Flash Drive: 2026 Polestar 4

Who Needs A Rear Window?

The designers of the all-new, all-electric 2026 Polestar 4 certainly didn’t think so. The sleek coupe-like profile and the fastback roofline utilizes the lack of a rear window to blend a spacious interior and a sporty feel. But, is it sporty? Read further.

Who Is Polestar?

Polestar has released three models in America, with variants, beginning with their last gasoline engine propelled car, the limited production, sublime 2021 Polestar 1 plug-in hybrid. Next was the efficient all-electric 2022 Polestar 2 Single Motor rear-wheel drive EV, followed by the 2023 Polestar 2 Dual Motor EV Performance Plus with all-wheel drive (AWD). In 2024, the Polestar 2 with a larger single electric motor arrived, followed by the company’s first SUV, the 2025 Polestar 3 Dual Motor AWD and 2025 Polestar 3 Single Motor rear-wheel drive.

Simple naming aside, all Polestar models offer highly developed electric technology and performance. Polestar was a partner of Volvo when the latter was acquired by Geely, a Chinese automobile company, in 2010. Polestar was originally founded in 1995 for the purpose of performance-tuning Volvos. Volvo brought them in-house in 2015 when Polestar badging appeared on Volvos, designating performance. A few years later Polestar became its own stand-alone car company, quickly becoming an EV-only brand.

What is a Polestar 4?

Polestar says the “4 transforms the aerodynamics of a coupe and the space of an SUV into a new breed of SUV coupe.”  What we found was this all-electric five-passenger midsize SUV, with eye-catching looks and a spacious interior, was comfortable, enjoyable, easy and pleasurable to drive. The 4 will challenge the other all-electric midsize SUVs on style, comfort, handing, performance and even price.

Power and Range

The 2025 Polestar 4 comes in two trims with either a single motor and rear-wheel drive (RWD) or twin motors with all-wheel drive (AWD.)

Long Range – Single Motor

• RWD
• All-Electric Range (AER): 310 miles
• 272 horsepower (hp)
• 253 pound-feet (lb.-ft.) of torque
• 0-60 mph: 6.9 seconds
• Efficiency: 2.86 miles per kWh
• Curb Weight: 4,916 pounds
• Towing: Up to 2,000 pounds

Long Range – Dual Motor

• AWD
• AER: 280 miles
• 544 hp
• 506 lb.-ft. of torque
• 0-60 mph: 3.7 seconds
• Efficiency: 2.50 miles per kWh
• Curb Weight: 5,192 pounds
• Towing: 3,500 pounds

Battery and Charging

When slowing or stopping, regenerative braking converts kinetic energy into electric energy and stores it in the battery. The level of regeneration can be set on the touchscreen (there are no paddles to set the regen level) up to One Pedal Driving. With the Creep mode turned off and the regen set to strong, the combination resulted in predictable recharge feel and a fun way to drive with limited touching of the brake pedal.

The 110 kWh, liquid-cooled 400-volt lithium-ion battery is charged through an 11.0 kW onboard Level 2 charger or DC Fast Charging. These are the estimated charging times.

• 240V (Level 2) – 0-100% in 11 hours
• 480V DC Fast Charging – 10-80% in 30 minutes at 250 kW

Out on the Road

Polestar brought automotive journalists and influencers to Austin, Texas, to drive the all-new 2026 Polestar 4. Departing and returning to the Hotel Van Zandt, our drive route of just under 200 miles took us into Texas Hill Country, including stopping for lunch at Spicewood Vineyards.

My driving partner and I spent most of our time in the Long Range Dual Motor AWD Polestar 4. If you haven’t experienced keyless technology before, it may take a bit of acclimation as the 4 doesn’t have a start/stop button or, since this really is a computer on wheels, a power-up/power down button. When the key, which when programmed will be your mobile phone, is in the cabin, all you do is press the brake pedal, select the gear on the right side steering wheel stalk and off you go. When exiting, place the selector in Park and get out. That’s it. Slick, huh? Note: The Polestar 4 can also be powered down through the center touchscreen.

