Polestar 2 review

Prices start from £44,950 for the base-spec Standard Range Single Motor, but let’s face it the one you want is the £48,950 Long Range Single Motor for those extra miles, torque and pace.

The Long Range Dual Motor and Long Range Dual Motor Performance Pack (try saying that over and over, it’s hard) are the pair you might be tempted by. £52,950 and £57,950 apiece… do you really want to spend your money on fancy dampers and gold bling? Save your money for options, that’s our advice.

Details please.

Right, the Polestar 2 doesn’t do trim levels: you simply pick your powertrain and then add… stuff. Luckily the standard kit list is healthy, with even base-spec models getting LED lights front and rear, those lovely Scandi frameless mirrors, 19-inch wheels and heated seats, and Google’s operating system displayed through an 11.2-inch portrait touchscreen. It’s up there with the best infotainment systems we’ve used.

Then you pick your colour (there’s a range of muted yet classy options for £900), and either stick with 19s or twist with 20s for another £900.

There are three ‘Packs’ to choose from, including a £2,000 Pilot pack (which focuses on safety with things like Pixel LED lights, Volvo’s 360-degree camera and the Pilot Assist cruise control), £4,000 Plus (which adds a panoramic sunroof, Harman Kardon sound system, heated rear seats and a wireless phone charger among other bits) or – on Dual Motor spec only – the Performance Pack, which gets you that power upgrade plus flashy, 20in forged alloy wheels, Öhlins dampers, Brembo brakes and more.

You can also choose your interior finish, plus boring bits like a towbar and mudflaps.

What’s the best spec?

As is the way with most EVs, the cheapest, plenty fast enough single motor version is arguably the pick of the bunch here, but if you’re prone to range anxiety (and can afford it), spec the long ranger. Ask yourself this first, though: when did you last drive 250+ miles in one go?

How long does it take to charge?

Charging at home using a standard wallbox takes 12 hours, but find a rapid charger (the 2 maxes out at 205kW now, up from 130kW before) and Polestar says it'll go from 10 to 80 per cent full in under half an hour. Polestar has also teamed up with Europe-wide charging outfit Plugsurfing, so owners get access to 195,000 charging points across Europe – including the UK – with one electronic key tag.

So hopefully no waving your phone around for signal so you can download your eighteenth charging membership app while stuck at a rainy services at 3am. Phew.