The Polestar 4 Long Range Single Motor offers less performance than its Long Range Dual Motor sibling, but it surprisingly turns out to be the better drive.
If you were looking for the zippiest Polestar model available now, the sales consultant at the showroom would ask you to try out the Polestar 4 Long Range Dual Motor (LRDM).
Packing 536bhp, 686Nm of torque, and a century sprint time of 3.8 seconds, its acceleration nears supercar territory. Driven at full tilt, the driver of an exotic machine may wonder why he or she can’t seem to shake this “SUV coupe”.
Despite sounding like bags of fun, it’s probably too much performance for most people who want a car for office commutes, school runs, and errands. Plus, it also attracts a painful annual road tax of $5744.
THE ONE TO CONSIDER
An even more attractive option is the Polestar 4 Long Range Single Motor (LRSM). Apart from costing $50,000 less, its yearly road tax bill is $2088, or less than half compared to the LRDM variant.
However, dollar figures don’t tell the whole story. What makes the Polestar 4 LRSM compelling is that despite being the “entry-level” model, it has the same level of equipment as the LRDM variant.
That means both have the full suite of driver assistance and safety features, such as Cross Traffic Alert with brake support, Adaptive Cruise Control, Front and Rear Collision Avoidance, and Lane Keeping Aid, just to name a few.
Both models also come with the Plus pack and Pilot pack as standard, which includes Zinc deco, Pixel LED head lights, along with a head-up display, three-zone climate control, and reclining rear seats. That said, the Polestar 4 LRSM cannot be specified with the optional Performance pack, as this is restricted to the LRDM model.
Slide onto the driver’s seat and you’ll be ensconced in a blend of welcome simplicity and intuitive technology. There are many reasons why “Scandi” is a popular theme among homeowners – many say it gives a soothing, cool and welcoming vibe. Polestar has also clearly worked hard on making the cockpit and infotainment system as user-friendly as possible. Even if you’ve never driven a Polestar, you can get the hang of it fairly easily.
The seats are another perk, striking an excellent balance between comfort and support. Rear occupants have it even better, as the backseats can be electrically reclined, thus allowing passengers to better enjoy the plentiful legroom.
LESS PERFORMANCE, BIGGER SMILES
A large part of what makes the Polestar 4 LRSM such a delight is that it has half the power of its LRDM sibling. The other half of the equation is its rear-wheel-drive layout.
It sounds illogical: How can the LRSM’s 200kW (268bhp) and 343Nm of torque better the LRDM’s 400kW (563bhp) and 686Nm, and all-wheel-drive?
On paper, more ponies should equal more fun. More traction should mean more confidence. But during a short stint in the Polestar 4 LRDM, the car felt large and strangely, unwieldy. An additional motor and double the kilowatts make the car exceedingly quick, but they do not automatically translate into more smiles.
Since electric powertrains deliver instantaneous performance, EVs tend to feel effortless compared to ICE vehicles. There’s no need to build revs or utilise turbochargers, and even a moderately powered electric runabout never feels like it’s struggling.
So, it doesn’t matter that the LRSM only has half the power. From the beginning, it felt nimbler and more spirited than the LRDM, eagerly surging forward with a welcome yet controllable linearity. It helps that it is 125kg lighter its sibling (2230kg vs 2355kg).
This lightness makes it a breeze to pilot, with the “SUV coupe” coolly pivoting around corners. With a traditional rear-wheel-drive layout, the feeling of the car pushing you forwards is stronger, and the nose is more biddable, too.
That’s not to say that the LRSM isn’t quick on its feet. Pin the accelerator pedal to the floor and the plentiful torque ensures the car does zero to 100km/h in 7.1 seconds – still significantly quicker than most cars on the road. While nowhere as rapid as the LRDM’s time of 3.8 seconds, the advantage here is that nailing the right pedal won’t immediately result in silly speeds and the possibility of losing your licence.
THE THOUGHT PROCESS
Drivers who demand more performance will still prefer the LRDM model, whose ability to rocket off the line and even keep pace with a supercar are talents to be admired.
Realistically, however, the LRSM is not only more than enough – it’s also better balanced. There’s no need for all-wheel-drive because it doesn’t snow here. Plus, rather than having to modulate so much horsepower, being able to use the existing power (and paying less less road tax) makes a car more enjoyable.
The latter point is what resonated with me. Ridiculously rapid EVs are compelling, but the LRSM, with its well-appointed cabin and more balanced athleticism, ultimately proves even more convincing than its sibling.
Polestar 4 Long Range Single Motor (A)
MOTOR Permanent magnet synchronous
MAX POWER 200kW (268bhp)
MAX TORQUE 343Nm
GEARBOX Single-speed
POWER TO WEIGHT 89.7kW per tonne (120.2bhp per tonne)
0-100KM/H 7.1 seconds
TOP SPEED 200km/h
BATTERY 100kWh
RANGE 620km (WLTP)
CONSUMPTION 5.5km/kWh
PRICE INCL. COE From $335,000
AGENT Polestar Singapore
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