Polestar 2 price shock

Scandinavian premium electric car maker Polestar has thrown lightning bolts like Zeus at the Tesla Model 3 and a variety of other EVs with its all-new 2022 Polestar 2, pricing for which will open at $59,900 plus on-road costs including five years of free servicing included.

Available to order online from October ahead of first customer deliveries from January 2022, the Polestar 2 is the first of four all-new models from the Swedish-based, Chinese-built EV brand to arrive between now and 2024.

The aggressive sub-$60K opening price for the Polestar 2 Standard-Range Single-Motor variant matches that of Australia’s most popular EV, the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus, which is the first EV to achieve price parity with its direct combustion-powered competitors and was recently crowned carsales’ Best Electric Car for 2021.

What’s more, the Polestar 2 Long-Range Single-Motor is priced at $64,900 plus ORCs – meaning both it and the entry model will be eligible for $3000 EV rebates in NSW and Victoria, plus separate stamp duty, registration and ownership perks in various jurisdictions.

Sitting atop the Polestar 2 line-up is the performance-oriented Long-Range Dual-Motor variant, priced at $69,900 plus ORCs.

It undercuts its Tesla Model 3 Performance by $15,000, although some of its performance kit is optional (details below).

Polestar 2 2021 International Review

Polestar, the electric sister company of automotive giant Volvo, plans to “broaden the appeal of electric mobility in Australia” with its new mid-size sedan.

It has chosen a ‘digital first’ online sales platform but hopes to harness the existing network of Australian Volvo dealers for servicing support.

According to Polestar Australia boss Samantha Johnson, the new start-up’s combination of luxury, environmental focus and strong aftersales support headed by five years’ complimentary servicing presented “huge growth opportunities” locally.

“Our vehicle gives people a choice. We’re a premium brand but we’re allowing people to come in and have a choice. A lot of people want to get into an EV but they haven’t really had a choice because there’s a very big price range between what’s available and the premium models,” she said.

“We’re growing fast globally and Australia is an important market for the company. We want to build brand awareness with the Polestar 2, because there’s a lot more coming up in future years.”

Polestar officials are confident they can fulfil volume expectations in Australia despite ongoing challenges around global parts shortages due to COVID-19.

Standard equipment across the 2022 Polestar 2 range includes 19-inch alloy wheels, vegan upholstery, over-the-air (OTA) updates, LED headlights and tail-lights, Polestar’s signature frameless mirrors and 3D-etched decor panels.

The Polestar 2’s infotainment system is powered by Google’s Android Automotive OS with integrated Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play Store, and also comprises an 11.0-inch centre touch-screen and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and eight-speaker audio.

Range-wide standard safety features include eight airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with vehicle, pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane keeping with road edge detection, reversing camera and front/rear parking sensors.

The Polestar 2 carries a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.

There’s also three optional packages available to Polestar 2 customers in Australia.

The $5000 Pilot Pack adds Pixel LED headlights with LED front fog lights, adaptive cruise control, Pilot Assist 360-degree surround view camera, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with steering support, cross traffic alert with brake support, and rear collision warning.

The $6000 Plus Pack adds heating for the front and rear seats, steering wheel and even the windscreen wipers, a full-length panoramic glass roof, premium 13-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, WeaveTech ‘vegan’ interior trim, Black Ash deco panels, fully-electric front seats with memory and a new heat pump-based climate-control system.

Available only for the Long-Range Dual-Motor flagship, the $8000 Performance Pack adds manually adjustable Ohlins Dual Flow Valve dampers, four-piston Brembo brakes, forged alloy wheels and signature Polestar gold detailing inside and out.

Aside from specification, differentiating each Polestar 2 model are varying battery and electric motor combinations.

The entry Standard-Range Single-Motor produces 165kW of power and 330Nm of torque, feeding energy from a 64kWh battery and driving the front wheels.

Consumption is rated at 17.1kWh/100km, correlating with a WLTP range of up to 440km.

Next in line, the Polestar 2 Long-Range Single-Motor boosts outputs to 170kW and 330Nm, using a more powerful 78kWh battery to extend range to up to 540km.

Finally, the Long-Range Dual-Motor adds an additional electric motor – providing all-wheel drive – to push outputs to 300kW and 660Nm.

The same 78kWh battery applies, with combined consumption rated at 19.4kWh/100km and range at up to 480km.

Johnson assured Polestar’s online-only sales model in Australia would provide “an easy and personalised journey” for customers.

“We’ll have physical locations where consumers can go in and talk to product experts – not salespeople – who can go through who we are as a brand, offer test drives and talk about feature,” she said.

“Volvo support is on the service network, we want to make sure no matter where you buy your vehicle there is great support nationwide.”

Each Polestar 2 is backed by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty, eight-year/160,000km battery warranty, five-year roadside assistance package and a complimentary five-year/100,000km service plan.

Servicing intervals will be spaced every two years/30,000km.

Polestar Australia is also exploring possibilities for collaborations with charging providers, as well as home charging infrastructure.

This week, Polestar unveiled plans for five different electric vehicles between now and 2024 – coinciding with news it would soon be publicly listed.

They include the Audi e-tron-rivalling Polestar 3 mid-size SUV next year, the Polestar 4 coupe-SUV in 2023 and the Polestar 5 sedan in 2024.

Johnson said all of those models were on the radar for Australia.

How much does the 2022 Polestar 2 cost?
Standard-Range Single-Motor – $59,900
Long-Range Single-Motor – $64,900
Long-Range Dual-Motor – $69,900
* Prices exclude on-road costs