Polestar, a spin-off of the Volvo brand, is still trying to make a name for itself in an increasingly competitive market. I spent a day driving the Polestar 4 in Montreal, Canada, testing its performance, comfort and technology both in the city and on the highway. This review covers the dual motor, which costs approximately $62,900.
2026 Polestar 4 First impressions
When I first saw the Polestar 4, I was struck by its design, which combines the sporty lines of a coupe with the functionality of an SUV. The absence of a rear window creates a striking, uninterrupted rear profile, something you only really notice when you look closely at the rear of the vehicle.
Outside dimensions
Length | 190.5 inches |
Width | 81.4 inches |
Height | 60.4 inches |
Wheelbase | 118.0 inches |
Front track | 67.0 inches |
Back track | 67.6 inches |
Curb weight single engine | £4,196 |
Curb weight double engine | £5,192 |
The design is almost understated, with flowing lines and lots of curves. It catches your attention because of its simplicity, and not because it tries too hard to look like an electric car. While that was once a design trend, today’s electric cars are increasingly ditching the gimmicky design elements favored by early electric cars. That’s not a complaint. The Polestar 4 is a stylish, attractive vehicle that fits perfectly with the brand’s aesthetic.
Stimulate impressions and performance
I drove the Polestar 4 on city streets, highways and country roads in and around Montreal. It was a varied range of driving scenarios, and the Polestar 4 proved its worth. It has more than enough power to easily merge onto the highway. A heavy foot on the accelerator pushes you back in your seat and puts a smile on your face.
As fun as it is to experience the instant torque of an EV, the Polestar 4 proved even more fun on winding country roads. It provided precise steering that made it easy to drive, even though it’s not a sports car. Rough road surfaces were nicely cushioned, as were potholes and cracks in the sidewalk. It’s a well-mannered ride, whether you’re navigating the busy city streets or just cruising down the highway.
Braking and accelerating
Acceleration is strong and provides enough power to reach highway speeds and merge into high-speed traffic. A heavy foot on the accelerator pedal produces immediate results and it will certainly take some time before you get used to the accelerator pedal. EV acceleration is no joke, and it’s incredibly fun, but there is an adjustment period. Once you get used to the responsiveness of the Polestar 4, it becomes intuitive.
Performance Specifications
Single engine (RWD) | Dual motor (AWD) | |
Transfer | Single-speed automatic | Single-speed automatic |
Horsepower | 272 hp | 544 hp |
Couple | 253 LB-FT | 506LB-FT |
Engine | 200 kW engine | 200 kW engines |
Battery | 100 kWh | 100 kWh |
Range | 310 miles | 280 miles |
Level 2 charging (10-80 percent) | 30 minutes | 30 minutes |
0-60 mph | 6.9 seconds | 3.7 seconds |
Top speed | 124 mph | 124 mph |
Maximum drag | 2,000 pounds | £3,500 |
A vehicle with such strong acceleration and power must have brakes to get the job done. The Polestar 4 provides stable, confident braking that isn’t too sensitive, something that can put off many new EV drivers. Braking too hard can be jarring in an electric car, but fortunately it’s a short learning curve. With the Polestar 4’s brakes, you can confidently take advantage of the vehicle’s power, knowing that it will certainly stop when you need to slow down.
2026 Polestar 4 fuel economy
The EPA rates the Polestar 4 Single Motor at 90 MPGe combined (93 MPGe city, 87 MPGe highway), while the Dual Motor achieves 86 MPGe combined (86 MPGe city, 80 MPGe highway). During my day of driving, these numbers matched what we experienced on a series of city and highway rides. However, it was a warm summer day in Montreal, so it’s worth noting that these numbers will drop during winter driving, when the cold takes its toll on the performance of any EV battery.
City | Motorway | Combined | |
Single engine | 93MPGe | 87MPGe | 90MPGe |
Double engine | 86MPGe | 80MPGe | 83MPGe |
Interior design and comfort
The interior of the Polestar 4 is striking and manages to be both minimalist and luxurious, with a bright, airy feel. The panoramic glass roof, optionally available with electrochromic foil, floods the cabin with light and creates an open atmosphere, even without a rear window. The lack of a rear window seems to make the cabin dark, but you don’t even notice that, even when you’re in the back seat.
The driver’s seat was supportive but not overly firm, making it good for long drives or short jaunts around town. The rear seat was surprisingly roomy with generous leg and headroom. No official interior dimensions are available, but when you sit in the Polestar 4 it feels bigger than it looks. Soft-touch surfaces feel premium, with textures adding visual appeal. The 15.4-inch infotainment screen was easy to reach, but Polestar placed too many controls in that screen. Notably, there are no manual ventilation controls. Adjusting the vents in the screen is cumbersome.
Storage was practical, with four cup holders, nets in the front seat backs and a storage compartment in the rear armrest. Rear seat comfort for adults was excellent, although taller passengers might find headroom tight thanks to the sloping roof. Overall, the Polestar 4’s interior combines environmentally conscious design with premium comfort. It’s also quiet, with minimal road and wind noise entering the cabin.
Technology and ease of use
The Polestar 4’s technology package is both advanced and easy to use, centered around a 15.4-inch infotainment touchscreen with a Google-based interface. The graphics are crisp and the screen responds with minimal lag. Connecting Apple CarPlay wirelessly was seamless and required only a quick Bluetooth pairing.
The 10.2-inch driver display gave clear readouts of speed, range and battery status with a 14.7-inch head-up display. Special call for Snow Mode, which turns the display to light yellow for better visibility on snowy backgrounds. The 8.9-inch digital rearview mirror is also a highlight and a necessity, as there is no rear window.
However, the infotainment-only vent controls were a significant drawback, requiring multiple taps to adjust airflow, which was distracting while driving. The optional Harman Kardon audio system delivers rich sound and enhances the in-cabin experience. Adaptive cruise control and lane centering functions worked smoothly and overall the technology is a strong point, but the lack of tactile controls for basic functions detracts from its usability.
Cargo and storage space
The Polestar 4 offers 18.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 54.2 cubic feet with the 60/40 split seats folded, including underfloor storage. Loading is easy thanks to the available power tailgate and an adjustable cargo floor that’s nice and low, making it less difficult to load heavy items. Additional storage space included a 0.5 cubic foot frunk. There are also four cup holders, front seat nets and side nets.
Minimum loading capacity | 18.0 cubic feet |
Second row loading capacity | 54.2 cubic feet |
Frunk | 0.5 cubic feet |
Our recommendation for which model you should buy
Pricing for the single-motor, rear-wheel drive Polestar 4 is $56,400, while the all-wheel-drive variant with two motors costs $62,900. If you live where winter weather is a problem, opt for the dual motor. Otherwise we would stick with the single engine. It’s almost $6,000 cheaper and has an extended range of 30 miles. While most people don’t think that extra range is important on a day-to-day basis, having the extra range makes a big difference once you travel or go to a new place. Charging time is still the same either way as there is only one battery size, so what matters are mostly comfort and convenience features. If that’s your priority, step up to the dual engine trim, but we’d go with the base model and keep more of our money in our wallets.
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