Business 291
Used electric cars are selling faster than petrol and hybrid models
In this issue
Business 291
Used electric cars are selling faster than petrol and hybrid models
Culture 320
Restored 1973 BMW 2002tii offered in New Hampshire after US return from Canada
Economy 48
Three Tankers Reportedly Strike Mines in Strait of Hormuz
News 161
Private parking firms face pressure as UK motorists call for fairer rules
Politics 121
Burnham denies stopping ministers from discussing closer EU ties
Sports 290
Tottenham meet Crystal Palace in Premier League fixture on 31 October
Technology 347
Rivian Delivers Electric Van Update With 30% More Range and AWD
Polestar has revealed a new SUV body style for its Polestar 4 electric model, offering 30 litres more boot space, a reinstated rear window, and a starting price £2,000 lower than the coupé version.
By George Kensington · 3 min read
Polestar is expanding its best-selling model line with a more practical SUV version of the Polestar 4, priced from £54,750 in the UK. The new body style undercuts the existing coupé by £2,000 at entry level while adding 30 litres of boot space, a reinstated rear window, and updated interior technology as the brand targets rivals including the BMW iX3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC Electric.
The SUV retains the coupé's dual powertrain line-up, offering Rear Motor and Dual Motor variants, with the latter available in a 536bhp Performance specification. Revised tyres and powertrain calibration extend the 100kWh battery's range by six miles compared with the coupé, giving a claimed 391 miles for the Rear Motor version and 373 miles for the Dual Motor. Those figures are broadly competitive within the segment, though they trail class leaders such as the BMW iX3, which claims around 500 miles, and the Volvo EX60 at 503 miles. Rapid charging peaks at 200kW, half the maximum rate offered by the iX3.
The design shift from the coupé's sleek roofline and windowless rear end makes the SUV more conventional in appearance, but the digital rear-view camera remains available as an option for drivers whose view is obstructed by rear passengers. The camera has been relocated beneath the rear spoiler, allowing the rear wiper, also mounted under the spoiler, to clean both the window and the lens. New driver-assistance hardware sits behind the front bumper, enabling a cleaner front-end design.
Practicality gains are central to the new model. The boxier tail provides 530 litres of boot space, a 30-litre improvement over the coupé and enough to edge ahead of the BMW rival. The electric Mercedes GLC remains the more spacious car overall, and with rear seats folded the Polestar 4 SUV offers 1,665 litres of total load space, which falls behind its rivals again despite the addition of a 15-litre front trunk.
Technology upgrades focus on software rather than hardware. The cabin continues to centre on a 15.4-inch touchscreen that replaces most physical controls, but the homepage is now more customisable and the system integrates Google Gemini AI, which is said to enable more natural spoken requests for controlling car features, including navigation directions with specific charging-location preferences. The software will be rolled out to new and existing Polestar 4 coupés through over-the-air updates in due course.
Polestar has also revised the spring and damper rates to sharpen handling in an effort to challenge the Porsche Macan Electric, while new designs for the 21-inch and 22-inch wheels reinforce the SUV's sporting appearance. The company expects 70% of British buyers to choose the SUV over the coupé, citing both the extra capacity and the price advantage. Choosing the Dual Motor SUV saves £3,000 compared with the equivalent coupé. Orders are open now, with first deliveries scheduled before the end of the year.
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