The 2026 Polestar 4 is a stunner – beautiful and sleek. This luxury electric SUV blurs the line between sedan and crossover with a low-slung body and coupe-like looks. The Polestar 4 looks fast and it is, and has a modern, minimalistic interior. But the Polestar 4 does come with some quirks – for one, there’s no rear window.
Base Price: $62,900
As Tested: $79,100
Horsepower: 544
Mileage: 90 MPGe city/80 MPGe highway/85 MPGe combined
The Polestar 4 entered the U.S. market in late 2025, making 2026 its first full model year. It fits in between the Polestar 2, which is no longer sold in the U.S., and the slightly larger Polestar 3 in the brand’s lineup. The Polestar 4’s main rivals include the Audi Q6 e-tron, Porsche Macan Electric and Tesla Model .
Volvo acquired Polestar in 2015 as its performance and racing division. In 2017, Polestar was spun off into a separate, all-electric performance brand, but owned by the same parent company as Volvo, the Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. Polestar vehicles still use Volvo platforms and safety tech, and Scandinavian design touches are evident.
The 2026 Polestar 4 comes in either single- or dual-motor configurations with additional packages that add features and performance.
The Polestar 4 Single Motor starts at about $56,400. It’s rear-wheel drive and has 310 miles of range. It has 272 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque. It has quick acceleration and can zip from zero to 60 mpg in about 7 seconds.This trim prioritizes efficiency and range and comes well equipped with a Google-based infotainment system, panoramic roof, and many standard safety features.
The Polestar 4 Dual-Motor starts at around $62,900. It has all-wheel-drive and 280 miles of range. It cranks out 544 horses and 506 pound-feet of torque. It can jet from zero to 60 mph in about 3.5 seconds, rivaling performance EVs and some sports cars.
Several packages and options are available.
- Pilot Pack: adds enhanced driver assistance technologies including adaptive cruise control upgrades and lane-change assist.
- Plus Pack: adds luxury upgrades such as premium seating, climate control and audio.
- Performance Pack (only available on the dual motor): sport-tuned suspension, Brembo brakes, and visual styling tweaks.
Performance is a core strength of the Polestar 4, especially with the dual-motor set-up. Besides the rocket-like acceleration, power is smooth and linear. Handling is generally sharp with adaptive dampers and a balanced chassis contributing to confident and balanced cornering. The steering is light but direct. Brakes are responsive with adjustable regenerative braking settings including one-pedal driving. The ride is firm so you will notice potholes and bumps. The cabin is very quiet and well insulated from road and wind noise.
The lack of a rearview window definitely takes getting used to. There’s a roof-mounted camera that streams video to the rearview mirror (or you can switch the mirror to a traditional view that lets you check on kids in the second row). Even with the video stream, I was surprised every time I looked behind me and saw a big blind spot as I would prepare to back up or change lanes. And you also need to be sure that the camera is free of water, mud or debris.
With a 100-kWh battery, charging peaks at around 200 kW, allowing a charge from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes. This is relatively quick but no longer class-leading.
The cabin is elegant with a minimalist design. Materials look and feel nice. Seats in both rows are roomy and supportive, but the lack of a rear window could make passengers in the second row feel claustrophobic. A large 10.2-inch digital instrument panel and ginormous 15.4-inch touchscreen dominate the dash. You’ll notice right away that there are almost no physical controls, just a knob that controls volume and can be used as a play/pause button. For everything else, you have to go through the Google-based infotainment system including settings for climate, mirrors, heated seats, and headlights – even opening the glove box. At least the menus are logically arranged so you can usually find the controls you want. Still, it’d be nice to have more physical controls. Wireless Apple CarPlay is standard, while Android Auto uses a wired connection.
Cargo space is less than some rivals as the coupe-like design cuts into storage space. There are 18.6 cubic feet with the second row in place, and 54.2 cubes with the rear seats folded. The opening and hatch area are wide, but not as long or tall as other EV SUVs. Still, since there’s no rear window, you can pile items up as they won’t block your view. The rear seats split-fold 60/40. The frunk (front trunk) has 0.5 cubic feet – this is enough to stash your EV charging cable or some small items. A power-operated tailgate is standard, and a hands-free power tailgate is available.
Standard features include
- Digital key for Apple
- Surround-view camera system
- 8-way electrically adjustable driver seat and 6-way electrically adjustable passenger seat
- Driver seat memory settings
- Heated front seats
- Two-zone climate control
- Eight-speaker audio system
- Satellite radio
- Bluetooth
- Wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto
- 2 front USB-C connectors
- 2 rear USB-C connectors
- 12-V power outlet
- Over-the-air updates
- Access to Google Play apps including Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Google Gemini.
- Automatic high-beam headlights, leveling headlights, puddle lights, and rain-sensing windshield wipers,
Available features include
- Head-up display
- Nappa leather seating,
- Ventilated and massaging front seats
- 12-way electrically adjustable front seats with manual leg cushion extension and easy ingress/egress function
- Heated steering wheel
- 12-speaker Harmon Kardon premium audio system
- Three-zone climate control
- Heated rear seats
- Electric reclining rear seatbacks
- 5.7-inch rear entertainment screen
Standard driver assistance technologies include
- Forward collision warning
- Forward automatic emergency braking
- Lane departure warning
- Lane keeping assist
- Pedestrian detection
- Traffic sign recognition
- Rear collision warning
- Rear emergency braking
- Driver attention monitoring
Available driver assistance technologies include
- Adaptive cruise control
- Pilot Assist
- Lane change assist
The good:
Stunning looks
Distinctive design
Strong performance, speedy acceleration
Elegant cabin
Many standard and available features and tech
Standard wireless Apple CarPlay
The not-so-good:
No rearview window
Lack of physical controls
Less cargo space than rivals
Android Auto has wired connectivity
Pricing info:
My 2026 Polestar Dual Motor test vehicle starts at $62,900. Body painted lower mouldings are $1,000. The electrochromic glass roof is $1,500. 21-inch Sport 4 V-spoke forged wheels are $1,800. Nappa leather seating is $3,700. The Plus Package is $5,500. Metallic paint is $1,300. The destination charge is $1,400, bringing the grand total to $79,100.
Bottom line:
The 2026 Polestar 4 is a bold and unique offering among luxury electric SUVs. It has sharp looks, strong performance, an elegant and upscale cabin, and many standard and available features and tech. But it’s polarizing with no rear window and a lack of physical controls. The Polestar 4 will no doubt appeal to those who want style, unique design, performance, and cutting-edge tech over more practical usability.
