2026 Polestar 4

The all-new, quiet operating, Polestar 4 arrived for sale in the Unites States in the fall of 2025 as a 2026 model year offering with an all-electric capability culled from a 100-kilowatt high-voltage direct current battery pack consisting of 110 individual cells.  

If the Scandinavian-born Polestar name remains unfamiliar to some, a quick recap of the firm's evolution and close association with the Volvo Group/Brand turns up down the road in this review. As of 2026, Polestar rates as one of a handful of recently minted Electric Vehicle companies still standing and assembling their wares along with such rivals as Tesla, Rivian and Lucid. A number of much hyped, less successful EV concerns have left the building or suspended production of late due largely to funding issues including names as Canoo, Fisker and Bollinger.  

The mid-size Polestar 4 follows in the progressive footsteps (or tire tracks in this instance) of Polestar 1, 2 and 3. Polestar 1, a limited production gas-electric hybrid coupe, sold only 1,500 total units worldwide between 2019 and 2021. Polestar 2, an all-electric sport sedan, rates as the company's first mass-produced vehicle debuting in the 2021 model year. The all-electric Polestar 3 entered in the 2022 model year offering a traditional crossover design. That points us to this week's tester, Polestar 4.  

Sandwiching itself between a sport sedan and conventional crossover, the all-electric Polestar 4 includes four side doors and a long, gently sloping rear liftback, which Polestar markets as a 'Coupe'. It's 190.6-inch length measures shorter than Polestar 3 but longer than Polestar 2.  

Marketing this four-door as a couple may seem a stretch, but Polestar has plenty of company with other luxury automakers making similar 'coup-y claims' (see the BMW X4 or X6). Two primary 'P4' trims break down into a single motor version and dual motor choice (adding an additional $6,500). 

As with many Volvo products, P4 takes a clean, minimalist approach to interior design with few buttons and dials. Most functions handle through the sizeable15.4-inch multi-function touch screen with Google-based interface including opening the rear liftback. All HVAC controls operate through this screen with constant visual icon appearance along the screen's bottom monitoring fan speed, dual-zone font temperatures and blower direction. This vehicle builds as a pure EV from the get-go, rather than borrowing an existing ICE design and adding traction motors as a second thought.  

My first experience with a P4 dual motor variant occurred earlier in the calendar year at the 2026 Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA) Road rally in Elkhart Lake Wisconsin where curved and rolling country roads assessed handling characteristics. The liftback passed with flying colors with minimal body lean benefitting from its lower center of gravity and even weight distribution with its flat, long, yet weighty, Direct Current high-voltage battery pack positioned between the axles and the long wheelbase and diminutive front/rear overhangs. It also benefits from adaptive suspension system helping smooth the ride. 

The 400-volt high-voltage lithium-ion DC battery with 100 kilowatt hour capacity utilizes a nickel, manganese, cobalt (NMC) chemistry combining together 110 thin cells. This provides a driving range of 310 miles for the single motor and 280 for the dual motor set up; average range results rate on par for a 2026 mid-size EV, but not class leading.  

It's also the first time experiencing the rearview video-feed mirror, a necessity since a conventional rear window is nonexistent, traded instead for an opaque panel allowing second row passengers additional head room and reclinable (but optional) outboard seatbacks; a confounding trade off and source of much on-and-offline discussion. 

Video-feed rear-view mirrors appear in select vehicles, generally larger crossovers, engineered to provide driver's an unobstructed view with no head or shoulder impediments thanks to strategically placed tiny cameras. Drivers switch between the video feed and conventional view with a mechanical tab found on the rim. Polestar 4 also absorbs this option but switching to the conventional mirror reflects the blackish back template and/or the heads and shoulders of the actors in row two. 

The P4 video feed serves a purpose but promotes squinting and eye strain for many older peepers (such as mine) as focusing upon a tiny, too-close, TV-like color screen proves problematic. Frameless, wide-angle-view sideview mirrors (with no video feed as of yet) offer a less stressful alternative to what's going on behind.  

Another interesting twist; no ignition cylinder or push-button electronic start/stop as the car readies itself for travel once the driver and key fob enter and sit. Same holds true when exiting; no need to turn anything off as drivers simply exit the vehicle after setting the transmission into park. The car locks itself once the key fob and drivers remove themselves and walk away.  

The large square flat screen extends out front the dash with a home screen displaying digital time and weather numbers in the upper right corner much too tiny for my aging eyes to quickly grasp. A large narrow horizontal air vent below provides a large portion of air distribution. Below the vent, a single wireless charger welcomes Smartphones into its cave-like setting.  

The screen includes easy access when changing the mood via eight interior ambient color choices each reflecting the eight planets in the solar system (sorry, Pluto apparently no longer qualifies). These color shades appear on doors in the form of pin lighting and the dashboard.  

