The first
offering from Volvo's new premium brand is an appealing blend of electrified
technology, classically appealing looks and thrilling performance
Last Updated: 09 Oct 2020
PROS
- Gorgeous
looks
- Prodigious
performance
- Excellent
electric range
CONS
- Left-hand-drive
only
- Not
very practical
- Hugely expensive
While the
majority of new plug-in hybrid models these days are
executive saloons like the Volvo S90 and Mercedes E-Class, or SUVs like the SEAT Tarraco and BMW X5, this offering from Volvo's performance brand
Polestar is something different: an elegant-looking, luxurious and
high-performance coupe.
It's also the
first and last plug-in hybrid vehicle Polestar will make: starting with its
second model, the Polestar 2 coupe-SUV, the Swedish brand is set
to become electric-only. On paper, the 1's plug-in hybrid stats are
extremely convincing: a pure-electric range of nearly 80 miles, potential
economy north of 400mpg and 15g/km CO2 emissions.
That's allied
to a 601bhp power output for a 0-62mph time of 4.2 seconds and an
electronically limited top speed of 155mph. A 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine
gets a turbocharger, supercharger and twin electric motors on the rear axle to
help it produce all that power. The hardware is then wrapped in an extremely handsome
body underpinned by a lightweight and high-tech carbon-fibre structure.
Inside, it's
a little less striking, as you can clearly see the carryover from Volvo's more
mainstream models in the steering wheel and dashboard architecture, but quality
is top-notch nonetheless and everything is bang up-to-date in terms of
technology.
There's no
'B-pillar' between the front and rear side windows, so the interior has quite
an airy and open feel, but the rear seats are cramped nonetheless. They're
comfortable and supportive, like the fronts, but only kids will be happy
spending more than a short journey back there. Boot space is on the small side,
too – but you do at least get the novelty of having some of the car's
electrical systems showcased behind a clear panel, complete with annotations.
On the road,
this feels closer to a sports car than a cosseting 'Grand Tourer', with a
fairly firm ride quality ensuring you feel every lump and bump in the road.
Despite the use of carbon-fibre, this is still a pretty heavy car, tipping the
scales at 2,350kg, which is SUV rather than sports-car territory.
Nonetheless,
that prodigious power output can get the Polestar from 0-62mph in just 4.2
seconds, and in reality it feels even quicker than that, courtesy of the
electric-assisted instant shove you get upon pressing the accelerator. The
brakes are also impressive, capable of scrubbing off speed almost as quickly,
and when you're driving more gently, a strong regenerative braking mode allows
for one-pedal driving.
On a good
road, there's plenty of reward to be had from the 1: it boasts accurate
steering, big reserves of grip and superb body control, while a torque
vectoring system that controls the electric motors makes it surprisingly agile
for something so heavy. And those who are really keen can get out an Allen key
and tweak the standard Ohlins adjustable dampers for a smoother or firmer ride
as desired.
If you’re
lucky enough to be able to choose one, you’ll save a pretty penny on
company-car tax. Plug-in hybrids, no matter their list price, were treated
particularly kindly when the government was calculating the 2020/21 Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax changes – so a
higher-rate taxpayer will fork out just £1,667 per year in BiK. Compare that
with the latest BMW M8 Competition, which has a slightly lower
list price but far higher CO2 emissions, and you’ll be stunned: the BMW will
cost almost £18,000 in BiK tax in the first year alone.
Those
concerned about the dependability of a new brand like Polestar should take
comfort in the fact that parent company Volvo finished 10th in the most recent
Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, with owners praising their cars’
infotainment systems – a part that's carried over almost unchanged to the
Polestar 1 – and safety kit. One gripe for Volvo drivers was running costs,
which is unlikely to be an issue if you plug in your Polestar on a regular
basis.
Overall,
surrounded by large hybrid SUVs, the Polestar 1 feels like a relative breath of
fresh air. Yes, it's a pretty exclusive, limited-run offering with a price tag
to match, but it's still nice to have such a technologically advanced,
distinctive and smart-looking car on the roads. It has the potential to be a
unique and desirable piece of the brand's history for many years to come.
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