The Polestar 2, a tall hatchback from Volvo’s electric vehicle sub-brand, failed to impress with its bone-jarring ride, tight interior, and confusing controls, all of which more than overshadowed the positives of its zippy acceleration and agile handling. Plus, the Polestar 2’s EPA-rated driving range of 249 miles is less than the much cheaper Chevrolet Bolt, not to mention Tesla models that get more than 300 miles of range. We also found that the range-prediction display was often overly optimistic, which can be disconcerting and lead to range anxiety. It took more than 10 hours to charge on a 240-volt connection.
Much of the usual EV goodness is present in the Polestar 2, however. The hatchback scoots off the line when you tromp on the accelerator pedal, sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, which is admirable for any vehicle. Dual front and rear motors give it the assurance of all-wheel-drive traction. A less expensive, single-motor, front -wheel-drive version is also available with an EPA-rated range of 270 miles .
Handling is impressive, thanks to quick steering and limited body roll. It achieved near sports-car levels of speed through our avoidance-maneuver test, which simulates swerving quickly to avoid a vehicle or obstacle on the road—and that’s in spite of the extremely limited feedback the steering delivers to the driver. The stiff and choppy ride is one of the Polestar’s worst aspects, however, with bumps striking through into the cabin even on relatively smooth highways. Although it achieved impressively short stopping distances at our test track, the brake pedal can feel grabby or touchy just as you’re about to come to a stop.
Unlike typical Volvo models, the interior is drab. Much of the fabric and many of the plastic surfaces have a somewhat cheap appearance and feel. The driving position is cramped because of the tall plastic center console that cuts into right-knee space, and the rear seat is not only tight, but it lacks thigh support. It’s also quite difficult to get in and out of the rear seat due to the sloping roofline and small door openings. Outward visibility is hampered by thick roof pillars, especially at the rear.
The extremely unintuitive controls—which garnered the lowest score we’ve ever given at the time of testing—are the final dagger. Interacting with the infotainment screen is an extremely confusing and distracting affair due to the convoluted menu structure, hidden functions, and confusing icons and text.
Standard active safety and driver assistance features include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, and lane keeping assistance. Blind spot warning and rear cross traffic warning are optional.