The gently sloping panoramic roof, built with UV and noise reducing laminated glass, connects up with the liftback creating a sleek appearance. Flush-mounted narrow, rectangular door handles motor out several inches when approaching the vehicle and retract back into place when leaving. At night, a narrow red light bar emanates from end to end within the liftback. In front, dual blade LED daytime running lights resemble a pair of hockey sticks mirroring one another one atop the other. Primary beam-type LED headlights reside within the sticks.  

With 6.5-inches of ground clearance, Polestar 4 riders sit lower to the ground when stacked against conventional crossovers and sport utility vehicles (SUVs). The single-speed electronic transmission, built into drive modules, eliminates the central vertical transaxle floor hump, opening up additional interior volume and comfort.  

The electronic transmission shifter locates on the right-side of the steering column stalk, moving from reverse, to neutral, to drive with a gentle up/down touch of the stalk. Park engages by pushing in the end of the stalk. A left-side stalk monitors the lights and front windshield wipers.  

The three-spoke steering wheel includes a racing-inspired flat bottom. Secondary buttons assist with the tri-view (calm, map and surround) 10.2-inch digital instrument panel along with sound volume, cruise control and differing regenerative braking feedback resistance. Dashboard materials derive from a 'Soft-tec' concept resulting in a three-dimensional material Polestar calls 'Tech-knit' made from 100-percent recycled yarn letting light shine through.  

Regenerative braking captures kinetic energy created during the stopping process and returns it as electricity back into the large high-voltage DC battery. Lifting the foot off the accelerator pedal summons the electric motors to activate in reverse acting as generators. Within Polestar 4, drivers may choose between multiple resistance levels, in effect slowing the vehicle down with different paces/levels once the right foot lifts off the accelerator. It's easily adaptable, even to non-techie types and helps extend electric range.  

The steering column shifter local opens up the acreage between front buckets for a useful bi-level storage opportunities. The long arched streamlined upper deck includes two inline cup holders and narrow storage bin with its top hinged at the back. A pair of Type C USB plug ports locate within this bin to plug into electric devices. One of the few dials found up front twists with a tactile touch monitoring sound levels and stereo on/off functions. The sectioned lower level includes room for iPads and purses (both men and women varieties). 

A glove box awaits in its traditional location within the right-side lower dash, but technology overload awaits. Rather than a handy mechanical push button or lift latch, the region features a smooth surface requiring a trip to the multi-function center screen to open the bin downward. The main menu includes a 'settings' icon which summons an 'interior' choice in the left-side column. When pushed, a 'glovebox' option along the top allows the bin to drop down once pushing on the words 'glove box'. It's possible to slightly short cut these steps within the screen, but it ultimately requires multiple pushes and potential eyes off the road. However, manual muscle power is required to close up the glove box.  

The polestar logo combines two arrowheads each pointing to and gently kissing one another and adorns the front hood in illuminated fashion. Puddle lamps built within sideview mirrors also beam logo arrow images to the ground at night. 

The 2026 model year, two-row Polestar 4 arrives with the choice of one electric/traction motor or two. The single motor opportunity powers the rear axle with its DC battery and generating 272 horsepower while the dual motor motivates both axles creating an all-wheel drive format boasting 544 horses.  

Since traction motors found on the axle(s) power the car with no internal combustion engine under hood, the newly imagined real estate contains a storage compartment, known colloquially as a 'frunk,' an English-language machination of FRONT and TRUNK. The multi-level square design includes a 22-inch width at its widest point and an 8.2-inch depth (delivering a tiny .05 cubic feet of room). The lack of an engine encourages a cab-forward design welcoming extra leg room up front  

This, combined with 18.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind row-two seatbacks and another storage hole under the cargo floor, creates multiple storage opportunities.  

The base price of our all-wheel drive dual motor Polestar 4 tester listed at $62,900, modest when compared to rival luxury all-electric offerings. A half-dozen extras included Nappa leather interior ($3,700), body-painted lower moldings ($1,000), metallic exterior paint ($1,300), 21-inch V-spoke wheels ($1,800), electro chromatic glass roof ($1,500) and a Plus Package ($5,500). With a $1,400 destination charge, the bottom line reached $76,100.  

The recommended Plus Package adds a power lift gate, heads-up windshield projection, 5.7-inch rear entertainment screen, Harman-Kardon premium sound system, heated steering wheel/rear seats, power reclinable rear seats, illuminated Polestar front logo and 12-way power front bucket seat with cushion extensions. A single motor version starts at $56,400.  

