SPRING
GLEAMINGPOLE POSITION
20 T3 MARCH 2021Horizon
TravelSCANDINAVIAN CHIC
Alistair Charlton gets behind the wheel of the Polestar 2.
Should the Scandi EV have Tesla worried?A fresh-faced relative of Volvo, Polestar is
a new all-electric car brand with the tag
line ‘pure, progressive, performance’. The
marque currently offers two models; first
was the logically named Polestar 1, a
limited-run, high-performance hybrid,
followed by the equally logical Polestar 2,
a five-door all-electric fastback. Should
Tesla be worried? We’ve gone behind
the wheel to find out...
The Polestar stands out immediately
with a slightly elevated stance – it is
styled unlike anything else on the road.
And it’s positively dripping in Scandinavian
cool and stands out from the crowd
without shouting about it. If we were
judging this on looks alone, the Polestar
takes it in our eyes.
It has all the performance you’d expect
from a 408bhp electric vehicle too. That
means a 0-60mph time of 4.7 seconds, a
meaty 660Nm of torque, and a quoted
range of 292 miles from its Tesla-Model-3-
rivalling 78kWh battery pack.
Almost Tesla-quick off the line, the
Polestar 2 exudes a build quality often
lacking in its American rival. Engaging to
drive and planted through the corners, the
2 is keen to show a fun side that betrays
its Scandinavian sensibilities.The trick Ohlins dampers fitted as part
of the £5,000 Performance Pack are too
firm in their default setting, however, and
while you could crack out the spanners
to try one of the other 21 settings, we
recommend you save the cash and opt for
the standard model instead.
Inside, the Polestar 2 is rather brilliant as
well. It’s not like a traditional car interior,
it’s filled with light woods and, as standard,
the interior is vegan, using fabrics rather
than leather.
The centrepiece of any self-respecting
electric car is a giant touchscreen, though,
and the £46,900 Polestar 2 is the world’s
first car to come equipped with Google’s
Android Automotive. Not to be confused
with the smartphone-powered Android
Auto, the car’s entire infotainment system
runs on Android, whether your phone is
connected or not (Apple CarPlay is also
available). The Google Assistant works just
as it does at home, Google Maps is in
charge of navigation, Spotify is pre-
installed and the Play Store is full of more
apps to download. It’s intuitive and simple
yet premium, and always up-to-date.
Firmness aside, the Polestar 2 is a fine
achievement for a new manufacturer and
truly takes the EV fight to Tesla.AUTOGLYM RAPID
AQUA WAX
This clever liquid wax stands
out for its ability to be used on
both wet or dry cars, making
it a great timesaver if you’re in
a hurry. It gives a smear-free
finish on surfaces and saves a
huge amount of effort.
£16.50, autoglym.comTURTLE WAX
RENEW POLISH
Car starting to look a little
tired? This paint renewal
polish has been created to
subtly revive old neglected
paintwork by gently
removing light scratches. It
will also remove oxidation
from the paint and scuffs.
£5.00, turtlewax.co.ukAUTOGLYM SUPER
RESIN POLISH
A highly regarded name in
the car cleaning world –
you’re likely to find a bottle
like this in professional
garages and workshops
everywhere. It’s an ideal
starting point when it comes
to looking after your car.
£12.70, autoglym.comIMAGE^SOURCE:^ POLESTARIM
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