Behind the wheel of the Polestar 4, the SUV coupé without a rear window – Corriere.it

Here’s how the third model from the Chinese manufacturer Geely Group goes, which uses a camera and an LCD monitor for the interior mirror

Madrid (Spain) – After the 3, the 4: the Polestar range expansion continues, a company, like Volvo, of the Chinese group Geely. We are faced with a car that It is positioned between the Polestar 2 sedan and the 3 SUV in terms of size and price. A D-segment (upper-medium) SUV coupé that, unlike others, does not penalize rear habitability, thanks to the long wheelbase adopted (2.99 meters, on a total length of 4.80). The intention is to compete with models such as the Porsche Macan EV, the Audi Q6 e-tron, the BMW iX3 and X4 and the Mercedes EQC. «Polestar 3 and 4 potential customers», explains Dimitris Chanazoglou, managing director of the company, «are attentive and aware, lovers of performance, design and sustainability; they belong to the medium-high segment of the market, in line with Polestar’s premium positioning, and appreciate the construction quality, innovation and driving experience offered by our cars». To reach this target, the designers focused on two main aspects: high performance, associated with enjoyable road behaviour, and a high level of technological equipment.

One or two engines

Let’s start with the first, summarizing the characteristics of the Polestar 4 propulsion system, offered in two versions. The first is equipped with a single engineplaced at the rear, with a power of 200 kW-272 hp and a torque of 343 Nm; it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds and, thanks to a 100 kWh rechargeable battery with power up to 200 kW, enjoys a range of up to 620 km (in the Wltp cycle). The second, which shares the 400 volt architecture and battery capacity with the Single motor, instead adopts two engines, installed one per axle to obtain four-wheel drive; the front one, however, is disconnected when its contribution is not necessary, so as to reduce consumption. The total system power is 400 kW-544 hpfor a maximum torque of 686 Nm; values ​​that allow it to reach 100 km/h from a standstill in just 3.8 seconds. The autonomy guaranteed by the Dual Motor accumulators can reach 590 km (Wltp). The chassis is adequate for this level of performance with the adoption of active shock absorbers as standard and the possibility, for the driver, to select a setting that favors performance over autonomy, enjoying the full power of both engines and a quicker response to commands. An option that we took advantage of in our test drive, conducted on the winding roads of the Sierra de Guadarrama, a natural park an hour away from Madrid.

Technological mirror

The second ace played for the Polestar 4 is that of technology. And here it is necessary to open a parenthesis, because, as for the 3, the Polestar designers have opted for a “digital only” solutioneliminating all the control buttons and keys. Every operation, from adjusting the air flow of the climate control to opening the glove compartment, requires you to go through the horizontal touch screen, located in the center of the dashboard: a choice that forces you to take your eyes off the road for a few moments. Added to this is the adoption of a Digital interior rearview mirrorwhich uses a rear-view camera and displays its images in the mirror, consisting of an 8.9-inch LCD display, adjustable with buttons set into the frame. A device that requires the driver to get used to. Technological details aside, the Polestar 3, which we tested in the Dual Motor version with the optional Performance Pack, is extremely enjoyable, fast and comfortable on the road, thanks also to the quality of the materials, all eco-friendly, used for the finishes. At the moment, prices for the Italian market are 66,900 euros for the Single Motor and 73,900 for the Dual Motor; we will have to see if, in the future, these figures will be affected by any duties introduced by the European Union on cars of Chinese origin. For now, in fact, production of the Polestar 3 takes place in Hangzhou, waiting for it to also start in Busan, South Korea, from 2025.