12 3174 FORTUNE OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2021
strong Swedish identity.
Its boxy lines and “Thor’s
hammer” headlights are a
subtle nod to its forebears.
But it has enough unique
touches, such as its distinct
fastback rear hatch and
muscular wheel arches, as
to not be confused with the
Volvo XC40, with which it
shares a platform.
Inside, the Polestar 2
is minimal without being
spartan: all of what you
need, nothing you don’t.
“Premium” is overused
when describing car inte-
riors, but it’s appropriate
here. Doors clunk reassur-
ingly, trim panels are neatly
finished, plastics are soft to
the touch, and the central
drive shifter feels great in
the hand. Put any hang-
ups about a Chinese-built
car firmly out of mind.
To say the Polestar 2’s
infotainment operating
system is one of the car’s
standout features is not to
throw shade at the rest of
the vehicle, but a recogni-
tion of how important
software is to the overall
ownership experience of
a modern vehicle, espe-
cially an EV. The system
is the first deployment of
Google’s Android Automo-
tive OS in a production
car, and it’s both slick and
reliable. Touch inputs on
the centrally mounted tab-
let are precise and respon-
sive. The interface is clear
and driver friendly, requir-The system pairs with
both Android and iPhone
devices, and full Apple
CarPlay is coming soon
via a software update. Let
this be a humbling lesson
to all carmakers—leave the
software to the software
people.
The parts left to the car
people are just as impres-
sive. The Polestar 2 has
impeccable road manners
and a commanding pres-
ence in traffic. Accelera-
tion is immediate, thanks
to its front and rear mo-
tors, and the battery range
of 233 miles is acceptable
without being class-
leading (the Model 3 tops
out at 353 miles). Suspen-
sion damping is perhaps a
tad too firm for New York’s
less-than-stellar roads, but
that’s a worthy tradeoff
for exceptionally precise
handling. At highway
speeds everything smooths
out, and Polestar’s host of
driver assistance, such as
radar adaptive cruise con-
trol and lane assist, keep
things pleasant for longer
journeys.
The premium EV seg-
ment is not a zero-sum
game, and the Polestar 2
is not a Tesla Model 3
“killer.” It is, however, a
welcome competitor that
more than holds its own
and is worth the seri-
ous consideration of any
battery vehicle shopper.
We suspect the question
“What is that?” won’t be
asked for much longer.Details
[ 1 ] Bold, boxy lines
give Polestar 2 serious
road presence. [ 2 ]
The interior is driver
focused. Infotainment
is useful without being
distracting. [ 3 ] No gas
engine means extra
storage in front.To say the infotainment is one of the car’s standout features is not to
throw shade at the rest of the vehicle, but a recognition of how important
software is to the overall ownership experience.
PASSIONS — AUTOing just brief glances to
find the options one needs.
Safer still, the Google
Assistant voice control
can handle a lot more
beyond changing music
playlists and navigation
commands: “OK Google,
heat the driver’s seat.”
And because it’s based on
Android, you get Google
Maps built in, as well as
the Google Play app store. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: COURTESY OF POLESTAR (2 ; DAMON CASAREZ—REDUX