FOUR THE JOURNEY (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

The Polestar 4 SUV widens the appeal of the brand's best-seller. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 39

The Polestar 4 is quirky as a Coupe, but much more practical in this more versatile SUV form. Families can now consider this Sino-Swedish brand's premium mid-sized EV crossover model in a way they could never have done before.

Backgroundword count: 162

Britain likes the Polestar brand. And, more specifically, we like the company's Polestar 4 mid-sized EV crossover. Which, since its launch in late 2023, has played a major part in making ours the Sino-Swedish marque's biggest export market. Now though, the '4' comes in two flavours and we're here to look at the added SUV version. The most unique and headline-grabbing aspect of the original Polestar 4 (which continues, now known as the Polestar 4 Coupe) was its lack of a rear window, a feature reinstated for the SUV version. That of course, in concert with a taller squarer shape, means a bigger boot and a more conventional look. Otherwise though, very little is different over the existing Polestar 4 design, though a few different elements of it have been slightly updated to coincide with this second variant's arrival. With increasing segment competition, it's a model line that's needed wider appeal. So let's take a closer look at the Polestar 4 SUV.

Engines and Tech Specword count: 288

This SUV model features only subtle engineering changes over its Coupe counterpart. 'Small calibration tweaks' have been made to the Sustainable Experience Architecture. And, thanks to new Hankook tyres and subtle battery optimisation, the SUV model can go six miles further than the Coupe - 391 miles for the rear motor model and 373 miles for the dual motor version. Otherwise, everything's as with the Polestar 4 Coupe, which means there's a substantial 102kWh battery for all versions. In the Single motor variant, this is mated to a rear-mounted 268bhp motor, which makes 62mph in 7.1s. The Dual motor AWD derivative has 536bhp and improves the sprint figure to 3.8s. As with the 4 Coupe, there's also a 'Performance Pack' version of the Dual motor derivative, which gets updated brakes, wheels and tyres as well as tweaks to the steel suspension. The passive dampers of the Single motor model are exchanged for 'semi-active' dampers in the Dual motor version; and, unlike on the 'Performance' version of the Polestar 2, you don't have to adjust those with a spanner but can do so via the centre dash screen. The '4' has been engineered for as much self-driving tech as individual market laws will currently allow. LiDAR sensors (and a bank of radars and cameras) on the car create a 3D map of its surroundings in real time, allowing this Polestar to see up 600 metres away - or up to 7.5s ahead of the vehicle at highway speeds, allowing 'centimetre level' precision that enables the '4' to map the environment and traffic conditions around it. The result is the capability for completely autonomous highway driving (without the driver having to pay attention) and 'eyes-on' autonomous driving on other roads.

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