2026 Polestar 4 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The 2026 Polestar 4 is different. That can mean a variety of things, both positive and negative. Starting with the overall shape and size, it straddles the line between SUV and hatchback, although Polestar would rather you think of it as an SUV coupe. It's about 10 centimetres longer than the Ford Mustang Mach-E and 9 centimetres lower in height. The Polestar 4's side profile stands out for its sporty tapering roofline, while deep cutouts and sharp creases in the bodywork keep it from looking heavy.

Up front, the headlights retain just a hint of Polestar's relation to Volvo, but the rest of the front fascia is reminiscent of various other EVs. All together, the styling works well but is fairly unremarkable apart from that one controversial element at the rear.

Yup, there’s no window in the Polestar 4’s tailgate. According to the designers, this allowed for a more aerodynamic shape and increased rear passenger space. We're not fully on board with this explanation, but it certainly makes the Polestar 4 unique among modern cars (for now). A digital rearview mirror aims to solve rear visibility issues, though opinion seems split on whether this is a good thing. Polestar is quick to point out that most drivers get used to it after a while, which really isn't glowing praise. Our biggest issue is you don’t get the same kind of depth perception you do with a traditional mirror. It's also not as easy to keep tabs on rear passengers.

On the inside, the Polestar 4 is almost as minimal and stark as a Tesla with a centrally mounted touchscreen replacing almost all controls. As simple as the interior is, we find it inviting and pleasant thanks to the liberal use of textiles instead of the typical plastic or simulated leather. Polestar says the fabric coverings on the dash, door panels, and centre console were custom-tailored for each element thanks to a novel manufacturing method developed in conjunction with the Swedish School of Textiles.

As a result, every curve and edge is smooth, making these surfaces as attractive to touch as they are to the eye. These textile surfaces blend equally well with the standard seat fabric as with the optional Nappa Bridge of Weir leather upholstery, although the textile version is more environmentally friendly.

The Polestar 4 we drove around the Montreal area was a Chinese-built example, while the 2026 models bound for North America will be built in Busan, South Korea. We're assured there will be no major differences between the two, although the wheels you see pictured here will not be offered. We're pleased with the overall design and styling, but in practice some of these decisions negatively affect our initial impressions, and we'll cover those in the following sections.

In Canada, the 2026 Polestar 4 will be available in two versions. The base model has a single motor that drives the rear wheels. It's rated at 268 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque, which can accelerate this 2,230-kilogram (4,900-pound) EV to 100 km/h in an estimated 7.1 seconds.

We drove the dual-motor model that adds a second power unit to the front axle for all-wheel drive (AWD). Combined, they produce 536 hp and 506 lb-ft of torque, and Polestar claims this will accelerate the 2,355-kilogram (5,200-pound) EV to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds. This performance is more than adequate for the vast majority of drivers, though it's not all that impressive when compared with some other EVs.

Both versions draw power from a 100-kWh lithium-ion battery pack in the floor. The single-motor Polestar 4 is rated by Natural Resources Canada to return 499 kilometres of range, while the dual-motor drops that to 451 kilometres. If you opt for the Performance pack with 22-inch wheels and Pirelli P Zero tires, range is reduced to 410 kilometres.

The Polestar 4 is capable of DC fast charging at rates as high as 200 kW, which should replenish the battery from 10 to 80 percent in 30 minutes. When charging at home, the onboard AC charger maxes out at 11 kW. Our vehicle was equipped with the common CCS Combo charge port, which is compatible with Tesla's NACS port and Supercharger network with an adapter. A native NACS charge port will eventually replace the CCS port.

On the road, the dual-motor Polestar 4 gets up to speed with the kind of immediacy and confidence that has come to define most EVs. The same can be said for its nearly silent propulsion that gives the impression of low-speed flight rather than being tethered to the pavement. When slowing, one-pedal driving is available and is both intuitive and smooth.

The Polestar 4 corners with more athleticism than we expected, although its hefty mass puts a damper on the fun when exploring the performance potential. The main drawback for us is the noticeably stiff adaptive suspension. In the softest setting, we feel every seam, pothole, and bump in the road, with some moderately sized pavement imperfections sending a muted jolt through the cabin. Switching to the stiffer sporty setting amplifies those flaws, though handling is only marginally improved.

We also need to point out that our Polestar 4 lacked the optional Performance pack that comes with a sport-tuned suspension and larger wheels. Both will likely compound the ride quality stiffness. After logging many klicks on the highway, on backroads, and over cobblestone streets, we find we prefer a softer suspension tune and smaller wheels for improved compliance.

The front seats offer plenty of space for drivers of any size, with more than enough adjustment to help you find your optimal position. Our Polestar 4 with the optional Plus pack added even more adjustability along with an extending cushion for thigh support. With the available Nappa upgrade, we also enjoyed ventilated seats with massage functions.

