Polestar last year announced the most practical EV In the Polestar 4. But during the car’s North American debut at the New York International Auto Show this week, we finally got a chance to check out the official asking price and its most controversial feature.
It is positioned as a slightly smaller and more affordable version Polestar 3, the company’s latest EV SUV has a lot riding on it, as it’s Polestar’s most compelling mainstream offering to date. The good news is that while the initial cost was said to be around $60,000, the launch prices are actually quite a bit lower than that. The Polestar 4 starts at $56,300 (including destination) for the standard long-range single-motor version with about 300 miles of range, while the two-motor AWD option with about 270 miles will set you back $64,300.
True, it is still much higher than many of its competitors, including Tesla Model Y Starting at $43,900 (before federal incentives) or Hyundai Ioniq 5 For $47,400. But after speaking with Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath, I get the feeling that the company is pretty comfortable with this, as they see the 4 as a more accessible, but still very premium, offering among EV SUVs.
On the outside, the Polestar 4 retains the sleek good looks we see on its bigger sibling, but with a few twists. Its nose is a bit pointed and sloping, and it’s a bit more complex as it doesn’t have a front wing like the 3rd. The Polestar 4 is based on the low-slung coupe-like SUV shape that’s still all the rage. now. However, to ensure rear-seat passengers have plenty of space, Polestar has ditched the rear window altogether, opting instead for a simple sheet of metal complete with cameras and a rearview mirror with a built-in display.
At first, this may seem like a step too far, even for an EV that doesn’t carry the same burden of tradition as gas-powered cars. But Ingenlath explained that there are many benefits that come from this design change. With no rear window, Polestar was able to maintain ample headroom despite the sloping roofline, which pushed the rear seats further back to create a spacious interior. I had no trouble getting in and out, and even with the front seats pushed back as far as possible, I still had plenty of legroom in the back. In addition, unlike most cars, the rear seats of the Polestar 4 can recline, which further enhances the cabin feel.
Another main advantage is practicality. Many coupe SUVs have rear windows so small that they don’t offer much in the way of useful visibility. And that’s before you consider any passengers or luggage that might further obstruct your view. By replacing the rear window and mirror with a camera and display, the Polestar 4 can provide an unobstructed perspective from the rear of the car. But perhaps most importantly, the idea of a car not having a rear window isn’t really unheard of, as there are thousands of vans on the road today that don’t have a rear view window.
So while the idea may still seem unnerving, Ingenlath remains convinced. He simply asked customers to “try it out.” He added: “There’s a lot to do with psychology and how people are naturally resistant to change. But innovation is asking what rules were in the past that don’t necessarily have to be rules in the future.”
The company’s Scandinavian heritage is reflected in its streamlined interior. The goal isn’t minimalism for minimalism’s sake, Ingenlath said. By creating a new fabric made from recycled plastic bottles called Soft Tech, Polestar was able to cover the cabin with a durable 3D material that allows the ambient lighting to still be quite durable. Above, the fixed glass roof is electrochromic, allowing you to switch from clear to opaque at the touch of a button.
One thing that struck me was that, like all of Polestar’s cars, the 4 feels like a designer car. As someone who started in the industry building cars for VW, Audi and others before becoming CEO of Polestar, Ingenlath said the company really pays attention to small details like fonts and typography. You can see this in things like the text on the driver’s side door, which features both the car’s name and battery size, resulting in a label that’s both pretty and informative. Alternatively, there are features such as ambient lighting that use a naming standard based on the planets in the solar system (blue with a green marker for Earth, red for Mars, etc.). Ingenlath said, “We just love what we do and we love being passionate about it. And we need to find people who share the same passion for this quality and technology.”
Unfortunately, we haven’t had a chance to drive all 4 yet. But as competition among electric vehicles continues to grow, it’s clear that Polestar is carving out a niche for itself as a manufacturer that embraces innovation through its vehicles. Pre-orders will go live sometime in April, and with deliveries slated for Q4 2024, it shouldn’t be long before we get a chance to find out how the Polestar 4 feels on the road.
