Polestar 2’s Official Range Might Disappoint a Few
Did you catch our first-drive review of the 2021 Polestar 2? It paints a detailed picture of the new Tesla Model 3 fighter and the heated battle we should expect between those two.
Of course, when talking about electric cars, the topic of range often dominates the discussion. And in that department, the Polestar 2 might disappoint a few people.
The official numbers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Natural Resources Canada are out: 375 kilometres with an energy consumption equivalent of 2.6 Le/100 km. There’s only one model available, by the way.
Meanwhile, excluding the Standard Range variant that’s electronically locked at 150 kilometres of range (it doesn’t even appear on Tesla’s online configurator and merely exists to lower the entry price below $45,000 to qualify for the federal rebate), the Model 3 can travel anywhere between 402-518 kilometres. It has an energy consumption equivalent of no more than 2.0 Le/100 km.
With 375 kilometres, the Polestar 2 is eclipsed even by less prestigious and cheaper competitors like the Chevrolet Bolt EV (417 km), Hyundai Kona Electric (415 km) and Kia Soul EV (383 km).
The new Volvo XC40 Recharge compact electric SUV, which will arrive in dealerships this fall and rides on the same CMA platform as the Polestar 2, has an official range of 335 kilometres.
To be fair to Polestar, 375 kilometres are just 27 fewer than the base Model 3 and easily enough for most commutes. Also, the 2 comes standard with all-wheel drive whereas the same Model 3 has rear-wheel drive.
However, if you choose a Model 3 Long Range, you’ll get a second motor and two extra drive wheels. And even then, the price ($64,990) still undercuts the Polestar 2, which starts at $69,900—a difference of nearly $5,000.
In short, Elon Musk’s best-selling car clearly wins the numbers game. As for refinement and build quality, well, it’s a different story…
