2022 Polestar 2 price and features: Tesla Model 3 in its sights

UPDATE, April 5, 2022: It turns out the 2022 Polestar 2 Standard Range has better specifications than were originally reported.

Shortly after this story was first published, Polestar quietly upgraded the 2 Standard Range, increasing its battery pack for the Australian market from 64kWh to 69kWh before production commenced.

Power has also gone up by 5kW, and driving range has improved from 440 kilometres to a maximum of 470km on the WLTP standard.

Figures within the article have been updated to reflect the changes.

The story to here

February 21, 2022: The Polestar 2 is now finally available in Australia, going on sale today. Story at the link below.

Volvo’s sister performance brand Polestar has put the Tesla Model 3 in its sights with a $59,900 starting price for its first ever vehicle in Australia.

The Polestar 2 electric fastback goes on sale in January 2022 with a line-up comprising three variants offering varying performance and range.

The Standard Range Single Motor costs the same as the entry-level Model 3 that was given a significant price cut earlier this year. The Polestar produces 170kW and 330Nm from its 69kWh battery, with a quoted driving range of up to 470km (WLTP cycle).

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A mid-range Polestar 2 Long Range Single Motor costs $64,990 before on-road costs and is capable of travelling up to 540km with its 78kWh battery and 170kW/330Nm electric motor.

The $69,900 Long Range Dual Motor features an electric motor on each axle to produce 300kW and 660Nm. It has a quoted driving range of up to 480km and is the fastest Polestar 2 model with a claimed 0-100km/h time of 4.7 seconds. This compares with 7.4 seconds for the Single Motor variants.

Tesla’s Model 3 offers 190kW, a driving range of up to 448km (WLTP), and 0-100km/h acceleration of 5.6 seconds in entry-level Standard Range guise. The $73,400 Long Range variant can travel up to 580km and the $84,900 flagship Performance can accelerate from standstill to 100km/h in 3.3 seconds.

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Polestar’s most expensive 2 undercuts Volvo’s first ever fully electric production car, the just-released XC40 Recharge Pure Electric priced from $76,990.

However, the Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor has significantly less equipment than the Volvo with which it shares its platform and electric drivetrain.

A $5000 Pilot Pack and $6000 Plus Pack are both needed to match the electric XC40, which for now is offered only as a single, high-spec variant.

The Pilot Pack includes key active safety aids such as adaptive cruise control, surround view camera and blind-spot monitoring – a move which has drawn some criticism from car enthusiasts for such features not being fitted as standard.

The Plus Pack includes a full-length panoramic sunroof, 13-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, fully electric heated front seats, heated rear seats and heated steering wheel.

Posting on the Wheels Facebook page, a number of readers criticised the brand for making many features optional.

"It doesn't have heat pump and adaptive cruise control as standard," one reader said.

"They['ve] stripped out all the good stuff and selling it as option packs… $6000 for heat pump pack and $5000 for adaptive cruise pack," another added.

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An $8000 Performance Pack is exclusive to the Polestar 2, available on the Dual Motor only. Features include forged 20-inch alloy wheels, Brembo brakes, adjustable Öhlins dampers, and ‘Swedish gold’ trim embellishments for the interior and exterior.

Individual options for all models include metallic paint and 20-inch alloy wheels. Nappa leather upholstery with ventilated front seats are available in conjunction with the Plus Pack.

Vegan upholstery is standard along with a new Android/Google infotainment system that’s also shared with the XC40 Pure Electric.

Polestar vehicles come with a five-year warranty as well as five years of complimentary roadside assistance and servicing. The inclusive five-year maintenance plan is another point of differentiation from its parent brand.

Single-motor versions of the Polestar 2 are eligible for $3000 EV rebates being offered by New South Wales and Victoria for electric cars costing less than $68,750/$68,740. NSW will also reimburse stamp duty.

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Polestar is being established as a separate entity to Volvo, with vehicles to be sold online in Australia with eventual retail stores to be deployed in various cities. These Polestar Spaces will follow the Tesla concept by providing a browsing opportunity for prospective buyers, with specialists on hand to assist with enquiries.

The Polestar 2 started life as a 2016 Volvo concept vehicle called the 40.2, unveiled alongside the 40.1 which became the Volvo XC40. In 2017, Volvo and its Chinese parent company Geely announced Polestar would transition from representing sportier Volvo variants to become a standalone performance brand.

The Polestar 2, first revealed in 2019, is built at a Volvo/Geely plant in China.

Polestar will expand its product range in the next few years with a sedan based on its 2020 Precept concept and mid-sized and large SUVs.

The brand’s first vehicle, the 2019 Polestar 1 hybrid, was a limited-volume, left-hand-drive model that ruled it out for Australia.

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2022 Polestar 2 pricing for Australia

Excludes on-road costs.

Features

Standard Range Single Motor

Long Range Single Motor

Long Range Dual Motor