Polestar 2 now with 395-mile range and faster charging

The Polestar 2 only went on sale in 2020, but Volvo’s all-electric off-shoot has already given its Tesla Model 3 and BMW i4 rival a raft of significant updates, including refreshed styling, faster charging speeds, some extra power and more range.

The biggest changes are under the metal. Single-motor versions of the Polestar 2 have switched from front to rear-wheel drive – just like their Volvo XC40 and C40 siblings – while new electric motors allow for better efficiency and performance. Long Range models also get a larger 82kWh battery (compared to 78kWh at launch), while the Standard Range Polestar 2 sticks with a 69kWh unit. 

The entry-level, Standard Range single-motor variant now produces 268bhp and 490Nm of torque (up from 221bhp and 330Nm), reducing the car’s 0-62mph time from seven to 6.4 seconds. Meanwhile, range has increased from 297 to 322 miles, and maximum charging speed gets a slight boost to 135kW, meaning a 10-80% will take just over half an hour from a suitably fast rapid charger.

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Thanks to the larger battery and upgraded motor, the Long Range single-motor Polestar 2 can now cover 395 miles on a charge, according to the Swedish firm. That’s up from 341 miles before, and tops the official figures for the Tesla Model 3 Long Range and BMW i4 eDrive40. In fact, this gives the Polestar 2 one of the longest ranges offered by any production car on sale today. 

An increase in power output from 228bhp and 330Nm of torque to 295bhp and 490Nm also brings the 0-62mph time down to 6.2 seconds. Plus, all Long Range Polestar 2s can now charge at up to 205kW, compared to 150kW at launch, so replenishing the battery from 10-80% capacity only takes 28 minutes.

For the Long Range dual-motor Polestar 2, power and torque have increased from 402bhp and 660Nm to 416bhp/740Nm, with the Performance Pack bumping that up to 469bhp and 740Nm. 0-62mph in the standard dual-motor version takes 4.5 seconds (the same as before), while those equipped with the Performance Pack will do the same sprint in 4.2 seconds now, compared to 4.4 seconds previously.

If you don't get the full Performance Pack when you order your Polestar 2, the extra power and performance will be available as an over-the-air purchase for any eligible Long Range, dual-motor variant.

In addition to a new pair of electric motors, the system in all-wheel drive models has a greater rear bias. Plus, the front motor can now be completely disconnected while cruising to help with efficiency, with both dual-motor versions now boasting a 368-mile range – up from 301 miles previously.

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The interior is the same as before, but some exterior styling updates have been made. Until now the Polestar 2’s grille panel featured a block-like pattern, but the updated model gets a body-coloured section which Polestar calls the ‘SmartZone’. We first saw this on the recently unveiled Polestar 3 SUV, and it houses safety-related tech like the camera and mid-range radar. There’s a new 20-inch alloy wheel design for those who get the Performance Pack, too, also similar to one you’ll find on the Polestar 3.

Standard kit on the Polestar 2 now includes wireless phone charging, plus driver-awareness systems like blind-spot information with steering support, rear collision warning and mitigation, and a 360-degree parking camera. 

Polestar says it has reduced carbon emissions from the car’s production by up to 1.1 tonnes for those models fitted with the larger battery – another step towards its goal of creating a “truly climate-neutral car by 2030”. The company aims to eliminate all emissions from its supply chain, manufacturing processes, and end of life, without relying on offsetting methods like tree-planting.

Order books for the revised Polestar 2 are already open, with the first examples due to arrive in the UK in the autumn. Prices have increased slightly because of the updates; the Standard Range single-motor now starts from £44,950, rising to £48,950 for the Long Range single-motor. The Long Range dual-motor Polestar 2 is priced at £52,950, while the addition of the Performance Pack brings the price tag up to £57,950.