Polestar 4 electric car review
This stylish new machine deletes a window in favour of a display screen, which could change the way cars are designed for good.
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Let’s deal first with the elephant in the rear view mirror of the Polestar 4.
The EV doesn’t have a rear window, and the image its driver sees in the rear view mirror is from a camera.
This sparked controversy when the car was unveiled back in April 2023.
All around the world, on websites and television, in newspapers and magazines, Polestar’s design decision was a hot topic.
There were plenty of doubters.
Typical was US website Carscoops, which asked its readers: “Are you ready to give up rear windows and trust technology?”
Now we’ve had a chance to drive the Polestar 4 we can tell you that no window is no problem.
The camera is mounted high, and has a wide, unobstructed view. The crisp image in the rear view mirror is excellent.
The camera copes better than the human eye with changes in light levels, as when driving into in dimly lit tunnels and car parks.
And Polestar has added some thoughtful features; when indicating to change lanes, the camera usefully swivels slightly in the direction the driver intends to move. Need to check what the kids are up to in the rear seat? Simply flick the button on the bottom of the mirror and it becomes a normal reflective mirror.
The camera lens needs to be kept clean, obviously. But dust, grime and snow need to be removed from rear windows for a clear view, too.
Polestar’s designers insist that deleting the rear window is the key to the 4’s looks, both inside and out. It meant freedom to relocate the passenger compartment’s rear crossbrace, a hefty piece of pressed steel that normally is right above the rear seat. Moving it backwards and downwards made it possible to give the Polestar 4 both a lower roofline and a massive glass roof.
The Polestar 4 looks great from the outside.
The company calls it an SUV coupe, but it’s lower and lovelier than anything else in the category, whether electric or internal-combustion powered.
Inside, the five-seat cabin is spacious and Swedish, minimalistic yet classy and comfortable. Despite the low roofline there’s plenty of headroom in the rear seat.
Unlike in other Polestars, the 4’s large central touchscreen is landscape oriented. The infotainment system is powered by the Android Automotive OS, so it has Google built in. Because it has access to data from the electronic systems operating the car, Google Maps provides more than just navigation. It also provides really accurate info on driving range and charging stations.
Apple iPhone users can choose to use CarPlay and navigate with Apple Maps, but they’ll lose the advantages that come with Google Maps’ tight integration.
The Polestar 4 Long Range Dual Motor is the most powerful car the company has produced so far, with two 200kW electric motors, one for each axle. Like other high-powered, dual motor EVs, it’s very, very quick.
Maybe a little too quick for comfort.
Polestar bought only the Long Range Dual Motor version to Spain for media to try. But some important suspension parts, including shock absorbers, weren’t the same as will go into the production versions headed for Australia, Europe and other markets outside China, which is where the Polestar 4 is made. So we’ll reserve final Judgement on the car’s ride and handling for now.
In Australia the Long Range Dual Motor version will be about $101,000 drive-away, though option packs can add almost $20,000 to this.
The good news is that the Polestar 4 Long Range Single Motor costs about $89,000 drive-away. It gets the same big 100kWh battery pack as the Long Range Dual Motor. This means it charges just as quickly. It can accept up to 200kW from a high-power DC charger and up to 22kW from the most powerful kind of three-phase home wallbox.
With a 200kW motor driving its rear axle, the Single Motor is sure to deliver brisk acceleration. But its official driving range is a whopping 620km, compared to the 590km of the Dual Motor.
It’s the model the majority of Australian buyers are sure to choose when the Polestar 4 arrives in September or October this year.
POLESTAR 4 LONG RANGE DUAL MOTOR
PRICE About $101,000 drive-away
ON SALE September/October 2024
ENGINE Front and rear electric motors, 400kW/686Nm
RANGE 590km
Originally published as Polestar 4 electric car review
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