2025 Polestar 4 simmers an SUV-coupe-sedan stew

• Polestar follows up the three SUV with a coupe-like 4 with seats for 5

• It’s quick however flappable: the 4 has scalding electrical energy, however the journey wants fine-tuning

• With Android firmware and wi-fi Apple CarPlay—and ambient lighting themed on the photo voltaic system—it’s a tech-forward assertion

• Will a small gross sales community and tariffs spike early gross sales?

Polestar has swung swiftly from the expensive, plug-in Polestar 1 coupe to the extra pragmatic plug-only Polestar 2 sedan. It’s within the midst of launching an enormous three-row 3 SUV—and now, it’s pushing its fourth automobile out the door.

The sequentially named Polestar 4 has a coupe-like roofline and a thoughts to be a crossover SUV, however contemplate it an electrical fastback sedan, slotted illogically between the two and three. 

Huh?

If it makes it simpler, consider it firstly as a rival for the Tesla Mannequin Y, Genesis GV60, and the upcoming Porsche Macan EV. It shares a platform with the Lotus Eletre, and no different Polestar or Volvo merchandise we will drive within the U.S.

It’s an uncommon arrival, and unconventional too—not like the larger Polestar 3 we’ve already pushed. That 2025 Polestar 3 hits an electric-SUV stride, however how does this elegant entry fare? I went to drive it in Madrid, and after a pair hundred kilometers its place within the SUV spectrum grew to become clearer. It isn’t one. Largely, that’s a very good factor.

2025 Polestar 4 exterior and inside model

It does promise some crossover-SUV credibility, however the Polestar 4 goes out of its means to not appear like one. As an alternative its mother or father claims it to be a coupe-like crossover. Let’s check out the proof. On the low nostril and between pickaxe LED headlights it wears a subdued brand that lights up at evening—and there’s no airfoil embedded within the hood like its bigger Polestar 3 kin. Down the facet its physique model turns into no extra clear: its decrease cladding suggests SUV whereas the low, raked roofline and sloped rear finish desires to play sports activities coupe. A single, slim LED bridges the rear finish. With its quick overhangs and lengthy wheelbase, flush door handles and frameless home windows, it’s immediately recognizable as…nothing and all the pieces, unexpectedly. As a result of it has an outlined cargo house with a decklid hinged individually from its glass roof we’re calling it a sedan, however that sizzling take may change. 

The really uncommon facet of the 4 is that it has no rear windshield. With a taller physique panel assembly its glass roof, the Polestar 4 affords no view to the rear for the motive force. As an alternative it adopts a digicam system which generates digital views of what’s in again—like some supercars. Extra on that in a second.

Contained in the Polestar 4 hews extra carefully to custom, if we’re speaking about 5 years’ price of EVs right here. All editions sport a spartan sprint with a ten.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, and a big 15.4-inch tablet-style touchscreen. Practically all of the Polestar’s automobile features rely upon the touchscreen interface, which perches over a console that angles towards it, adorned by a dial that spins via display shows and audio quantity, and a console lid that hides cupholders and storage. A scatter of LED lights sprays on the door trim. It’s an inside so clear it virtually squeaks.

2025 Polestar 4 efficiency: Placing acceleration, rumbly journey

• 0-60 mph: 6.9 seconds (RWD), 3.7 seconds (AWD)

• Vary: 300 miles (RWD), 270 miles (AWD)

• 200-kw DC quick charging

• One-pedal drive in any mode

• Extra specs: 2025 Polestar 4

Mercury-quick with a dual-motor powertrain and all-wheel drive, the Polestar 4’s solely reasonably slower and fewer charming with a single motor and rear-wheel drive. It’s prepared for additional suspension and journey refinements, nevertheless.

Each variations mount a 102-kwh battery within the flooring, however interpret its usefulness in two other ways. With a single motor the Polestar 4 generates 272 hp and 253 lb-ft of torque. It lands on a Polestar-claimed 300-mile estimate whereas it posts a 0-60 mph time of 6.9 seconds. It’s a tremendous mix of effectivity and acceleration. 

