Polestar 4 coupe long-range RWD review: luxury by the numbers

With the quiet exit of the Polestar 2 from the New Zealand market, the 4 is now the entry point to the brand. No need to be alarmed about that, for a couple of reasons.

First, the 2 will return as a brand-new model in 2027. It will still be called the 2, despite Polestar's former determination that each new model across its lineup would simply have the next number in sequence, regardless of size or segment.

Polestar chief executive Michael Lohscheller acknowledges the 2 is "the foundation of our brand, with over 190,000 cars sold". The number is so well known now, why mess with it?

The second reason you shouldn't be worried about the 4's entry status is that it now starts at $99,900 for the long range single-motor model featured here. Last time we drove this model, back in 2024, it was $124,990.

Speaking of hanging onto valuable numbers and quiet changes, you might have noticed Polestar now refers to this model as the "4 coupe". That's because there's a new body style on the way and yes, it will also be a 4.

Says Lohscheller: "Already by the end of this year, we will launch a new variant of Polestar 4, based on the same great technology... Sweden is famous for its estate cars, and its SUVs are world-class. We are combining the space of an estate and the versatility of an SUV with the dynamic performance that is Polestar."

On the outside: what are the Polestar 4 coupe long-range RWD's main design features?

Will the new 4 pseudo-estate have a rear window? Because the 4 coupe doesn't, and even after two years on sale it remains the main talking point of this car's exterior (and interior, naturally) design.

Quick recap: the theory goes that getting rid of the rear window allows the header of the low roofline to be moved right back, increasing headroom. Another reason might be to make the car look other-worldly and get people talking about this car.

Anyway, there's still lots of light for rear-seat passengers thanks to a panoramic glass roof that stretches right back over their heads. Rearward vision for the driver is via a roof-mounted camera. But more about all of that in a minute.

Otherwise, the 4 remains a sleek, futuristic SUV-coupe kinda thing with a massive wheelbase and very clean exterior details. You wouldn't mistake it for anything else... apart from the person who insisted it was a Tesla. Repeatedly.

OVERVIEW

On the inside: what's the Polestar 4 coupe long range RWD cabin like?

The inside of a Polestar is generally a beautiful place to be: luxurious in a minimalist way, well-equipped and equipped with digital interfaces designed with ease-of-use in mind.

The infotainment display/OS is arguably the most ergonomically sound of any current car. It's a split-screen affair, although you can also adjust the segments with a slider, right across so one item fills the screen. It's configurable, but the basic layout of the map on one half, a quadrant of shortcuts on the other and the dock at the bottom gives you quick access to almost everything you could need.

It also partly compensates for one of the most infuriating features of so many modern EVs: the need to adjust side-mirror settings on the steering wheel, but via the infotainment screen. At least the layout here allows you to do that with two clicks... not counting the clicks on the steering wheel.

Speaking of which, the 4 has moved from haptic-touch controls on the steering wheel to actual buttons, albeit ones with a similarly smooth, shiny finish. It's a positive step when the same buttons do different things depending on which master function you've activated elsewhere. Sounds complicated, but it's actually quite intuitive.

The back seat is quite an experience. You sit low, with a solid panel behind you, but lots of light comes in from the glass roof above. The idea is partly to replicate business class travel in an aeroplane.

The 4 is an extravagant, but also practical machine: the boot is a generous 526 litres, with 60/40 load-through, and there's a 15-litre frunk for small items and/or charge cables.

Word to the wise about that sub-$100k price, though: you really do have to spend an $10k on the Plus pack, which makes the 4 a far more complete luxury car.

It adds pixel LED headlights, head-up display, Harman Kardon, "Star Knit" interior trim with extra illumination, PM2.5 filter, heated steering wheel and rear seats, 12-way power front seats, power-recline rear seats (28.5-34 degrees), tri-zone climate control with control panel, power tailgate with kick sensor and 22kW AC charging.

So yeah, this is really a $109,900 car.

INTERIOR

On the road: what's the Polestar 4 coupe long range RWD like to drive?

We're on record as saying the 200kW, single-motor RWD 4 is a nicer drive than the twice-as-powerful 400kW dual-motor AWD job. Nothing's happened to change our minds.

