Charged EVs | 2026 Polestar 4 electrical ‘SUV coupe’: competent, complicated, lacks one part

The 2026 Polestar 4 is an uncommon car, even for an EV from Sino-Swedish startup model Polestar. Its makers name it an “electrical efficiency SUV coupe”, although it has 4 doorways. It’s smaller than the Polestar 3 SUV, although bigger than the Polestar 2 compact crossover—which means the Polestar lineup, from small to giant and least expensive to priciest, runs from 2 to 4 to three. Its most notable characteristic could also be its lack of a rear window; the trunk lid ends on the visible base of the roof.

We fear all this makes it a complicated mannequin which may be a problem to promote: It’s an uncommon physique fashion, from a largely unknown model, that’s lacking a big and apparent part consumers anticipate in each new car.

The Polestar 4 has been on sale since August as a 2026 mannequin; first deliveries are anticipated earlier than the top of the yr. US and Canadian automobiles are made in Busan, South Korea, the second meeting plant to assemble the P4 after Hangzhou Bay, China. Battery cells for these Busan fashions nonetheless come from CATL in China, nonetheless. Observe the pre-production 2025 fashions we drove in Montreal in July differed barely from US-market 2026 Polestar 4s.

The Lengthy Vary Single Motor mannequin is EPA-rated at as much as 310 miles of vary, beginning at $57,600, whereas the pricier however quicker Twin Motor model takes a slight hit all the way down to 280 miles. For these prospects holding monitor, the corporate notes the 4 has the bottom lifetime carbon footprint of any Polestar up to now.

A design distinction no buyer requested for?

Let’s take care of the dearth of a rear window proper up entrance. Why did Polestar do it, except for echoing an idea automotive from again in 2020? Executives spoke at some size about how eliminating a glass rear window permitted a sleeker, extra sloped fastback tail and a decrease roofline, whereas nonetheless offering the required rear headroom. We’re not satisfied.

The dearth is much extra noticeable in gentle colours, much less so in darker ones. The glass roof has been visually prolonged to the highest of the trunk lid with shiny black plastic panels. Nonetheless, we couldn’t assist however discover an indent within the tall trunk lid that may present a cut-out for no less than a vestigial rear glass—if prospects bridle at its lack. Alternatively, maybe this reporter merely isn’t the suitable viewers for the automotive.

The woven inside materials, generally known as Tailor-made Knit upholstery, are made totally from recycled PET, with the material knitted to measurement. The a part of the sprint going through the occupants, coated on this woven material, is elegant—however the impact is spoiled by a black nylon mesh additional up towards the windscreen, which each of us agreed appeared and felt low-cost. We appreciated the distinctive pop of color within the seat belts, both an orange stripe on black or stable orange.

Quick however agency … to harsh

Polestar notes the 4 is its quickest mannequin up to now, with the highest-performance mode of its Twin Motor model taking simply 3.7 seconds to speed up from 0 to 60 mph. That mannequin is quoted at 405 kilowatts (544 horsepower) and 506 foot-pounds of torque. The rear-wheel-drive Single Motor variant is quoted at 200 kW (272 hp) and 253 lb-ft of torque, with 0-6o-60-mph acceleration of 6.9 seconds—virtually double that of the hot-rod model. Each are powered by a 100-kilowatt-hour battery pack (94 kWh usable) with cells from China’s Modern Amperex Know-how Co. Restricted (CATL). Quick charging velocity is quoted at as much as 200 kilowatts.

Behind the wheel, acceleration is clearly there when referred to as for. I might need preferred a bit extra steering really feel, although the automotive goes the place it’s pointed simply tremendous. Among the many out there efficiency choices are energetic dampers (shock absorbers) and 4-piston Brembo brakes.

The dealing with and roadholding are on the heavy aspect, and in corners you’ll be able to really feel the tires working to carry this 5,200-pound car in place. Even on the Regular suspension setting, the journey is notably agency; we managed to hit the bump stops, fairly unintentionally, whereas going by means of one pothole. The sportier settings head into rougher-ride territory.

Polestar’s implementation of one-pedal driving doesn’t sluggish the automotive totally. Under about 5 mph, the driving force should brake to a cease. Its regenerative braking, even on the strongest setting, is on the light aspect in comparison with different EVs, although simple to be taught and plan for.

Then there’s the problem of the video rear-view mirror (since an everyday glass mirror has no view by means of a rear window to replicate). The windshield is so steeply raked that the mirror is surprisingly near the driving force’s eyes, making it a problem to change focal distance from just a few hundred ft forward to maybe 18 inches, then again once more.

Plus, the picture squirms within the nook of the driving force’s eyes, and it strikes sideways when a flip is signaled. My driving associate stated his eyes felt drained from the continuous refocusing, and even a Polestar exec admitted it had taken him three days to acclimatize to that facet of the automotive. To its credit score, Polestar makes use of excellent rear-view cameras, and the backup picture was very good.

Quiet, well-bolstered, screen-centric

The low “coupe” roofline mixed with the underfloor battery pack means all occupants, together with these in entrance, sit in a barely knees-up posture. That is hardly distinctive to the P4, but it surely remained noticeable even after shifting the driving force’s seat as excessive as it might go—extra so than within the P2 or P3 with their extra upright SUV proportions. Seats had been comfy and nicely bolstered, as patrons anticipate in a performance-oriented EV.

We heard no noise in any respect from the motor or energy electronics, and little or no wind noise. The majority of the sound that entered the cabin was tire noise from the 22-inch wheels on our take a look at automotive (20- and 21-inch wheels are additionally out there). We had been amused to search out the stylish indicator “tick” noise broadcasts on the left-hand speaker for a left flip, however solely the right-hand speaker when turning proper. It was startling at first, then somewhat enjoyable to hear for.

The P4 person interface has the model’s common screen-centric controls on the central touchscreen. It does no less than retain an indicator stalk with normal wiper controls. However the P3 might use extra onerous buttons and dials, although it wouldn’t match the corporate’s tech-forward picture. One instance arose swiftly in our damp, cool drive: repositioning the air vents requires a number of faucets and swipes on the display screen, which turns into deeply annoying if the automotive may be very scorching or very chilly. Ditto the glove field: extra faucets are required to search out the suitable set of buttons that features the one to open it.

And the viewers is?

Polestar has challenges. The primary Polestar 2 compact crossover was delivered within the US in December 2020—on the coronary heart of the Covid pandemic. The model was caught with that single mannequin for 4 years; its model stays largely unknown; and it’s now including franchised sellers to its earlier Tesla-like company-owned shops to promote new EVs. Its most necessary new mannequin would be the US-built Polestar 3, although that SUV begins at just below $70,000.

To be trustworthy, we’re not totally clear who the viewers for the newer P4 might be. There’s some marketplace for “coupe SUVs,” although it’s smaller by far than that for standard SUVs. Intersect that small section of the SUV market with the EV-only powertrain, then add in uncommon design options just like the Tesla-esque all-screen controls—to not point out that lacking rear window—and the shared space on the Venn Diagram begins to look small. Nonetheless, Polestar executives stated they really feel the three might turn out to be their best-selling North American mannequin. Time will inform.

The Polestar 4 Lengthy Vary Single Motor mannequin carries a base value of $57,800, together with a compulsory $1,400 vacation spot price. The Twin Motor mannequin rises to $64,300, together with vacation spot. A $5,500 Plus Pack for both model provides a head-up show, 12-way energy adjustable seats and reclining rear seats, heated steering wheel and rear seats, a Harman Kardon premium audio system, and auto-dimming aspect mirrors, amongst different options.

A $3,800 Efficiency Pack, just for the Twin Motor mannequin, provides 22-inch alloy wheels, particular chassis tuning and Brembo 4-piston brake calipers with Polestar high-performance discs, summer time efficiency tires, and gold seat belts. A top-of-the-line Polestar 3 Twin Motor mannequin can close to $74,000.

Polestar offered airfare, lodging, and meals to allow Charged EVs to convey you this first-person drive report.