Polestar 1 review

The Polestar 1 is going to be a rare beast. Only 1500 cars are being built in total, of which around 650 are expected to go to China. The others will be split between a further eight global markets (USA, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Netherlands Belgium and the UK). Live somewhere else? You’re going to be investigating import regulations if you want one. It’s also left-hand drive only. Which affects us Brits but no-one else.

They’re being built at a rate of 15 cars a week at Polestar’s Chengdu plant in China. Equipment levels, as mentioned already, are comprehensive, and the exclusivity – plus the fact it’s the first car from an exciting new brand – help justify the £139,000 cost.

Quick tip: when you sign on the line, get Polestar to include a clause that guarantees a lifetime supply of valve caps. Polestar took the 1 to the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2018. The brake and damper-matching gold caps were perpetually thieved. Either that or you remove them yourself every time you park. But that’s neither becoming nor luxurious.