I’d be mendacity if I mentioned that was sufficient, as a result of I even have pushed the 2-motor 4, which faucets that battery for an intense 544 hp and 506 lb-ft. Vary dips to 270 miles estimated—however this Polestar 4 sprints to 60 mph in a claimed 3.7 seconds. It’s the Sizzling One within the duo, and ripe for a tour of the countryside.

On the street out of Madrid towards Segovia—a passel of highways, then two-laners, then bicycle-clogged lane-and-a-halfs—the 2-motor automobile’s sturdy and silent energy flicked between rolling obstacles with ruthless effectivity. I’d discover a slot forward, press on the proper pedal, and fly forward, with out an excessive amount of of the sluggish motor engagement or pointless noise of another luxurious EVs.

Twin-motor automobiles have adaptive dampers to enrich their copious energy, however even with them, the Polestar 4 wasn’t at all times completely satisfied careening via curves. Sprinting via passes in Efficiency mode, with dampers set to agency and steering left in its normal light-touch weighting, the Polestar 4 tooled via twist-tied Spanish roads on the best way to Segovia with largely fluid strikes. However on damaged native pavement it grew rougher. With the out there 21-inch wheels and 235/45 entrance and 255/45 rear Michelin Pilot tires, it needed for gentler tuning and extra pliant tires, stuttering stiffly over crumbled pavement when it ought to be gliding. A automobile that appears vaguely French makes some ride-quality guarantees that the Polestar 4 flinches at.

Regenerative braking helps it slew softly to a cease, and its friction brakes blended in deftly when hairpins and last-second brake lights appeared forward of us, largely from survivor Dacia vans. 

It’s rated to tow as much as 3,500 kilos and has 6.5 inches of floor clearance—however the SUV half right here is spoken softly, for those who can hear it in any respect. 

2025 Polestar 4 inside consolation and utility

• 190.5 in lengthy, 118.1-inch wheelbase

• Cargo room: 18.6 cubic ft (behind second row), 54.2 cu ft (behind first row)

• Too many features buried within the touchscreen

The Polestar 4 lavishes house on 4 passengers, with room for a fifth. Some questionable ergonomic selections could rattle much less adventurous of us, although.

You’ll hear no complaints about sitting within the entrance seats, whether or not they’re coated in base textiles or out there artificial leather-based and even nappa leather-based. Like its family over at Volvo, Polestar believes in good seat consolation. Right here, the woven textile grips me effectively and the motive force’s seat sports activities simply the correct amount of padding for sure-footed driving and for touring consolation. Area throughout me excels, even when the flying buttresses of the middle console rides alongside my proper knee. In a quick spell, I determine it’s the identical with the nappa-leather seats, which have cooling and therapeutic massage features.

The rear seat asks all types of questions of its passengers. The doorways don’t thunk closed like these on the Polestar 3—and as soon as inside, the back-seat bench doesn’t have sufficient help beneath my knees, although the backrest has deep channels and a recline perform. I anticipated a claustrophobic really feel as I rode there for a couple of dozen kilometers, however that didn’t occur. What I discovered extra of was headroom—an inch between my 6-foot-tall body and the glass—and suspension noise. A 3rd individual may sit between me and one other me, although.

Many fastidiously thought-out particulars carry the Polestar 4 cabin above rivals. The door pulls actuate from the top of the arm in a subtly fab integration. The sleek texture of the padded sprint wears delicate earth colours and contrasts with the textured recycled supplies on the sprint and doorways, which really feel extra grating. The gauge cluster displayed vary and velocity in shiny orange kind—the colour’s adjustable in a hierarchy based mostly on planets. Ours defaulted to Uranus. Make of that what you’ll.

