Huge 2024 Polestar 2 spec upgrade for modest price increases

The comprehensively overhauled 2024 Polestar 2 will be priced from $67,400 plus on-road costs when order books open on July 5 – ahead of first deliveries in August – marking a price increase of $3500 over the outgoing version of the mid-size electric fastback.

Potential buyers need not despair, however, because the extra outlay is justified by a mountain of mechanical and equipment upgrades across the range.

The new pricing also means the range-opening Polestar 2 variant still qualifies for the myriad state and federal EV incentives that have been a major drawcard for prospective EV owners over the past couple of years.

In exchange for the extra $3500, buyers of the 2024 Polestar 2 Standard Range Single Motor will nab an additional 30kW/160Nm (totalling 200kW/490Nm), rear-wheel drive and an extra 54km of range (518km) courtesy of revised chemistry for its 69kWh battery pack.

The extra grunt provided by the all-new motor improves the car’s 0-100km/h acceleration time, from 7.4 to 6.4 seconds.

More power and range are also on offer from the $71,400 Long Range Single Motor (+$3000), with its all-new 82kWh battery and a gruntier 220kW motor combining for an effective driving range of up to 654km (+103km) and a 0-100km/h sprint time of 6.2 seconds.

The new battery pack is shared across all Long Range variants and facilitates DC fast-charging of up to 205kW compared to the 69kWh’s 135kW.

As the name suggests, the Long Range Dual Motor throws in another motor for an extra $5000 (from $76,400) and the resulting 310kW/740Nm (+10kW/80Nm) outputs slash the acceleration time down to 4.5sec, which will be more than worth it for buyers hoping to upset Tesla Model 3 owners, even if the range is reduced to 591km.

While less than the single-motor, the dual-motor’s driving range marks a 104km improvement over its predecessor’s 487km range and can be attributed to a combination of the advanced new battery pack and front motor disconnect system.

At the top of the updated Polestar 2 tree sits the ‘Long Range Dual Motor with Performance Pack’, which will retail for $85,400 (+$4000) and pack 350kW/740Nm without losing out on range compared to the standard Long Range Dual Motor.

Trainspotters will be able to identify the MY24 Polestar 2 by its new ‘SmartZone’ front fascia and the Performance Pack’s refreshed 20-inch alloy wheel design, although no other major changes have been made to either the body or cabin designs.

That said, the 2’s standard equipment and safety lists have been significantly enhanced with the addition of a blind spot monitoring system (with steering support), cross traffic alert with brake support, rear collision warning and mitigation, 360-degree camera, auto-dimming exterior mirrors and a wireless phone charger. All of these functions were previously optional extras.

Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath said the MY24 updates will make the 2 “even better” than the original, while the brand’s chassis development boss Joakim Rydholm promised significantly improved dynamics.

“Changing from front- to rear-wheel drive in the single-motor variants, and re-calibrating the torque ratio in the dual-motor variant for an increased rear-wheel drive feel, elevates the Polestar 2 driving experience to a whole new level,” said Rydholm in a statement.

“The updated Polestar 2 is an even more playful and agile car, retaining its compactness and complete sense of control, while at the same time becoming more mature with added comfort.”

How much does the 2024 Polestar 2 cost?
Standard Range Single Motor – $67,400 (+$3500)
Long Range Single Motor – $71,400 (+$3000)
Long Range Dual Motor – $76,400 (+$3000)
Long Range Dual Motor with Perf Pack – $85,400 (+$4000)
* Prices exclude on-road costs

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