[Review] Test Driving the Polestar 2 Full Electric Car in Singapore

Earlier in 2022, Swedish electrical automotive model, Polestar, opened its first official location at 45 Leng Kee Road. The Polestar Space is a 210 sqm showroom providing gross sales, service and take a look at drives of Polestar vehicles.

Founded by Volvo Cars and its mum or dad firm, Geely Holdings, Polestar was first established in 2017 as an unbiased Swedish premium electrical efficiency automotive model. Polestar enjoys particular technological and engineering synergies with VolvoCars and advantages from vital economies of scale in consequence. The firm is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, and the vehicles are manufactured in China. Polestar automobiles can be found and on the street in fourteen world markets throughout Europe, North America and China, and now, Singapore.

I visited the showroom in Singapore to gather the Polestar 2 for a take a look at drive and was given an introduction to the house.

Polestar Space in Singapore

The clear, minimalistic design of the showroom follows the ethos of Scandinavian design, reflecting the roots of the model. Colours have been saved to a impartial palette from natural supplies like aluminium, stone and glass. The use of artwork lightboxes that modifications periodically provides it the texture of an artwork gallery. On the show wall, you’re going to get to see the fabric and color samples of the Polestar vehicles, in addition to a showcase of automotive parts from each the Polestar 1 and a couple of fashions.

An attention-grabbing reality – the digital display screen and music on the showroom in Singapore are linked to the Polestar HQ so that there’s a seamless syncing for all content material throughout world markets. This will make an OCD individual very joyful.

“With Polestar’s striking design, impeccable build quality and attention to detail, we are confident that the Polestar 2 will do well in the premium EV segment.” Shared Andre Roy, Chief Executive Officer from Wearnes Automotive, the official retail and repair associate to Polestar in Singapore.

With a concentrate on expertise moderately than arduous promoting, Polestar Singapore is staffed by Polestar Specialists who can be found to help with the ordering course of, reply questions and coordinate take a look at drives with the model’s Polestar 2 twin and single motor variants.

If you have an interest to expertise the Polestar 2 for your self, you’ll be able to schedule a take a look at drive with them.

The Polestar 2 Experience

To be trustworthy, that is solely the second time I’ve pushed an electrical automotive, so it was an thrilling expertise for me to check out the Polestar 2.

The Standard Range Single Motor model which I take a look at drove includes a 170 kW/ 330 Nm electrical motor and a 69 kWh battery pack. I used to be instructed that that is the most well-liked and related mannequin for Singapore drivers, provided that we sometimes don’t drive for lengthy distances as a result of small measurement of our nation.

The Long Range Single Motor model will increase battery capability to 78 kWh and includes a 170 kW/ 330 Nm powertrain. The top-of-the-line Long Range Dual Motor variant options two electrical motors and a 78 kWh battery, with a complete output of 300 kW and 660 Nm.

For the Standard Range variant, a full cost will can help you drive for as much as 474km. Polestar recommends a 90% cost to protect the lifespan of the battery. If you observe their suggestion, this can scale back the vary to round 427km as an alternative, nonetheless greater than enough to final over two weeks for day-to-day driving in Singapore. I received by for per week with out the necessity for a cost.

The pricing of the Polestar 2 could be very near that of the mass-market Tesla Model 3 with COE. Comparing the 2 is like evaluating a premium Japanese luxurious automotive model to the entry-level mannequin of a European efficiency automotive model, with the Polestar Star 2 being the previous and the Tesla Model 3 being the latter. We all have our particular person preferences, however for me, I’m drawn to the previous extra as the approach to life side of driving is extra vital to me than simply efficiency.

Driving A Full Electric Car

It wants some getting used to, however it is possible for you to to choose it up in a short time and make the modifications intuitively over a couple of days. One predominant distinction is if you step on the accelerator and brake pedals – for petrol-powered vehicles, you management the automotive with the accelerator extra whereas for the Polestar 2, you management it with the brake extra.