Most ancillary automobile features require a faucet or 5 via the touchscreen or steering-wheel controls. The thought is to set and neglect the key changes, and to depend on particular person key fobs that keep in mind settings. For utilizing the Polestar 4 as an occasional driver—it’s a pageant of display faucets. Mirrors, head-up show, steering wheel angle, glovebox door, all of it requires a faucet into the display then using steering-wheel controls to modulate. In case you’ve seen annoyed McRib lovers hammering on a drive-through display in useless, you’ve seen me work the Polestar’s controls for my first 5 minutes of entry. Shortcuts and chronic features assist lower via the litter, but it surely’s…quite a bit.

2025 Polestar 4 security: Lidar’s on the best way

• Arms-free driver help is coming

• A rear digicam mirror subs in for the lacking rear windshield

• It may be flipped to a typical mirror

Because it’s so new, neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS has crash-tested the Polestar 4. It comes with the standard rack of normal security gear, from computerized emergency braking to adaptive cruise management, blind-spot screens, a surround-view digicam system, and lively lane management. 

Arms-free driving is on the best way, but it surely’s not right here but. Polestar affords an choice package deal with 12 lidar sensors, 14 cameras, and a radar sensor; knit along with laptop brains it’ll make some degree of driver help out there sooner or later. Polestar makes no guarantees about “full self driving” or different such nonsense.

The controversial rear-glass state of affairs will get resolved with a digital rear digicam mirror. In case you can’t get used to the shows, a traditional mirror. For what it’s price, Polestar engineers promise it grants a wider view of the street and autos approaching from behind—however with progressive lenses in my glasses, perceiving the picture in any respect is tough and forces an entire eye-turn from the street to hit the proper point of interest. A traditional mirror didn’t have that downside, however as it’s within the Polestar 4, solely offers a view of the rear seat passengers.

How a lot does the 2025 Polestar 4 value?

• $56,300 for the single-motor version

• $64,300 for the 2-motor Polestar 4

• Every will get wi-fi CarPlay and smartphone charging

Polestar’s taking orders now for fall deliveries of the 2025 4. The only-motor rear-wheel-drive 4 prices $56,300, together with $1,400 in vacation spot. A second motor and all-wheel drive prices $64,300. Commonplace gear features a panoramic roof, an influence tailgate, energy entrance seats, a woven-textile inside, wi-fi smartphone charging, 20-inch wheels, and a ten.2-inch digital instrument cluster paired with a 15.4-inch touchscreen with wi-fi Apple CarPlay delivered via Google built-in.

A $1,500 Pilot Pack (it’s free on the dual-motor automobile) comes with the lidar package deal. The Professional Pack ($2,000 on the single-motor 4, $600 on the dual-motor 4) good points 21-inch wheels, gold-striped seatbelts, and gold valve caps. The Plus Pack ($61,800 for single-motor automobiles, $69,800 for 2-motor automobiles) has artificial leather-based upholstery, 12-way energy entrance seats, a head-up show, heated and reclining rear seats, a rear leisure display, an 11-kw onboard charger, and Harman Kardon audio. Different choices embrace 21-inch wheels, a charging cable, and rear side-window privateness glass.

A Efficiency Pack could be fitted to dual-motor automobiles, for a complete of $74,300. It will get 22-inch cast wheels with summer time efficiency tires, Brembo brakes with gold-painted calipers and upgraded discs, and a sport-tuned suspension. 

When it launches the 2025 Polestar 4 will hail from China, however will quickly migrate to a former Renault Samsung meeting plant in South Korea early in 2025. Which will make it eligible for a $7,500 tax credit score—as a substitute of topic to a possible 100% tariff. Ultimately, maybe earlier than 2026, manufacturing of North American autos will start in South Carolina.

It’s a extra dangerous proposition than the smooth Polestar 3, for certain. The 2025 Polestar 4 commits to being totally different, earlier than many drivers know what Polestar means within the first place. For these with an eye fixed and a bent for the weird and the cutting-edge, its attract may be unmistakable.

Polestar paid for journey in order that we may deliver you this check drive evaluation.