The Polestar 2 electric sedan won’t look much different for 2024. But under the skin, it’s a vastly different vehicle. Prices have increased, as is normal this year. But, given all that has changed, the $1,500 bump seems modest.
Whostar?
In case you haven’t seen one yet, we should explain. Polestar is an electric automaker from Sweden that is in the long process of moving out of Dad’s house. It started as an in-house tuner shop at Volvo but now builds its own products (though they still share many parts and an ethos of Scandinavian simplicity with Volvo cars).
The Polestar 2 is its first mainstream product (yes, there was a Polestar 1, but it was built in small numbers). It’s a high-riding all-electric sedan that looks almost like it’s built with off-road aspirations but is engineered for the asphalt.
FWD to RWD Is No Big Deal with EVs
For 2024, the biggest changes come to the base model – what Polestar calls the “Long Range Single Motor” trim level. That’s a bit of marketer-speak. There is no short-range model. It gains 68 horsepower and 50 miles of range, now good for 299 horsepower and 320 miles between charging sessions.
There’s also a major mechanical change that is a signpost of the electric car design era. It’s gone from front-wheel drive (FWD) to rear-wheel drive (RWD). Without any visible change to the car.
Electric cars don’t require big engines under the hood. They have relatively compact electric motors attached directly to their axles. Manufacturers often build a 2-wheel-drive version of an electric vehicle (EV) with a motor on one axle and an all-wheel-drive (AWD) version with a motor on each.
Last year, Polestar put the motor on the front axle for base models. This year, it’s on the rear axle. Polestar says the motor itself is new, more compact, and more powerful. On the rear axle, it “further enhances the vehicle’s already outstanding handling characteristics and performance,” the company says.
AWD editions get a bit more power, too – 421 horsepower this year instead of last year’s 402. Range is up to 276 miles – 16 more than the 2023 model.
2024 Polestar 2 Pricing:
Polestar also charges a $1,400 destination fee on the 2.
| Trim Level | MSRP |
| Long Range Single Motor – RWD | $49,900 |
| Long Range Dual-Motor AWD | $55,300 |
