phoenixnewtimes.com 28 Aug 20 - Aug 26, 2026 READERS' POLL GUIDE 28 LA VIDA Questions? Feedback? Email me at [email protected] • Follow me on RATING (out of 5 McFly’s) SWEDEN BUILT A SPACESHIP 2026 POLESTAR 4 DUAL MOTOR The 2026 Polestar 4 Dual The 2026 Polestar 4 Dual Motor looks like somebody parked Motor looks like somebody parked a concept car at the grocery store a concept car at the grocery store and just left it there. It’s low, wide, and just left it there. It’s low, wide, clean and futuristic without looking clean and futuristic without looking like it was designed by a 14-year- like it was designed by a 14-year- old gamer. Then you notice there’s old gamer. Then you notice there’s no rear window. None. Polestar no rear window. None. Polestar replaced it with a camera feeding replaced it with a camera feeding the digital rearview mirror because the digital rearview mirror because apparently Sweden has decided apparently Sweden has decided glass is old technology. At $67,400, glass is old technology. At $67,400, the Polestar 4 certainly isn’t cheap, the Polestar 4 certainly isn’t cheap, but it feels special enough to justify but it feels special enough to justify some of that sticker shock. This some of that sticker shock. This isn’t another anonymous electric isn’t another anonymous electric blob silently roaming the Whole blob silently roaming the Whole Foods parking lot. It has presence. Foods parking lot. It has presence. Then you hit the accelerator. Then you hit the accelerator. Dual electric motors deliver 544 Dual electric motors deliver 544 horsepower and 506 lb-ft of torque, horsepower and 506 lb-ft of torque, which is a hilarious amount of which is a hilarious amount of power for something this civilized. power for something this civilized. Polestar says it’ll hit 60 mph in Polestar says it’ll hit 60 mph in around 3.7 seconds, and your around 3.7 seconds, and your internal organs will happily confirm internal organs will happily confirm that estimate. There’s no engine that estimate. There’s no engine screaming, no transmission hunting screaming, no transmission hunting for gears, no drama whatsoever. for gears, no drama whatsoever. You push the pedal and suddenly You push the pedal and suddenly the car that was three lengths the car that was three lengths ahead of you isn’t anymore. Yet the ahead of you isn’t anymore. Yet the Polestar doesn’t feel like some one- Polestar doesn’t feel like some one- trick EV built solely to win stoplight trick EV built solely to win stoplight races. It’s planted, comfortable and races. It’s planted, comfortable and remarkably composed. And with an remarkably composed. And with an EPA-estimated 280 miles of range EPA-estimated 280 miles of range and 90 city/80 highway MPGe, you and 90 city/80 highway MPGe, you can enjoy all that stupidity without can enjoy all that stupidity without spending your entire day hunting spending your entire day hunting for a charger. for a charger. What I really like about the What I really like about the Polestar 4 is that it’s weird without Polestar 4 is that it’s weird without desperately trying to convince you desperately trying to convince you it’s weird. The minimalist interior, it’s weird. The minimalist interior, funky proportions and missing rear funky proportions and missing rear window all give you something window all give you something to talk about, but underneath the to talk about, but underneath the Swedish science experiment is Swedish science experiment is a genuinely great car. It’s fast as a genuinely great car. It’s fast as hell, comfortable, distinctive and hell, comfortable, distinctive and far more interesting than buying far more interesting than buying the same luxury SUV as everyone the same luxury SUV as everyone else on your street. You’ll probably else on your street. You’ll probably have to explain what a Polestar is have to explain what a Polestar is to half the people who ask about it. to half the people who ask about it. That’s okay. Just tell them Sweden That’s okay. Just tell them Sweden built an electric spaceship with 544 built an electric spaceship with 544 horsepower and forgot to put a horsepower and forgot to put a window in the back. Then floor it. window in the back. Then floor it. Comfort: Value: Fuel Economy: Looks: The Drive: Safety & Security: Overall: Sound System: Bells & Whistles:
