Volvo performance sub-brand Polestar unveiled its first mass production car called the Polestar 2. It is a high-riding electric sedan with a coupe-like roof, fastback layout, and plastic guards on its wide fenders. Polestar unveiled it as a Tesla Model 3 competitor with the entry-level price of $39,900 and performance that almost matches that of the best-selling luxury car in the U.S. in 2018. It is, arguably, the first compelling electric car from a credible and known manufacturer we've seen. This means that an average buyer of, say, a nice Mercedes C-Class would reasonably consider it.

It will be unveiled at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show, and it is expected to draw enormous journalistic crowds to the Polestar stands. For a good reason. It is a really nice car - one that couples the forever green style of the Polestar 1 and effective layout that Volvo aced with the latest generation of its cars.

What the 2020 Polestar 2 Offers and How it Compares to the Competition

First of all, the new Polestar 2 represents what that cool Volvo 40.2 concept was for. Obviously, the look of the all-electric Polestar 2 is a resound evolution of what the 40.2 presented three years ago.

Yet, the layout of the sedan isn’t a conventional three-box shape. Polestar designers managed to play some tricks here - the 2 has a bit of that four-door coupe flamboyance to it. It is also a sedan and something that would be considered “crossoverish”. It is not the first time that the Swedes experimented with something like this. Does anyone remember the Volvo S60 Cross Country? It was a jacked up S60 with body cladding and an AWD system. You can’t tell me that you don’t see at least some resemblance.

Clean and concise lines thoughtfully create a powerful stance and progressive design that is, quite frankly, polarizing.

But, I leave it to you to decide if it looks good enough for you. For me, the design alone is one of the crucial criteria that make the Polestar 2 simply astonishing.

And then, we have some amazing technology. Under the modules, Polestar included cooling plates and then created an aluminum and steel safety construction that protects the batteries in case of a crash. Such a powerful construction is smartly integrated into the base architecture that, in return, increases torsional stiffness (by 35 percent compared to conventional architecture) and provides a really low center of gravity. Moreover, such a thick construction considerably lowered NVH values.

The battery pack itself has a capacity of 78 kWh. Nevertheless, the 408 horsepower in the Polestar 2 makes it quite competitive with the Tesla Model 3. That’s the car Polestar is gunning at. And it has some serious weapon to do it.

Now, you may be amazed by the sheer amount of technology available in the new Polestar 2. It makes the Polestar 2 do wondrous things such as:

-* Drive permanently with high beam lights on thanks to smart Pixel LED headlights that can recognize the oncoming traffic and turn off high beams selectively for each oncoming car

-* Track everything that happens outside of the vehicle thanks to the Pilot system and act with brakes if necessary. Polestar CEO, Thomas Ingenlath said that this system is like a guardian angel

-* Show 30 percent more in the rearview mirrors. New rearview mirrors actually move as a whole when adjusted (including the cover and casing and not only a glass). They look absolutely seamless and futuristic as hell.

-* Unlock and start with a smartphone action via the Bluetooth system. The Polestar 2 has 4 Bluetooth antennas (one on each corner) to boost the Bluetooth signal when needed

-* Start when you sit in it as the start button is actually integrated into the seat. Yes, you read it right. The Polestar 2 will recognize when you sit in it and it will prepare everything for you.

-* Display best navigation map on the 11-inch portrait display in the center of the dash

-* Save cattle thanks to its vegan interior that does not have any leather inside. It is still seriously luxurious, don’t you worry.

-* Provide you with Google services like Google assistant, Google Maps, and Google apps. Polestar basically acknowledged Google’s brilliance in the software department and just went for it with the integration of Google Android Automotive as an infotainment system. I like this a lot. I am aware of your concern, but be calm Apple iPhone will link to it seamlessly.

-* Communicate directly with Polestar thanks to an always connected system.

-* Welcome you with a uniquely choreographed illumination sequence on the rear light blade that stretches the whole rear width of the Polestar 2.

-* Accelerate to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds

-* Cover 275 miles on a single charge

I could continue the list of all that the Polestar can do until I run out of words, so I’ll stop.

The Polestar 2 versus the Tesla Model 3

*It is still unconfirmed if the $45,000 model will have the same motor setup as the $68,000 Launch Edition

Looking at all this data, one would say that the Tesla Model 3 is considerably cheaper. Well, not really. When you consider the gear inside, performance, and increase the Tesla Model 3 range, the price does come closer to $45,000 for Musk’s car too. Still, you can have a Tesla for $35,000 however spartan it might be.

Conclusion

The Polestar 2 is a worthy competitor to the Model 3 and, apparently, the first true competitor. However, it does not only excel in terms of electric power and technology, but Polestar is pioneering a list of services with it as well. First of all, the company will do all it can to make you sign up for a subscription service to drive one. Something similar to what Volvo is doing with its Care by Volvo services. The other novelty is the fact that you can buy a car (or subscribe to it) online. Polestar will exhibit the 2 in the so-called “Spaces” that will be a part of the community. I am talking about fashionable stores where you can experience Polestar vehicles. By 2020 Polestar will open 60 such spaces (it call it spaces, honestly) in large city centers around the world. Something similar to Tesla stores. Only, Tesla decided to close many of them in order to achieve profitability and moved completely to an online selling model.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2018 Polestar 1.

Read our full review on the 2016 Volvo Concept 40.2

Read our full review on the 2018 Tesla Model 3.