2024 Polestar 5 Sedan

　　2024 Polestar 5 Review

　　Polestar plants a powerful flag in the high-performance electric luxury car segment

　　byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　6/27/2022

　　What is the Polestar 5?

　　The Polestar 5 is the production version of the automaker's "manifesto car," the Precept concept vehicle first shown in 2020. A four-door midsize electric vehicle taking the form of a sleek, aerodynamic sedan, the Polestar 5 arrives in 2024 and sets the company in a new direction with regard to design and engineering, further distancing Polestar from its parent company, Volvo.

　　Though conceived as a grand-touring luxury car, the Polestar 5 promises sports car levels of performance. Dual high-output electric motors power the front and rear wheels, with Polestar targeting a combined output of 884 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. These figures surpass models such as the Audi RS e-tron GT (637 hp, 612 lb-ft) and standard Tesla Model S (670 hp) but are in the same neighborhood as the Porsche Taycan Turbo S (750 hp, 774 lb-ft).

　　Built using a new bonded aluminum chassis and an 800-volt electrical architecture, the 5 will be the first Polestar model that doesn't share a platform with a Volvo. Polestar expects the 5's rigid, lightweight foundation to deliver what it says will be class-leading driving dynamics, vehicle efficiency, driving range and safety. Not only that, but Polestar expects to accelerate the development of future models using the new vehicle architecture.

　　Polestar is striving to deliver a production 5 that adheres as closely to the Precept concept as possible. The concept car's wide rear-hinged doors are gone, replaced by conventional rear doors. Aerodynamic fine-tuning to maximize efficiency and range has also eliminated some of the more intricate details found on Precept. However, the camouflaged Polestar 5 you see here appears to be a remarkably faithful derivation of the original design.

　　The Polestar 5 interior remains a mystery, although we do know it will feature sustainable materials. It's a safe bet to expect a minimalistic approach to the cabin, with a small digital instrumentation display mounted in front of the driver paired with a large center screen mounted in portrait orientation.

　　According to Polestar, the new 5 arrives in 2024, following the upcoming Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 SUVs in the company's new-vehicle product plans.

　　

Am I Ready for an EV?

EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.

　　If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.

　　Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.

　　Learn more about EV charging

　　zzdcar says

　　Like a child grown and nurtured by a parent before leaving home for a life on his or her own, Polestar is emerging from Volvo's protective wings to plant a stake in the growing luxury performance EV marketplace. The upcoming 2024 Polestar 5, with its new platform, powertrain and design direction, marks the marque's official departure from the nest, adding a sensible yet sexy Swedish alternative to other high-performance luxury electric cars.