Life With the Polestar 4: What This Futuristic SUV Is Really Like to Drive

Polestar has just unveiled its new flagship, the Polestar 5, but until that model hits the streets, we had the chance to spend two months in Sweden with the latest Polestar 4 SUV coupé. This futuristic EV is solidly built, packed with power, and loaded with features. On paper, it promises a lot but how does it actually hold up over the long run? Let’s find out.

Performance

The Polestar 4 feels like a spaceship camouflaged as a car. It is equipped with a 100 kWh battery and available with single or dual-motor all-wheel drive drivetrain. We had the dual motor version, and I can tell you it is fast. The dual-motor version delivers 400 kW (≈ 544 hp), while the single-motor option delivers 200 kW (≈ 272 hp).

Even if the car is full of the family and bags, it never feelt short on power. In fact, if you are coming from a petrol car, the acceleration is staggering and the dual-motor version does 0-60 mph in about 3.7 seconds.

The car has a combined charging port located on the rear driver’s side that uses the CCS (Combined Charging System) standard, which includes a Type 2 inlet for AC charging (at home or public AC stations) and a separate inlet for DC charging.
The official WLTP range is 379 miles, but the real-world mileage is somewhere around 300 miles. Rapid acceleration, highway speed, or constantly using the A/C has an effect on the range just like any other EV.
When it comes to charging, we mainly used Circle K´s 400KW DC chargers, and although the car is capable of charging at 200kW, we never reached more than 174KW. Overall, we were quite happy with the range and the charging speed. Even within a quick supermarket visit, the car could get enough charge to drive around for a while.

Driving

Driving was so much fun once I got used ot the car. I quickly found myself constantly checking the speedometer because the cabin is so well insulated that I had barely any idea how fast I was driving. Using the speed limiter became almost essential to avoid tickets.

The handling is solid and precise, and I had the feeling that the car was glued to the road.
Smooth but sharp, and surprisingly nimble for its size, the Polestar 4 delivers a driving experience that feels planted yet light. Steering is precise, and the all-wheel drive system puts the power down with confidence. The spaceship comparison isn’t far-fetched. It feels futuristic, quiet, and endlessly fast.

One thing that takes getting used to is visibility. The Polestar 4 has no traditional rear window, so looking back is practically useless. Instead, you rely on 360-degree cameras and a rearview mirror that is basically an HD screen. It feels strange at first, but after a few hours, it becomes second nature, and you barely notice you’re not looking through glass.

As for driver assistance, my expectations were high. I thought it would match or even surpass the Volvo XC90’s Pilot Assist, but in reality, it falls short. In fact, even the much cheaper and older Lynk & Co 01 offered a smoother experience. The Polestar’s assist is slow to activate and too quick to deactivate without warning. Lane changes feel awkward, as you need to grab the wheel and push the car into the lane, even with the indicator on. And while the system generally does well in maintaining distance and matching traffic speed, it made three unnecessary emergency braking maneuvers during my time with it, despite no obstacles or vehicles being nearby.

Interior

Inside, the Polestar 4 shines. The cabin is spacious, modern, and impressively comfortable. There’s a huge amount of legroom in the back, a flat floor, and a massive boot that swallows luggage with ease. In fact, the boot is large enough to take two big suitcases plus two smaller trolley bags easily. The seats are supportive and perfect for long drives, though adjusting them can be a nightmare, but more on that later.

The overall fit and finish are top-notch, absolutely in line with the price range where the Polestar 4 positions itself. You can choose from a range of ambient lighting colors, from calming light blues to deep reds, which makes the cabin feel spectacular after dark. The stereo system is equally impressive, delivering the kind of rich sound you’d expect in a premium car at this level.

Not much to complain about here. Polestar has done an excellent job with the interior. It’s quiet, stylish, and a place you genuinely look forward to spending time in.

Infotainment

As today’s cars increasingly feel like smartphones on wheels, infotainment has become one of the most important features, especially in a car that starts at over $56,000. The Polestar 4 comes with wireless Apple CarPlay, and the system itself is well-organized and logical. The graphics are stunning, the menus are smooth, and the customization options seem endless.

The screen responds quickly, CarPlay integrates seamlessly, and once you learn the layout, navigating through the menus is intuitive. For those who enjoy high-tech interfaces, it feels modern and premium.

But if you’re a fan of traditional buttons and knobs, you might not be happy in this car. Almost every function lives in the center screen. Like most modern cars, the A/C temperature is digitalized, but in the Polestar, even the airflow direction setup is hiden in the menu. That means if you want to change where the air is blowing, you need to dive into the screen and adjust it, and it’s practically impossible to do safely while driving.

The same goes for the seats. Fine-tuning your seat position is only possible on the screen. If you’re already driving, the car will repeatedly warn you to pay attention to the road, which is ironic, because the very setup forces you to look away from it. In practice, it’s safer to pull over and make adjustments, but for basics like seat height or lumbar tweaks, this feels unnecessarily complicated.

Verdict

The Polestar 4 is a remarkable car that blends futuristic design with thrilling performance. It’s fast, comfortable, and loaded with technology, offering a driving experience that feels more like piloting a spaceship than a family SUV coupé. The interior quality and infotainment are superb, the range is respectable, and it’s genuinely enjoyable to live with, even if a few things, like over-reliance on screens and the hit-and-miss driver assistance, can be frustrating.

So, would I buy it? For cash, never. For lease, maybe. The reason isn’t the battery or range because those are more than fine. The genuine concern is the amount of technology crammed into the car. With so many sensors, cameras, and screens replacing traditional parts, long-term ownership could turn into a costly headache if something breaks. Imagine losing your rear camera or mirror screen and not being able to reverse the car. Repairs like that could be expensive.

That’s why I’d suggest leasing it instead of buying. Leasing lets you enjoy everything great about the Polestar 4 while leaving the long-term risks to the warranty or insurance. In short: It is a fantastic car to drive and experience, but it is safer to borrow the future than own it outright.