A swing-out square panel located on the driver's side back fender opens to the J1772 Combined Charging System (CCS) inlet/receptacle when coupling Level 1, Level 2 or DC fast charging. The vehicle's battery management system (BMS) supports up to 200 kilowatts when DC fast charging away from home at such CCS franchise locations as EVGo or Electrify America. The CCS inlet is one of two utilized in 2026 Electric Vehicles sold in the U.S., the other is the North American Charging Standard (NACS) first developed for Telsa branded vehicles. Polestar's CCS onboard inlet does not initially work/fit with a NACS (Tesla) fast charging Supercharger network unless one purchases a special adaptor (a highly recommended investment of approximately $200).  

According to Polestar, DC fast charging occurs in approximately 30 minutes from a 10 percent to 80 percent state of charge (SoC) under ideal weather conditions. After an 80 percent state of charge, Polestar's Battery Management System significantly slows down delivery of flowing electrons (acting as a gate keeper of sorts) to prevent overheating or undue damage to the high-voltage battery. Keep in mind utilizing DC fast charging adds two to three times the cost when compared to at-home recharging. Plus cash does not compute or jibe with CCS or NACS outboard DC machinery, so have a credit card or downloadable Smartphone App in place.  

Utilizing a Level two 240 alternating current plug outlet working in tandem with the P4's 11.0-kilowatt onboard charger (OBC), expect a full battery charge in 11 hours. Polestar 4 arrives standard with a 20-foot-long black charging cable capable of utilizing both a conventional, household 120-volt outlet and a higher capacity 240-volt thicker-pronged version thanks to exchangeable pig tail ends.  

Folks recharging overnight inside a garage generally make an investment with an in-home wall connecter and cord utilizing a home's higher 240-volt output traditionally powering washers, dryers, heating and air conditioners units. Wall unit instillation runs between $700 and $1,500 depending upon a home's electrical design. Recharging with a Level 1 120-volt wall socket charge adds about 4 electric miles per hour.  

Polestar's sole stand-alone Chicagoland showroom/service center locates in west suburban Lisle at the intersection of Route 53 and Warrenville Road, adjacent to a long-standing Volvo dealership. It's one of 30 locations (also known as 'Polestar Places,') throughout the U.S.  

On September 30, 2025, The Federal Government discontinued the popular EV Clean Vehicle tax credit program providing up to $7,500 towards the purchase of a new EVs such as the Polestar 4. The State of Illinois provides its own EV tax rebate of up to $2,000 with qualifying lower income applicants eligible for an extra $2,000. The electric vehicle's base price must not exceed $80,000 of which Polestar qualifies. Illinois' rebate covers both used and new EVs. Only dealers licensed by the Illinois Secretary of State may participate. Leased vehicles don't qualify for the Illinois rebate nor do Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs). 

The State of Illinois operates within specific application periods to distribute the rebates. Best to check https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/ceja/electric-vehicle-rebates.html to monitor the latest application period and funding levels.  

Polestar debuted into the automotive Lexicon in 2005, an outgrowth of a 1996 internal-combustion engined motorsports racing team with Swedish roots. The backstory includes Polestar successively racing Volvo cars (tweaked from existing, Swedish-based luxury automaker) competitively. As the complicated relationship between the two blossomed, Volvo absorbed the Polestar name as a marketing perk, offering it up in limited-edition, high-performance street-ready opportunities such as the Volvo 2013 C30 Polestar. In 2015, Volvo acquired 100 percent of Polestar, envisioning a high-performance sub brand and marketing such vehicles as the high-volume V60 T6 Polestar. The sub-brand identifier, however, was short lived. 

During this period, Volvo itself experienced transformations of its own. The Golthenburg-based, company founded in 1927, was purchased by China's Zhejiang Geely Holding in 2010 after 11 years of ownership by Ford Motor Company. In a 2017 bold move, Volvo and Geely spun Polestar from a sub brand to a stand-alone, luxury, electrified performance brand.  

In 2024, Volvo surrendered a majority interest, retaining a shaved down 18 percent of Polestar with Geely Holding absorbing a larger chunk. As of today, both Volvo and Polestar share research, development and assembly-line opportunities, but identify as two separate companies albeit with close familiar ties. A majority of Volvo dealerships continue to service Polestar vehicles at least until Polestar opens up additional stand-alone stores. 

In calendar year 2025, 5,384 Polestar units sold in the U.S., a substantial drop from 2024 which saw 13,079 sales, its best year since its 2022 arrival in the States.  

2026 Polestar 4 Dual Motor 

Price: $78,100 

Electric Motors: Two 

Horsepower: 536 

Torque: 506 lb.-ft.  

Wheelbase: 118.1 inches 

Overall Length: 190.6 inches 

Overall Width: 79.1 inches 

Overall Height: 60.4 inches 

Driving Range: 252 miles 

DC Battery Pack size: 100 kilowatts  

DC Battery Design: Nickel, Manganese, Cobalt 

Curb Weight: 5,192 pounds 

High-Voltage Battery Warranty: Eight years/100,000 miles 

Assembly: Busan, South Korea