For the reason that launch of its Polestar 2 sedan in 2021, Swedish EV firm Polestar has launched two extra fashions: the spacious 3 compact crossover SUV, and now the 4, a sporty, much more compact crossover SUV. The 4 slotting in between the two and three in measurement might confound some shoppers, however considered one of its options — or lack thereof — might confound them much more. It has no rear windshield.
Beginning at $57,800, the 2026 Polestar 4 might have some mildly brain-twisting attributes, however I discovered it to be some of the compelling and fun-to-drive EVs this 12 months. It simply took a bit of getting used to.
It simply took a bit of getting used to.
Its core trait is its minimalistic and really Swedish exterior design. The 4’s muscular determine, distinctive headlights, and attention-grabbing physique traces give it stable presence. However the true elephant within the room is not any glass on the rear hatch, which little question makes it stick out on the highway. The reasoning, although, is pretty easy: it’s the one manner that Polestar might give a compact crossover SUV such a modern determine with out sacrificing rear-seat passenger head or legroom.
Mission completed; my lanky stature match surprisingly properly with the seat simply barely reclined, and cargo quantity is a decent 19 cubic toes,with a excessive flooring for simple loading and unloading that expands to 54 with the rear seats down. Up entrance, head, leg, and shoulder room had been wonderful.
In terms of tech and supplies, there’s a 15.4-inch middle touchscreen laid horizontally, a ten.2-inch digital gauge show, and a single bodily knob within the middle console for hitting play / pause and quantity management. It might sound contradictory, however its Swedish minimalism is really on full blast. Moreover, supplies high quality is stable, with substantial-feeling onerous surfaces, negligible use of steel, and two forms of opulent, artificial woven supplies comprising a big proportion of floor space. Lastly, the infotainment software program was logically laid out and simple to get used to, and sports activities customized lighting themes based mostly on our photo voltaic system — this may be a refined technique for changing Tesla Mannequin Y house owners.
The Polestar 4 is available in two drivetrain configurations: single-motor rear-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive (tack on an extra $6,500 for this setup), with the previous placing out 272 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque, whereas the latter produces 544 and 506, respectively, and 0–60s clock in at 6.9 and three.7 seconds. The only battery accessible is a 400-volt lithium ion pack with 100kWh of usable capability, and can DC quick cost as much as 200kW. Vary reaches 310 miles for the single-motor, whereas the dual-motor tops out at 280.
In commonplace dual-motor kind, the 4’s trip high quality was snug and steering was properly weighted, although chassis response felt too sluggish for one thing marketed as a performance-oriented crossover. Nevertheless, with Polestar’s $4,500 Efficiency Pack thrown in, including performance-focused chassis tuning, Pirelli summer time tires, and big Brembo brake calipers, each enter sharpened up properly and with no sacrifice to trip high quality.
Lastly, the head-scratcher of the Polestar 4’s driving expertise: the shortage of a rear window. Usually, I’m not a fan of getting a rear-facing digital camera fed right into a display screen within the rearview mirror, however the 4’s wasn’t too dangerous. The digital camera shifts barely left or proper with a corresponding flip sign swipe, and the side-view mirrors do job at minimizing blind spots.
Nonetheless, it felt odd to look over my proper shoulder earlier than altering lanes and, properly, not see something. And whereas Polestar personnel had been significantly pleased with the rear digital camera’s low-light decision and efficiency in moist / wintry situations, shoppers’ mileage might range relying on how icy and snow-laden their climates get.
Total, the 2026 Polestar 4 is a singular and compelling luxurious EV compact crossover with sufficient fun-to-drive panache to make a spirited driving fanatic out of anybody. However in gentle of the federal authorities ending EV tax credit, is that this one of the best time to debut a extra area of interest, sporty EV crossover?
I requested Dean Shaw, PR and communications director for Polestar North America, what the corporate’s plan is. “We equate it to the December gross sales push. Gross sales decelerate afterward in January, however then they begin to slowly choose again up once more,” he mentioned. “We count on this month to be a whole reset, however then we count on gross sales to begin constructing.”
He additionally identified that there are only a few EV-only automobile manufacturers; in gentle of different automakers backing off on their EV plans, he sees it as a possibility for Polestar to actually safe its place available in the market. With the 4 sporting fun-to-drive character, a heavy give attention to design, and intuitive options all through, he could also be on to one thing. Even when there’s no glass behind the rear seats.
Images by Peter Nelson