Snapshot
- Two new colours and wheel designs
- Improved heat pump
- Prices rise by around $4000
The Polestar 2 electric vehicle has received a model year update for 2023, bringing new paint colours and interior trims – but at a cost, with prices rising across the line-up.
The model, Polestar’s first to come to Australia, now costs in excess of $60,000 – $4000 more than it did when it launched in November last year.
The changes for the 2023 model year are aesthetic only, there are no mechanical differences to any of the three variants.
Pricing
The 2023 Polestar 2 range now starts from $63,900, $4000 more than when it went on sale in Australia in February.
Both the mid-range Long Range Single Motor and top-spec Long Range Dual Motor have also increased in price by $3500 each.
The new pricing now more closely matches the cost of a Tesla Model 3, which has also risen multiple times in recent months, also now starting at $63,900 for the rear-wheel-drive variant.
| Variant | Pricing |
| Standard Range Single Motor | $63,900 |
| Long Range Single Motor | $68,400 |
| Long Range Dual Motor | $73,400 |
Features
The new update for the Polestar 2 is headlined by the introduction of two new exterior paint colours – space, which replaces void, and Jupiter, which swaps with moon. Magnesium is now the default standard colour with no cost.
New for 2023 are also new designs for the standard 19-inch wheels and optional 20-inchers, as well as a ‘zinc’ colour for the ventilated Nappa leather upholstery – which replaces the previous barley trim and is now available with a light ash decor, which in turn trades places with the former reconstructed wood.
Minor additions include; a removable sunshade for the panoramic glass roof, an improved heat pump (included in the Plus Pack) for a more optimal temperature range, and an advanced cabin filter and upgraded interior particulate matter sensor – with a new in-car app that quantifies exterior air quality improvement in the cabin (also part of the Plus Pack).
The Polestar 2 now also includes blockchain traceability of mica, in addition to cobalt that is already traced in its batteries. The blockchain technology allows Polestar to trace risk minerals from material source to finished product.
The aluminium tray that carries the battery casing for all versions will see a CO2 reduction of 750 kilograms per car, thanks to the decision to only purchase aluminium for this component from smelters that use renewable energy.
“A first pilot has been rolled out, replacing the aluminium in the wheels with low-carbon aluminium that is produced using renewable energy. We expect this to result in a 600kg CO2 reduction per car for Polestar 2 in the second half of the year. Together with the improvements to aluminium in the battery tray, we’re expecting to see a total reduction of around 1,350 kg per car,” said Fredrika Klarén, Polestar’s Head of Sustainability.
As standard, the Polestar 2 range now has:
| New-design 19-inch alloy wheels (with tyre repair kit) |
| 11.15-inch infotainment touchscreen with Android Automotive software |
| Over-the-air updates and Google features |
| 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster |
| Adaptive LED headlights with ‘Thor’s Hammer’ daytime-running lights |
| LED tail-lights |
| Vegan textile seat upholstery |
| Heated front seats with partial electric adjustment and four-way power lumbar |
| Keyless entry |
| Hands-free power tailgate |
| Dual-zone climate control |
| Front and rear parking sensors |
| Eight-speaker, 205-watt sound system |
| Electric side mirrors with heating |
| Auto-dimming rear-view mirror |
| Rain-sensing wipers |
| Mid-level ambient interior lighting |
| Polestar Connect and Digital Key functionalities |
| Mode 2 and Mode 3 charging cable |
| Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection |
| Lane-keep assist |
| Traffic sign recognition |
| Driver attention alert |
| Run-off road mitigation |
| Oncoming lane mitigation |
| Manual cruise control with speed limiter |
| Eight airbags |
| Multi-collision braking |
| Tyre pressure monitoring. |
Options
A $3400 Pilot Pack Lite adds a number of safety features for all variants. This includes:
| Pilot Assist (semi-autonomous driving at up to 130km/h) |
| Adaptive cruise control |
| Blind-spot monitoring (with steering/braking support) |
| Rear cross-traffic alert (with braking) |
| Rear autonomous emergency braking |
| 360-degree camera |
| LED front fog lights |
| Auto-dimming side mirrors. |
Pixel LED headlights with active bending, upgraded fog lights with cornering (bending) functionality, and unique front and rear light sequences were previously included in the original $5000 Pilot Pack, but have since been removed due to the ongoing semiconductor shortage.
The $6000 Plus Pack includes:
| Upgraded heat pump |
| Advanced cabin sensor and filter (new) |
| Fully-electric front seats with memory, extendable cushions, and heating |
| Heated rear seats and steering wheel |
| Heated windscreen washer nozzles |
| WeaveTech (vegan) upholstery |
| Black Ash deco interior trim inlays |
| Panoramic glass roof |
| Wireless smartphone charging (15 watts) |
| 13-speaker, 600-watt Harman Kardon premium sound system |
| Tinted rear window |
| Extended ambient interior lighting (high-level) |
| Unique rear cargo floor. |
An $8000 Performance Pack, available on the Dual Motor only, adds:
| 20-inch forged alloy wheels |
| Four-piston Brembo brakes with 375mm ventilated front discs |
| Ohlins manually-adjustable dampers |
| Dynamic chassis’ tuning |
| Gold brake caliper, tyre valve cap and seatbelt accents. |
Individual options for all models include premium paint ($1500) and 20-inch alloy wheels ($1400). Nappa leather upholstery with ventilated front seats are available in conjunction with the Plus Pack.
Battery and driving range
The Polestar 2 electric fastback has a line-up comprising three variants offering varying performance and range.
The Standard Range Single Motor produces 170kW and 330Nm from its 69kWh battery, with a quoted driving range of up to 470 kilometres (WLTP cycle).
The mid-range Polestar 2 Long Range Single Motor is capable of travelling up to 540km with its 78kWh battery and 170kW/330Nm electric motor.
Meanwhile, the Long Range Dual Motor features an electric motor on each axle to produce 300kW and 660Nm. It has a quoted driving range of up to 480km and is the fastest Polestar 2 model with a claimed 0-100km/h time of 4.7 seconds. This compares with 7.4 seconds for the Single Motor variants.
Safety
Polestar’s most expensive 2 undercuts Volvo’s first ever fully-electric production car, the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric priced from $76,990.
However, the Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor has significantly less equipment than the Volvo with which it shares its platform and electric drivetrain.
The $5000 Pilot Pack is needed to match the electric XC40, which includes key active safety aids such as; adaptive cruise control, surround view camera and blind-spot monitoring – a move which has drawn some criticism from car enthusiasts for such features not being fitted as standard.
Warranty
Polestar vehicles come with a five-year warranty as well as five years of complimentary roadside assistance and servicing. The inclusive five-year maintenance plan is another point of differentiation from its parent brand.
Single-motor versions of the Polestar 2 are eligible for $3000 EV rebates being offered by New South Wales and Victoria for electric cars costing less than $68,750/$68,740. NSW will also reimburse stamp duty.
Availability
The updated 2023 Polestar 2 is available to order online now.
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