Given the possibilities that electric vehicle architecture offers, every brand seems to want to push the boundaries of vehicle design right now, yet few show true innovation. But then, there's the upstart Polestar with its latest effort that genuinely shows some design pizazz.
Simply named the Polestar 4, it's only the brand's fourth ground-up attempt at making a car as the name suggests. Yet, after a history of building racing cars and tuning Volvos before breaking off as a standalone EV brand in 2017, everything the brand touches seems to turn to Swedish Gold.
That's not just because of its signature colour that blings up the top-spec Performance Pack models, either. Pitching itself as "a design-driven brand", the model naming scheme is about the only uninventive thing about it.
Perfecting the coupé SUV
Coupé SUVs are ordinarily the automotive industry's Marmite – a love-it-or-hate-it proposition. Awkward proportions, oversized wheels, and a plethora of compromises on the benefits of either a sporty coupé or a practical SUV.
Considering Polestar's three prior vehicles to this were a luxurious two-door coupé, a compact liftback, and a spacious SUV, it makes sense that the 4 is the junction between them – and with plenty of elements from the Precept concept car rolled in.
Yet, this is a coupé SUV that actually works and wears its proportions brilliantly. It has serious presence in the flesh, but still looks low and sleek thanks to its 2139mm width with the mirrors out. There's excellent ground clearance, yet not a hint of it flailing through corners. Oversized wheels? Its arches make a set of dubs look small.
As modern car design goes, it hits all the right notes, but more impressively than that, it nails the hardest shape to handle in automotive design. Mind you, the way Polestar has managed that is by doing away with one feature we've all taken for granted our whole lives...
Life without windows isn't curtains after all
Since the sloping roofline of a coupé SUV is the hardest – indeed, almost impossible – part to get right, Polestar has done away with the rear window. You might think this is crazy, and I did as soon as I realised it as well, but there's method to the apparent madness.
This radical decision has been made with the aim of enhancing the rear passenger experience. The full-size panoramic glass roof now extends beyond passengers' heads thanks to the revised roofline, while a removable barrier separating them from the boot clips in behind the headrests.
Factor in an additional screen on the back of the centre console for allowing rear occupants to control the music and temperature, and it's safe to say the cabin ambiance steps up a notch back there. But then, cars are for driving, and what about the driver being able to see?
Perhaps obviously, it uses a camera-based mirror system, and it almost works better in some ways. Unlike most camera-based mirrors, it's adaptive to vehicle inputs, so when you put the indicators on, it pivots slightly in that direction to offer an even better rear view. Keep in mind, however, that the side mirrors are still real, so at least you can verify what you think you're seeing.
A different kind of sporty
Often, the way brands make a car feel sportier is by adding some red stitching to the seats and calling it a day. Maybe an extra badge or two if you're lucky. What helps blend sportiness with luxuriousness in the Polestar 4, however, is an approach dubbed by the brand as 'soft tech'.
Clear inspiration has been drawn from the sportswear and fashion industry when it comes to the interior treatment in particular, which is trimmed in a combination of materials that make clever use of waste. Its tailored knit upholstery is made from recycled PET, as are the floor mats, while the interior carpets are made from a blend that includes reclaimed fishing nets.
Depending on the option boxes you tick, you can add MicroTech upholstery – a blend of renewable vinyl and recycled PET – or, for a more natural option, utterly supple Bridge of Weir leather that is a byproduct of the food industry.
If you've recently bought a football shirt or a set of gymwear, you'll know the smooth, lightweight feel which this conveys perfectly. It's a different kind of sportiness, but it is sporty nonetheless – particularly with the Performance Pack's signature Swedish Gold highlights thrown in for good measure.
Second Valley in 3.8 seconds
Of course, there's no point in style without substance, so a proper drive was needed to see whether the Polestar 4's sporting credentials translate from the spec sheet onto the tarmac.
Ahead of its Australian launch, I spent a few days with it in South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula, sampling all three launch variants but spending most of my time in a fully-loaded Dual Motor Performance Pack model. With all the bells and whistles, it sits at A$106,050 before on-road costs, although a Single Motor base model starts at A$78,500 which keeps it under the Luxury Car Tax threshold.
Through Second Valley and down to the tip of Cape Jervis, 110km from Adelaide, there are some lovely roads for touring with long straights, sweeping bends, and incredible views. Plenty of room, then, to stretch the 4's legs, and you need that sort of room when the Dual Motor examples can hit triple-digit warp speed in a blurry 3.8 seconds. The Single Motor variant feels far pokier than its halved numbers would suggest, too.
Unlike Performance Pack examples of the Polestar 2, there's no hardcore Öhlins suspension setup here, but that makes the 4 a more pleasant tourer – and a proper tourer, it can be.
Even with the Dual Motor versions averaging around 20kWh/100km according to WLTP testing, simplified maths shows that it equates to a real-world 500km of range given the standard 100kWh battery pack. Thankfully, with a fast-charging station located in Normanville, it meant no more thought was required than in a petrol car when this far out of the city.
The power delivery itself is immense, yet cleverly measured at the same time. Rather than dumping all the power on you at the first stab of the throttle, it feels like the power swells to a peak; there's no major drop-off once you're nearing or past the hundred mark. Thanks to its gigantic 392mm Brembo front brakes with four-piston calipers, it's also brought to a halt easily for a 2.3-tonne car.
Through corners, it's as stable as you'd hope for a car this wide, with its SUV ride height feeling entirely masked. Indeed, despite its size, it almost feels like it shrinks around you. How's that for clever design?
Tomorrow comes today
While the Precept concept was intended to preview the upcoming Porsche Taycan rival, the Polestar 5, the elements that this Polestar 4 borrows from that design are a clear sign that the future is looking bright for the brand – despite how potentially polarising binning the rear window might seem.
Smart design and the right driving balance is what's going to be needed to set EVs apart from one another, and Polestar clearly seems to understand that. It's no surprise this is expected to be the brand's best-seller upon its arrival.
2025 Polestar 4
Single Motor Long Range: A$78,500
Dual Motor Long Range: A$88,350
Dual Motor Performance Pack: A$95,550
Engine: Single or dual electric motors, 100kWh lithium-ion battery pack
Transmission: 1-speed automatic
Drivetrain: RWD (Single Motor) or AWD (Dual Motor)
Single Motor Outputs: 200kW (272PS) // 343Nm (253lb-ft)
Dual Motor Outputs: 400kW (544PS) // 686Nm (506lb-ft)
Acceleration (0-100km/h // 0-62mph): 3.8 seconds (Dual Motor) // 7.1 seconds (Single Motor)
Top Speed: 200km/h // 124mph
Weight (kerb): 2232kg to 2351kg
Economy (WLTP): 17.8-18.1kWh/100km (Single Motor) // 18.7-21.7kWh/100km (Dual Motor)
