So, what exactly is the Polestar 5?
It’s an all-electric 4-door saloon that is really a 4-seater, though there’s space between the rear seats for someone small. Polestar say the car is a 4+1. There’s no rear window, as per the Polestar 4. It's plush, fully loaded and looks stunning inside and out. If you are in the market for a transcontinental express, look no further.
Fancy a Porsche Taycan? Don’t be too hasty.
I was grateful to be amongst the select few to try the Polestar 5 before it went on sale. The test route included the sort of roads which could easily unsettle any other performance car…they’re in the Kielder Forest region…a favourite for rally cars.
Trims & Important Figures
Let’s cut to the chase and provide all of the important figures.
The entry-level Polestar 5 is referred to as the Dual Motor model, which is a tad confusing because the more expensive Performance model also has two motors. This means you have standard all-wheel drive. Anyway, the entry-level car comes in at £89,500. Power peaks at 737 bhp, giving you an impressive 0-60 mph time of 3.8 seconds. The predicted range is 421 miles.
The Performance version is a hefty £104,900. Power climbs to a thumping 871 bhp, which means your 0-60 mph time drops to 3.2 seconds. Range takes a bit of a hammering and drops to 347 miles. Make full use of the performance, and you’ll probably have shredded a set of tyres by the time the battery is exhausted. Seriously, the acceleration is savage. Floor the throttle in either car, and the all-wheel drive hurls you to the horizon. Whether your passengers appreciate it is another question. They’ll need a strong stomach.
The top speed in both is 155 mph, while a 10-80 per cent charge on a rapid charger takes a shade over 20 minutes. Impressive, and long enough for a cuppa and a ‘comfort’ break.
Driving Experience
Of course, once you’ve impressed your passengers (or frightened the life out of them), most owners will use a slug of performance to overtake something or slip into a gap as you join a motorway, and then revert to some sort of everyday driving. It’s only when you treat the Polestar 5 like that that you really understand the qualities of this car. Yes, it’s staggeringly quick, but it’s also a brilliant driver's car…and a cracking long-distance cruiser.
It’s also the sort of car that any keen driver will take for a spin on a sunny Sunday morning. Find a quiet road with a few twisty bends (like I experienced near Kielder), and there’s nothing better than timing your moment to unleash the horses and power out of a corner.
Even though the Performance version costs £15k more, it’s worth it for one simple reason. Okay, the slightly lowered suspension and fatter tyres improve the overall handling, but you now get MagneRide adaptive dampers which transform the ride. This is a car which is plainly set up to be capable of handling immense levels of power, but the MagneRide also ensures an uncannily smooth ride, even on our dreadful roads. Everything is very controlled, very refined and of course you whoosh along in near silence apart from a faint whine from the motors. The only other intrusion is a bit of rumble from the chunky tyres.
I should also add that the steering is nicely weighted, and the brakes fill you with confidence. You can adjust the recuperation levels, which vary from gentle to strong, plus the option of one-pedal driving which is pretty handy in towns.
Dimensions
This is a big car at just over 5 metres long and 2 metres wide, but it doesn’t feel big. Don’t be put off by the fact that there’s no rear window. The interior mirror works as a rear view camera and although it can initially be tricky trying to judge distances, you’ll soon get used to it. Anyway, truck and van drivers have managed for years without an interior mirror. There are also loads of parking cameras, so overall, visibility is pretty good.
The external dimensions are reflected inside too. This is a roomy car for everyone. Boot space is okay at 365 litres and there’s even a small frunk. As for the levels of kit, let’s just say that for the sort of prices being charged for the Polestar 5, you’d quite rightly expect to have everything you could possibly need. Thankfully, you do.
Interior
Inside is a stunning place to be. The glass panoramic roof means everything feels bright and airy. The four seats are extremely comfortable and look good. They’re also sufficiently bolstered to give everyone plenty of lateral support. The central fifth or +1 seat is really for children.
My only grumble is the usability of the central touchscreen. Polestar’s techy people love putting as much as possible on the screen, but do we really need to delve into various submenus to adjust the wing mirrors or steering wheel? Yes, everything works well and has a crisp, clear display, but it’s over-complicated. I have the suspicion that techy folk never actually drove the car. Ah well. Perhaps it all becomes second nature once you’ve spent more time with the car.
Should you buy one?
The Polestar 5 is stunning to look at, stunning to ride in…and stunningly quick. Go for the Performance model, and you’ll be surprised by how comfortable the ride becomes thanks to the adaptive dampers. It’s a wonderful car to drive both quickly and at a steady cruise. There really is a fluidity to the way it sweeps through corners.
Yet it’s also a pussycat to drive at slow, urban speeds where, let’s face it, most cars spend the majority of their lives.
The Polestar 5 is GT motoring at its finest.
words: Graham Courtney
pictures: Polestar
