Polestar 5 Performance Grand Tourer 2026 Review - International
The sleek, stylish and fast Polestar 5 has arrived to spearhead the brand’s latest EV tech as it aims squarely for the Porsche TaycanAs a luxurious and exotic high-performance electric sports-sedan flagship, the Polestar 5 is by far the Sino-Swedish brand’s most ambitious car yet. Based around a bespoke aluminium space-frame chassis, Polestar’s four-door supercar was developed from scratch within its new UK base – and not in China or Sweden. Members of the expert team even includes gurus poached from the likes of McLaren and Aston Martin. Although, while the Polestar 5 is an engineering treat, it should have launched two years ago. Luckily, the Polestar 5 offers more space, comfort and sharp dynamics at a significantly reduced cost to key rivals.
How much does the Polestar 5 cost?
Originally, the 2026 Polestar 5 Performance Grand Tourer was to be offered in four variants that included a rear-drive version with either 350kW or 400kW, but it’s now not known if those will ever be introduced.
Instead, there’s either the choice of a 550kW Polestar 5 Dual Motor that costs $171,100 plus on-road costs (ORCs) or the flagship 650kW Polestar 5 Performance that will sell for $193,100 plus ORCs.
Dominating the Polestar 5’s sleek and low design is a pair of slim, dual-blade headlights that come with LED Pixel tech as standard. Other striking elements are a huge panoramic roof and a lack of rear screen.
Inside there’s a pair of comfortable and supportive Recaro sport seats that are wrapped in Charcoal MicroTech fabric or optional high-welfare Nappa leather that adds ventilation and massage features. Both rear seats recline, too.
Ahead of the driver is a standard 9.0-inch digital instrument cluster that combines with a 9.5-inch head-up display. The 14.5-inch infotainment screen runs Android Automotive and features built-in Google, while a premium 10-speaker sound system, noise cancellation and ambient lighting are also standard.
Polestar equips its latest GT with 11 cameras as well as a driver-monitoring camera, a mid-range radar and 12 ultrasonic sensors. There are eight airbags, each containing in-car radars to detect the number and position of occupants to safely deploy the airbags in the event of an accident.
Some of the options include the Bridge of Weir Nappa leather that can be combined with either Charcoal and black ash for $11,800, or the same leather with Zinc accents instead at a $12,400 premium. Fancy Zinc-coloured leather? That will cost $13,000.
Six paint options are available, with the Magnesium hue standard. However, if you opt for any other colour, they aren’t cheap. The metallic paints are Space ($3000), Storm ($3000) and Snow ($4000), while the two matte finishes (Magnesium and Storm) will set you back a considerable $10,000.
Larger 21-22-inch alloy wheels are priced from $3000-$7000, a tow bar is $3200 and the most powerful 21-speaker 1680W Bowers & Wilkins audio with noise cancellation commands $8800.
Both the base Polestar 5 Dual Motor and Polestar 5 Performance come with two e-motors, with the entry GT pumping out 550kW and 812Nm for a 0-100km/h dash of 3.8 seconds. The more powerful 650kW/1015Nm Performance, meanwhile, takes just 3.2 seconds for the 0-100km/h sprint.
What’s good about the Polestar 5?
If you love performance cars, it’s hard not to admire the no-expense-spared approach to the 2026 Polestar 5’s gestation. How can you not be won over by its bespoke all-aluminium architecture? It alone shaves 100kg off its kerb weight but doesn’t stop it tipping the scales at more than 2500kg.
The no-nonsense approach extends to the suspension, with the firm’s black-ops division making no compromises and fitting a double-wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear. Top versions also come with trick MagneRide adaptive dampers that react to a road’s surface in just three milliseconds, providing a firm, but comfortable ride even though it lacks air springs.
For now, we’ve only driven the Polestar 5 Grand Tourer on a proving ground. Despite doing a good job of mimicking typical roads, we need a little more seat time for a definitive assessment. That said, its steering is precise, Porsche-like even, while the 5 feels far lighter than its hefty mass might suggest.
Engineers didn’t fit rear-wheel steering to artificially enhance agility, either. That’s not because they couldn’t, but because they felt the five-metre-long sedan didn’t need it. And it’s hard not to argue as the engineering purity shines through.
Other benefits include offering far more space than a Porsche Taycan or an Audi RS e-tron GT, a more comfortable ride and generally lower levels of noise permeating the cabin.
What’s not so good about the Polestar 5?
Against the clock during testing, the 2026 Polestar 5 Performance Grand Tourer easily beat its claimed 0-100km/h time by a couple of tenths, returning an impressive 2.8 second dash. Yet even that level of acceleration isn’t enough to usurp the much quicker Taycan Turbo S models (2.4 seconds).
The benchmark Porsche also just edges the bigger Polestar 5 for ultimate athleticism on a country road or on track.
Other gripes concern the small digital instrument cluster and dated-looking infotainment that we feel could have been improved for the flagship model. It just looks a little generic for a car that otherwise exudes fine attention to detail throughout.
While we have few complaints about the 22 minutes it takes to top up from 10 to 80 per cent, the Polestar 5’s 565km range seems a little short of the Porsche that can travel up to 634km if you choose your Turbo S with the most modest wheel size (although, few will).
Should I buy a Polestar 5?
While it’s impossible to ignore the Porsche Taycan, a far better rival for the 2026 Polestar 5 are larger four-door EVs like both the BMW i5 M60 ($215,900) and the Mercedes EQE 53 ($217,000) that both make a much better stab of providing more space within for four adults.
Compared to both high-powered Germans the Polestar 5’s design and engineering prowess shine brightly at a price point more than $20,000 lower.
Despite arriving two years after originally planned, we think many would prefer life with the Polestar 5. Its ride quality and the driving experience are among the best in the business, not to mention the fact that its interior and exterior design will make every interaction with it an event.
The biggest shame could be that the British research and development division’s first offering could be its last. Polestar’s skunkworks team is set to be shuttered shortly after this model’s launch, but it’s hoped the Polestar 5 influence will go on to improve all future models.
2026 Polestar 5 Performance Grand Tourer at a glance:
Price: $193,100 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Mid-2026
Powertrain: Two synchronous electric motors
Output: 650kW/1015Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 112kWh lithium-ion (NMC)
Range: 565km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 20.9kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Not tested
Related: Polestar 5 bags lightweight aluminium platform
Related: 2024 Polestar 5 to offer full self-driving tech
Related: Polestar 5 trialled with ultra-fast 370kW EV charging
Related: Polestar 5 prototype 2023 shotgun review
Tags
- Striking looks ensures it looks like nothing else
- Beneath the skin is closer to an exotic supercar than battery-powered sedan
- Much quicker than it's claimed to be
- In-car tech looks and feels a little dated for a flagship
- Range could be more generous on the fastest version
- Might be the first and last to ride on the advanced aluminium platform
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