Adjusting the seats is easy thanks to conventional controls at the base, but the same could not be said for the steering wheel or mirrors. Those require digging into the menus in the central infotainment touchscreen, then using the multifunction directional pads on the steering wheel to move things around. It seems needlessly complicated and annoying when compared to more conventional controls, but we admit that most owners will only need to set it once and forget it.

The rear seats provide a good amount of headroom and legroom, considering how much the roof tapers at the tail. These come at the expense of thigh support, though, as the seat cushions are mounted rather low to the floor. This forces your knees to bend into a slight squat position, which could get tiresome for taller passengers. The lack of a rear window tends to make those seats feel as though they're tucked away in a cave, but the huge panoramic sunroof keeps the overall feel light and airy. We recommend springing for the optional electrochromic glass roof that turns the glass opaque to keep the midday sun from slow roasting occupant heads.

The trunk can accommodate up to 526 litres of cargo, which is on the small side for a crossover such as this. By comparison, the Ford Mustang Mach-E can hold up to 841 litres, and the Polestar 3 is rated at 484 litres. The space is very usable, however, and the low lift over height of the sill makes loading bulkier objects easier. The rear seatbacks can fold flat with the floor for larger items, and the floor can drop by a few centimetres, too. A small 33-litre frunk is hidden under the hood and is just big enough for charge cables.

Properly equipped, the Polestar 4 can tow up to 900 kilograms (2,000 pounds) in the single-motor version and up to 1,587 kilograms (3,500 pounds) with the dual motor configuration. That's not quite enough to confidently tow a trailer or camper, but it's plenty for activity racks for bicycles.

For smaller personal items, the front seats have medium-sized cupholders, door pockets, and a centre console bin. A centrally located wireless charger keeps your phone secure in place, and a large tray underneath the console further improves convenience.

In stark contrast to the Polestar 4's minimal styling, its use of technology is busy and overcomplicated. Even the simple task of locking the vehicle requires trust that the buttonless key fob will trigger the locks when you walk away. A proximity key card is also available, along with the ability to use your smartphone in the same manner.

Standard features include a thin 10.2-inch instrument panel, a large horizontal 15.4 infotainment touchscreen, and an 8.9-inch digital rearview mirror. A head-up display is available with the Plus package and has the equivalent size of 14.7 inches. The standard audio system comes with eight speakers, while the Plus pack upgrades to a 12-speaker Harman Kardon system. The Nappa upgrade gets you 16 speakers with headrest speakers.

The Google Built-In operating system delivers crisp graphics and quick responses, but the sheer number of functions and menus makes this one of the more complicated units in the industry. On one hand it's good to have that much control, but on the other it takes quite a while to get used to. With almost all controls integrated into the touchscreen, even the most mundane of tasks seems complex. Turning on the heated or ventilated seats requires a few screen taps that take your eyes off the road. Want to dim the sunroof? You'll have to hunt for that in the menus, too.

Wireless Apple CarPlay gave us some respite from the native infotainment system's complications, and it's particularly noteworthy in full-screen mode. It consumes almost the entire display with gigantic on-screen tile buttons. They give off a Fisher-Price vibe with their size, but they pay dividends for how easy they are to use when driving.

With Polestar's ties to Volvo still very present, safety remains a priority. All Polestar 4 models come with an extensive list of standard advanced safety features that include frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, parking proximity sensors, a surround-view camera system, a driver condition monitor, automatic high beams, trailer stability assist, a traffic sign reader, and safe passenger exit assist. In our drive, all these systems functioned just as they should with no false alarms or odd glitches.

At the time of writing, crash test scores were not yet available from either the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

In Canada, the 2026 Polestar 4 has a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $64,900 for the entry-level single motor model. This price excludes the typical destination fees and doesn't take into account provincial or territorial rebate programs where they still exist. The dual-motor version starts at $69,900. The version we drove came equipped with the Plus pack ($6,800 extra) and Nappa leather upgrade (pricing not available as of this writing). The single motor model is a great pick for those seeking maximum range, but most Canadians will lean toward the dual motor’s all-wheel drive.

Compared to other EVs, the Polestar 4 distinguishes itself with its unique design but not much else. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 undercuts the Polestar by a sizeable margin and returns similar range estimates. It’s a bit smaller and not as nice on the inside, but it offers more rear-seat and cargo space. The Chevrolet Equinox EV and Ford Mustang Mach-E are closer to the Polestar's size and are also a bargain by comparison. They also have much more cargo capacity and a bit more range.

For a luxury experience that's inline with the Polestar 4, there's the Audi Q6 e-tron, BMW iX, Mercedes-Benz EQE, and Porsche Macan Electric. These will cost a fair bit more once you add comparable options, but most will return more range and cargo space.