Australians can now test the new Polestar 2 electric car
The latest electric car brand to launch in Australia brings European style at a relatively affordable price, but there is a catch.
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Aussies can now sample the latest luxury brand to land in Australia.
Polestar, Volvo’s electric car spin-off, is giving Aussie customers a chance to sample the new 2 electric sedan before deliveries start next year.
A roadshow of test drives will start in Sydney, followed by Melbourne, Gold Coast and Brisbane in the next few months.
Potential owners can slap down a fully refundable $500 deposit to secure one of the limited number of vehicles heading to Australia.
Head of Polestar Australia, Samantha Johnson, says: “The demand we’re seeing for Polestar 2 test drives Australia-wide has exceeded even our most ambitious estimates, which is testament to the growing interest in electric vehicles locally, and the need for greater consumer choice in the market.”
The Polestar is built in China and features handsome styling and plush luxury interiors that rival mainstream European machines.
It is available in three variants, a single motor standard range variant, a long-range single motor variant and a dual-motor version.
Prices start at $59,900 before on-road costs, but will only cost about $59,000 on the road after EV incentives in NSW, Victoria and South Australia have been applied.
This puts it on par with the cheapest Tesla Model 3 sedan, and cheaper than Hyundai’s bigger Ioniq 5 SUV.
The base version has a 165kW motor and a range of 440km, the $64,900 (before on-road costs) long-range version has a 170kW motor and 540km of range. The $69,900 performance focused dual motor version has 300kW – which is more than a V8 Commodore – and a range of 480km.
But buyers wanting some safety, tech and luxury features are forced to shell out more via pricey option packs.
A $6000 “Plus” pack delivers luxuries such as a seriously impressive 13-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charging and a heated rear seat and steering wheel.
The $5000 “Pilot” pack serves up matrix LED headlights, a 360-degree camera and – somewhat controversially – driver aids such as active cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
These safety features are often free on much cheaper petrol-powered cars.
Interested buyers can book a test drive at Polestar’s website.
Originally published as Australians can now test the new Polestar 2 electric car
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