Polestar 2 review - Range, charging and running costs
Good range and low electric running costs make the Polestar 2 a practical family choice.
There’s no getting away from it - the Polestar 2 is an expensive car to buy or lease. However, the Polestar 2 is cheaper to buy than a Tesla Model 3, and once you begin to factor in the lower running costs of an electric car, compared to its fossil fuel rivals, then the benefits of running an EV become clearer.
With the Polestar’s 78kWh battery supplying 72.5kWh of actual usable energy, a full charge from empty should cost an average of just over £10. The 2 has an efficiency rate of 3.2 miles for every kWh of energy used, which gives a realistic range of 232 miles. The official range of the Long Range Single model is 336 miles, while the Twin dual-motor can manage up to 298 miles according to Polestar.
An entry-level version with a 69kWh battery has also now been introduced, with a single motor and a range figure of up to 295 miles.
If you were to cover 12,000 miles over a year, you’d be looking at an annual energy bill of just £540. In comparison, a similarly priced, diesel-powered Audi S5 Sportback would cost an average of £1,700 over the same mileage.
Insurance groups
The Polestar 2 sits in group 42 for insurance, although the Tesla Model 3 will incur higher premiums as it occupies groups 48-50. The Tesla was judged by industry testers, Thatcham Research, to only offer ‘basic’ levels of protection for vehicle security, and so incurs higher insurance costs.
Depreciation
Data suggests the Polestar 2 will be a strong performer on the second-hand market. After 3 years and 36,000 miles the Swedish hatchback is predicted to hold on to around 53-58% of its original list price, which puts it right up at the top of the class.