Polestar is supposed to be a sportier sister brand to Volvo and despite the focus on comedy rear seating, this car is still very much about dynamic excellence: it steers well, flows over winding roads and generally makes you feel good about a spirited drive without scaring you silly.

You don't have the brutal acceleration potential of the AWD to manage (0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds versus 7.1), and the RWD configuration of the single-motor allows a lot more chassis finesse. It's just... nice.

Like Volvo, Polestar obviously feels it puts a lot of work into getting the dynamic character of a car right; so there are no drive modes to fiddle with in the 4, save a Sport setting for the stability control if you want the car to move around a little more.

The RWD rides on passive dampers, which does put it at a disadvantage compared to the AWD's adaptive suspension, especially in terms of high-speed control. But you don't always know what you're missing, and we'll happily take the more engaging single-motor model for most driving.

But what about that camera? Polestar claims the advantages are many: your view isn't blocked by passengers, the hooded camera is protected from bad weather, it's a clear picture and it has a wider field of vision than a conventional mirror. All true.

But it still takes a lot of getting used to, especially refocusing on the 2D display all the time. It's sometimes prone to reflections from inside the cabin at night, resulting in a confusing image.

Polestar is not unique in having this feature of course, but the difference is there's no alternative: it's the camera or nothing.

You really have to try it yourself over a few hours or even a few days, because individual responses to the tech can vary. One plus is that the 4 has conventional side mirrors (the company sees no extra aero-value in slimline cameras there), so you do still have a 3D view backwards using those.

The 4's driver-assists have benefitted from over-the-air (OTA) updates over the past two years. Previously, it was prone to panic-braking on narrow car-lined roads; it's better now, although we still had a couple of moments during our test.

And while the adaptive cruise is fundamentally fine, the steering can be abrupt and the system retains that Geely (Polestar's parent company) quirk of being overly cautious around other cars and slowing for gentle curves when it's really not necessary.

Shame. But you can really get to grips with it all on a trip, because the 100kWh battery gives the 4 RWD a vast range: 620km according to the WLTP cycle.

SPECIFICATIONS

On ownership: what's the Polestar 4 coupe long range RWD warranty and servicing situation?

The Polestar 4 is covered for 5 years/unlimited km, providing the service plan is followed. The battery is covered for 8 years/160,000km, including replacement if the state-of-health drops below 70% in that time.

Servicing is required every 2 years/30,000km.

On the whole: what do we think of the Polestar 4 coupe long range RWD?

The 4 is no less striking or interesting than it was at launch in 2024. Some of the more quirky design features feels a bit like difference for the sake of it - we haven't seen an avalanche of new cars with no rear window, for example - but it's also pleasing that carmaker is willing to step up and do risky stuff like this.

The 4 feels like a truly premium product and it's not only great to sit in, it's great to drive. The driver-assists still aren't as well-sorted as its European rivals, but there's a lot more polish than problem areas in this car. It's also never been cheaper.. even when you spend the extra $10k on the Plus pack.

Polestar 4 coupe long range RWD FAQs

What kind of car is the Polestar 4 coupe long range RWD?

A medium-large SUV, albeit with a low cabin.

Does the Polestar 4 coupe long range RWD have hybrid or EV technology?

It's pure electric.

What’s the efficiency of the Polestar 4 coupe long range RWD?

It uses 17.8-18.4kW/100km (WLTP). Range is 620km.

Is the Polestar 4 coupe long range RWD safe?

It carries a 5-star ANCAP rating, valid until December 2031.

What safety and assistance features does the Polestar 4 coupe long range RWD have?

What are the Polestar 4 coupe long-range RWD's's main rivals?

• Lexus RX 500e Dynamic ($109,900): Also super-luxurious and now available with steer-by-wire.
• Cadillac Lyriq ($100,000): Our 2025 Luxury Car of the Year: truly impressive performance, refinement.
• Zeekr 7X ($94,990): Another from the Geely family, but this money buys you the fastest AWD one.
• Porsche Macan Electric RWD ($161,800): Superb upmarket SUV, but check the price.
• Cupra Tavascan VZ ($94,900): Cupra gives VW Group EV platform a bit of sporty spice.