The smooth and even power from the dual motors was quick and fast, possibly a bit much for some people and their driving lifestyles. There is nothing wrong with ready-at-anytime power, but the dual motor AWD 4 feels aggressive at times when the 544 hp and 506 lb.-ft. of torque is sent to all-four wheels. There is no tire slippage or wheel spin, just positive traction that makes the 4 a true sporty midsize SUV that handles great.

The balance is perfect and the center of gravity is low to the ground with the batteries residing under the floorboard. The ground clearance also speaks to aerodynamics and road hugging with 6.54 inches in the front and 7.32 inches in the rear. Its aerodynamics are aided by flush door handles and flush glazing on the frameless windows.

For comparison, when hopping into the Polestar 4 with the single motor, it sent a “mere” 272 hp and 253 lb.-ft. of torque only to the rear wheels. The feel was more controlled and may be to the liking of owners that don’t need the extra performance, but do want the extra driving range. Of course, this is a personal choice as going 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds in the dual motor AWD is an absolute blast!

Superb Handling in Both Models

Regardless of AWD or RWD, the Polestar 4 handles superbly. Our Long Range Dual Motor AWD was equipped with the Performance Pack, which is the only trim where it is available. This features 22-inch forged performance wheels, Polestar engineered chassis tuning, Brembo 4-piston brake calipers painted in Swedish gold, Polestar performance brake discs, summer performance tires, Swedish gold seat belts and valve stem caps.

The steering feel is adjustable in the center screen, depending on what type of driving you are doing. The speed-dependent steering wheel resistance feature means the 4 automatically adjusts the steering wheel resistance based on the driving speed, which adds to control and stability. The electronic stability control can be partially disabled, but this is strongly discouraged unless you have top-notch performance driving skills.

Polestar continues to call on its heritage as a performance brand with a passive suspension that is stiff enough to control body roll around corners, but not so stiff as to prevent a comfortable ride. Polestar found a happy medium of balance between the two.

Exterior: Panoramic Glass Roof and No Rear Window

The Polestar 4 having no rear window is a hot topic. We can toss some water on that fire by reporting the digital rearview mirror shows more going on behind the car than a conventional mirror.

By eliminating the rear window, the glass roof extends over the rear headrests, creating a sleek silhouette. Except for the rear-facing camera, the roof is smooth from the front windshield to the diminutive lip spoiler on the rear power hatch. And yes, the 4 is a hatchback that swallows-up cargo nicely with its 19.3-inch-wide opening and a cargo floor height of 28.2-inches. Without an engine up front there is a 0.5 cubic foot front trunk (frunk) for stashing small items, such as the charging cable.

The deep slope from the windshield to the nose gives excellent front visibility. The twin Thor’s Hammer headlights sit far on the outer edges of the fenders. The pixel LED headlights have active high-beam detection, automatic leveling and corner illumination, so the lights turn the direction you’re cornering. The LED lighting design continues to the turn indicators, tail and brake lights. The Polestar logo puddle lamps are a nice touch.

We appreciate the clean design that is void of cladding and sans chrome accents. There is a reassuring and satisfying feeling when driving this tasteful and practical aerodynamic SUV coupe.

The Polestar 4 has seven exterior metallic colors: Electron, Lightning, Snow, Space and Stratus, and two matte colors, Stratus and Gold.

The Polestar 4, like all EVs, has a mandated audible low-speed warning system. Using external speakers, the system generates unique sounds to alert pedestrians and cyclists that there is a two-ton car approaching. If you have ever been walking in a parking lot or waiting to cross a street, the welcome distinctive sound coming for an electric car is appreciated.

Interior: Scandinavian Minimalism

The interior may have a minimal look and feel, but make no mistake, everything you want and need for a convenient and comfortable ride is there at your fingertips.

 The seats are trimmed in one of three options.

• Bio-attributed MicroTech upholstery is created from renewable vinyl and recycled polyester textile; it replaces crude oil with pine oil.
• Animal-welfare-certified yarn upholstery is a fully traceable fabric, meaning every step of the fabric’s production process can be tracked, from the raw materials used to the final product.
• The Bridge of Weir animal-welfare secured Nappa leather is traced and adheres to the ASPCA’s Five Freedoms.