To ease the transition, Polestar 2 comes with a driving mode that mimics how petrol-powered vehicles drive. You can change on this mode and step by step alter the settings as you get used to driving an electrical automotive.

Overall, I like how quiet the electrical automotive drives and there’s this know-how play to all of it which geeks like me completely dig. The expertise of driving a Polestar 2 feels nearer to experiencing the newest iPhone or different way of life tech devices than simply assessing how briskly or highly effective the automotive strikes.

Oh and in the event you have no idea, as electrical automotive don’t want a chunky engine to be hid beneath the entrance bonnet, there’s further space for storing on the entrance the place the engine often sits for a petroleum automotive:

If you continue to want extra space for storing, the automotive boot is offered as effectively:

The Exterior

The very first thing you’ll discover concerning the Polestar 2 is the absence of nearly any chrome bits or the likes of faux vent pipes and different for-show options, giving it a clear, futuristic look. I like the Scandinavian design ideas utilized to the Polestar 2, presenting a minimalistic, however well-conceived ergonomics to intensify solely the necessities.

Even the Polestar brand is seamlessly built-in into the general aesthetics:

The rear finish of the automotive is an actual magnificence with its signature single band of sunshine, clearly distinctive from most different vehicles on the street.

The exterior of the Polestar 2 is clearly a head-turner for its magnificence and rarity, provided that the model continues to be comparatively new in Singapore, with a small adoption charge for electrical vehicles right here.

If you might be one who helps the electrical automotive motion for a extra sustainable mode of transportation and doesn’t wish to be too showy about it with a Tesla, The Polestar 2 would be the excellent electrical automotive for you.

The Interior

Climb inside a Polestar 2 and it exudes an understated luxurious really feel, exuding premium charms however but not overly showy with pointless bells and whistles.

The inside of the Polestar 2 is decked out in an eco-friendly vegan cloth, in-sync with its sustainability narrative. Wood, cloth and plastic are built-in collectively in a easy, but artisanal means, presenting clear traces, a impartial color palette and minimal switchgear. You is not going to discover any pointless design options, conserving to the minimalistic design theme, with every of the mandatory knobs, buttons or gears fitted in a means that’s intuitive to seek out or use at first look.

Technology is on the forefront of the Polestar 2 expertise, with the automotive’s infotainment powered by its personal Google’s Android Automotive OS, permitting you to sync up your Google preferences with the automotive. Instead of pairing your cell to your automotive system, you log in instantly with WiFi into the automotive’s software program. You can obtain native apps like Spotify and Google Map into the OS and management them instantly from the touchpad.

Other tech highlights embody the Polestar App. The app incorporates the Polestar Digital Key, which helps you to lock and unlock your automotive, in addition to entry info just like the automotive’s battery and charging standing in your cell.

For audiophiles, you’ll be joyful to know that the Polestar 2 comes geared up with harmon/kardon audio to ship top-notch automotive audio:

There are additionally many nifty security options similar to adaptive cruise management, lane-keeping help, collision warning and braking help system to maintain you safer when driving. I discovered these options to be extraordinarily helpful when parking in small spots or at awkward angles.

For those that prefer to drive with some daylight within the automotive, there’s a glass panel sunroof which you’ll be able to tune to let in some pure daylight:

Overall, the Polestar 2 is a really lovely automotive from the skin and the provides a comfortable driving expertise, with tech options which might be intuitively and seamlessly built-in. It provides a superb different for these seeking to change to a premium model electrical automotive, however need one thing completely different from what the market chief, Tesla, provides.

Pricing and Availability

The Polestar 2 is offered with 3 variants, with costs ranging from S$219,000 for the Standard vary Single motor; S$236,000 for the Long vary Single motor; and S$263,000 for the Long vary Dual motor, with an extra S$16,000 add-on for the efficiency pack.

Book a take a look at drive right here.