The recent official launch of the Polestar 3 means that it’s an ideal time to revisit one of our EV tests from mid-2023: the Polestar 2 long range dual motor Performance. 

My original review never saw the light of day at the time because of vehicular scheduling clashes – and the model has since been upgraded and superseded – but now is a great time to consider the Polestar 2 because it might just be the feature-packed EV you’re looking for. 

And you may just be able to track down a sharply priced pre-owned Polestar 2.

How much does the Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor Performance cost?

A new-at-the-time 2023 Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor Performance has an estimated price of $82,400* (excluding on-road costs) at time of writing. (* That price includes the cost of the Performance pack, which was $8000 at time of writing for this model year variant.)

What features do you get in the Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor Performance?

The latest Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor Performance has a 350kW/740Nm dual electric motor, a 82kWh capacity lithium-ion battery, and a single-speed (reduction gear) transmission. Official driving range on a full charge is listed as 568km.

Standard features onboard the Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor Performance include a 11.2-inch touchscreen centre display, 12.3-inch driver display, Apple CarPlay, digital radio, an eight-speaker audio system, power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory, and more.

It has four USB-C ports (two up front and two for the back-seat passengers), and a 15W wireless phone charger up front.

There are four cup-holders: two in the front, and two in the rear.

The Performance pack, only available on the long range dual motor variant, includes a Performance software upgrade (pushing it to 350kW and 740Nm combined outputs), as well as 20-inch four-multi-spoke forged alloy wheels, and Polestar engineered chassis tuning.

The exterior colour on our test vehicle is Snow. Other choices are Space (black), Thunder, Midnight, Jupiter and Magnesium.

The Polestar 2 has the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating.

Safety gear includes eight airbags (front airbags, side airbags, inner-side airbags, inflatable curtains), ISOFIX mounts in the rear seat, as well as driver-assist tech such as AEB, adaptive cruise control, 12 sensors (front, rear and sides), 360º view camera view, trailer stability assist, lane keeping aid, lane departure warning, blind spot information (with steer assist), tyre pressure monitoring system and more.

The interior is a subtly stylish and comfortable space, with Nappa leather trim throughout.

All seats are adequately supportive without being too firm or spongy.

The Polestar 2 has plenty of storage spaces – glovebox, centre console, two cupholders, and bottle holders in the doors – and a few little nooks and crannies in which to dump any of your everyday carry stuff.

Rear-seat passengers get two cupholders in a fold-down armrest, and a bottle holder in each door.

Cargo space in the rear is listed as 407 litres (VDA), 1097 litres with the second-row seats folded out of the way – the rear seat is a 40/60 split with ski hatch – and the Polestar 2 has 41 litres of cargo capacity under the bonnet – in the frunk. 

The Polestar 2 does not come equipped with a spare tyre, but it does have a tyre-repair kit and warning triangle onboard.

This EV has official towing capacities of 750kg unbraked and 1500kg braked, a five-year vehicle warranty and an eight-year battery warranty.

Polestar the company reckons a new Polestar 2 doesn't need to be serviced for up to two years or 30,000km. Check with your preferred dealership for up-to-date servicing costs.

Every new Polestar 2 comes with five years of complimentary roadside assistance, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What is the Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor Performance like to drive?

The Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor Performance is 4606mm long (with a 2735mm wheelbase), 1985mm wide, and 1473mm high.

This is a refined and composed urban-focussed electric vehicle and, with a turning circle of 11.5m, it’s appropriately nimble in the suburbs and city.

This EV’s electric power steering – with three modes (light, standard and firm) – has a real precision about it that inspires driver confidence.

Ride and handling are even-handed, even though the Performance’s suspension set-up (McPherson strut front and multi-link rear, with dual-flow valve manually-adjustable dampers front and rear, and twin-tube, single-flow valve shock absorbers) lands on the too-firm side of the comfort spectrum, but it’s on-point for a city-friendly vehicle.

The Polestar 2 rides on Continental SportContact 6 (245/40 R20) on 20-inch machined alloy wheels, which do a fine job of daily driving duties around the suburbs.

If you’re into go-fast times, it’s handy to know the all-wheel drive Polestar 2 can do 0-100km/h in 4.2 seconds – that's quick.

And if you need to swiftly rein in that speed, good thing the Polestar 2 has big Brembo four-piston fixed aluminium front calipers with drilled ventilated discs to bring it to an abrupt but safe stop.

As for energy consumption, on a full charge, we used about 25 percent on the drive from Sydney’s Marrickville to just south of Wollongong, a distance of 81km.

After a few days of consistent mixed driving – suburban streets and the highway – we charged at one of the NRMA DC units in Wollongong’s Stewart Street East car park and managed to get from 25 percent to 80 percent in 41 minutes on a maximum 75kW charger.

The official combined energy consumption is between 16.8-17.2kWh/100km (WLTP*), and my usage came out at 17.0kW after a mix of open-road and urban driving during the week of testing. It comes equipped with 10A, 7m, Mode 2, Type 2, cable for charging at home. (* A strict globally accepted laboratory-based testing method of EV efficiency and driving range.)

Is the Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor Performance any good?

The Polestar 2 in all of its recent iterations makes an appealing choice as a premium EV because it’s low-key stylish but still well suited to the demands of everyday life.

And even though it’s now been superseded by the 3, the Polestar 2 is still a classy and functional, driver-friendly vehicle and, for some, might just prove to be a great entry point into the EV market.