The front seats are comfortable for long trips and hold the occupants tight when cornering. The front seats get power adjustments including lumbar, massage, ventilation and heat.

There are three screens to occupy and inform the driver. The 14.7-inch configurable head-up display projects onto the windshield, a 10.2-inch driver display contains vehicle and driving information, and the 15.4-inch horizontal color LCD touchscreen has an anti-reflective, easy-to-clean coating.

This screen is where the heart of the Polestar 4 lives: the Google Android Automotive operating system with navigation, apps and Google Assistant. Please note this is not Google’s Android Auto. It allows the driver to operate many functions through voice commands, which is necessary since, except for the basic controls on the steering wheel, there are few buttons or knobs on the dash. The clean Scandinavian design theme thrives in the cockpit.

And Superior Sound

The Polestar 4 comes standard with an eight-speaker sound system, but ours had a Harmon Kardon premium 1,320-watt sound system with 12 speakers, front-seat headrest speakers and active road noise cancellation. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself lingering a few minutes as you sit in your driveway engulfed in deep rich tones from your favorite artists.

SiriusXM and FM HD radio are included along with native apps for streaming through Bluetooth and the 4G network. Wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless phone charging are standard.

Convenience features include Polestar Connect that, in the case of an emergency, connects with a live representative at the touch of a button. Other conveniences include a 360-degree camera, rain-sensing windshield wipers, alarm, keyless entry, digital key, USB-C ports, heated steering wheel, cabin air filtration and adjustable interior illumination. The 4 also has a very cool electrochromic panoramic glass roof that, with the push of a button, goes from clear to opaque.

The ambient lighting has a fun element where, instead of just selecting a color that appears on the dash, door panels and footwells, the center screen displays a solar system-inspired illumination. Very unique and clever.

The rear outbound passengers also get heat with individual controls with the Plus Pack option and privacy side windows with laminated glass. The rear seat comfortably accommodates two adults and splits 60:40. When upright, there is 18.8 cubic feet of cargo space, which grows to 54.2 cubic feet when the seat’s folded nearly flat. Access is through the power tailgate that with the Plus Pack can be foot-operated.

Pricing

The 2026 Polestar 4 comes in two variations. These prices include the $1,400 destination fee. The Long Range Single Motor RWD is $57,800. The Long Range Dual Motor AWD is $64,300. There are several optional packages that add convenience features that will affect the total price. They can be found here on the Polestar Configurator.

Tariffs are a real thing for the Polestar 4 as it is truly a world car. Polestar addressed this, to some degree, by moving Polestar 4 production to Busan, Korea, where the tariffs (currently) are lower than those for cars imported from China.

Observations: 2026 Polestar 4

Polestar uses terms such as pure, progressive, performance, range, efficiency, sustainability, drivability, comfort and quality to describe the design fundamentals for the Polestar 4.

Electric cars and SUVs are getting more sophisticated and remain my favorite driving experience. The Polestar 4 driving experience left me refreshed after my time behind the wheel. This is something that cannot be said about all cars, SUVs and trucks.

The handling, power delivery, smooth freeway ride and above-average handling are all something to desire, while never forgetting it is also efficient and practical. The Polestar 4 cargo area is large enough to handle gear for two on a long road trip, and the charging will take minutes before you are off again. The Polestar 4 is built and designed to meet the driving needs of several lifestyles.

Key competitors to the Polestar 4 are the Audi Q6 E-tron, BMW iX, Cadillac Optiq, Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, Volvo XC90 Recharge, Genesis GV70 EV, Lucid Gravity, Tesla Model Y and the Porsche Macan EV.

When shopping for an all-electric SUV the Polestar 4 should be on your consideration list. If your driving needs don’t include the massive power and performance of the dual motor AWD, Polestar offers a choice of the single motor with RWD. Either way the 2026 Polestar 4 is a pleasure to drive.

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Story by John Faulkner. Photos by John Faulkner, Paul Strauss and Polestar.

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Disclosure

Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.

Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and other efficient powertrains. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com or by commenting on any of our stories. We answer every comment!