2024 Polestar 2 Makes a Stronger First Impression
Don't call this a refresh. Polestar claims it doesn't do the whole traditional mid-cycle update thing, and given the constant tweaks the Polestar 2 electric hatchback has received since launching, that tracks. Every model year has seen a new variant or adjusted power and range. For 2024, the Polestar 2 gets its most comprehensive upgrade to date, making this EV an even more appealing introduction to the fledgling automaker that specializes in electric cars.

Changes Outside and Under the Hood
The 2 looks a little different now, thanks to a new "SmartZone"—the part of the front fascia that houses most of its forward-facing sensor and camera tech. When painted white, it looks like a single, comically wide tooth.

The tire offerings have changed as well; both single- and dual-motor base variants now come standard with 19-inch wheels and Michelin Primacy 4 all-season tires. The Performance trim upgrades to 20-inchers with Continental SportContact 6 summer rubber, but folks hunting for a middle ground can swap out the lesser trims' 19s for optional 20s with Continental PremiumContact 6 summer tires.The single-motor entry model—now priced at $51,300, a $1500 bump over 2023—picks up the most notable adjustments. A new electric motor now powers the rear wheels rather than the front. Output rises dramatically to 295 horsepower (up from 228 horses) and 361 pound-feet of torque (versus 243). Polestar estimates a 60-mph time of 5.9 seconds, which would be a big improvement over our test of the 2022 front-wheel-drive base model, which required 6.8 seconds to reach that mark.

Driving the Single-Motor Polestar 2
It only takes a single stab of the right pedal to notice the difference. The RWD Polestar 2's throttle mapping makes it easy to start smoothly, with pickup dramatically improved over last year's model. Passing at highway speeds is easier but still requires some forethought. In nearly any daily-driving situation, the newfound vim is more than ample. Standard twin-tube dampers do a commendable job in corners, allowing just a bit of lean without feeling wishy-washy. The newly standard all-season tires don't throw much noise into the equation—yet another benefit, as the formerly standard summer tires weren't exactly ideal for staying quiet or maximizing range.Speaking of range, there's a whole lot more of it on the base Polestar 2. A new 79.0-kWh lithium-ion battery from CATL bumps EPA-estimated range from 270 miles to 320 while also increasing the peak DC fast-charging rate from 155 to 205 kilowatts. The dual-motor Polestar 2 and the Performance variant stick with a 75.0-kWh lithium-ion LG Chem battery. Range increases for the dual-motor, too, though; thanks to a newfound ability to disconnect the front motor under certain conditions, EPA-estimated range is up from 260 miles to 276 (the exception is the Performance, down from 260 to 247 miles). DC fast-charging remains at 155 kilowatts for dual-motor models, and AC filling via the onboard charger on all Polestar 2 models is pegged at 11.0 kilowatts.

Driving the Dual-Motor Polestar 2
Dual-motor models—$56,700 for the base, $64,400 for the Performance—pick up some powertrain benefits too. They combine the RWD model's new synchronous motor with a new induction front motor, bumping horsepower to 416 on the base car and, strangely enough, lowering it slightly to 449 on the Performance. Torque rises to a meaty 546 pound-feet for both trims. By Polestar's estimates, the Performance's 60-mph time is 0.1 second quicker than before (4.1 seconds versus 4.2). Our test of a 2023 model produced a 3.9-second sprint, so it'll be interesting to see whether the 2024 model improves on that.

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