite Its Small Flaws

I do not regret my purchase of the 2022 Polestar 2 whatsoever. The Space I dealt with made purchasing a breeze (see the write-up I did on that here). Since I only had the Pilot Package, which includes a wireless charger, I purchased a Wireless Charging Pad. While I was at it, I also grabbed a screen protector, to reduce fingerprint smudges and protect the fragile 11.2-inch infotainment screen from scratches.

From the quiet and effective commuter experience to the planted corner dominating thrill finding experience, the Polestar 2 delivers on all fronts. I look forward to the time I spend in this vehicle every day. When all is said and done, isn't that all that really matters?

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