Volvo electric-car spin-off Polestar has increased prices by between $3500 and $4000 just weeks after going on sale in Australia.
The 2023 Polestar 2 electric car has been updated for the new model year – but buyers will now have to pay more, with the base price eclipsing $60,000 before on-road costs, an increase of $4000.
Just weeks after it went on sale in Australia, prices for the Polestar 2 range have risen by between $3500 and $4000 depending on the variant.
The Polestar 2 range is now priced from $63,900 to $73,400 plus on-road costs (up from $59,900 to $69,900).
Polestar has attributed the price increases to increases in production, material and logistics costs – though they coincide with a range of updates for Model Year 2023, comprising new colours, wheel designs and upholstery options, and various improvements specific to the optional Plus Pack.
Despite the price rises, key active safety features including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear collision alert and adaptive cruise control are still bundled into an optional Pilot Lite package, priced at $3400.
These systems are included as standard in $25,000 to $30,000 hatchbacks and SUVs at the bottom end of the new-car market, along with cars from Polestar's sister brand Volvo.
As before, two other packages are available: Plus ($6000), which adds features including electric front seats and a panoramic sunroof, or Performance ($8000, exclusive to the dual-motor model), which adds 20-inch wheels, Brembo brakes, Ohlins sports suspension and more.
The new $63,900 plus on-road costs base price matches the Polestar's closest rival, the Tesla Model 3, which too was hit with a $4000 price rise (in March) from its long-time low of $59,900 plus on-road costs.
Highlights of the Polestar 2's 2023 update include two new exterior colours, Space (black) and Jupiter (rose gold), which replace the prior Void and Moon finishes. Magnesium grey is now the only colour available at no extra cost.
The 19-inch standard and 20-inch upgraded ($1400 extra) wheel designs have been reworked – though the Performance Pack's unique 20-inch forged wheel is unchanged.
Inside, there's a new 'Zinc' grey colour for the optional ventilated nappa leather upholstery, paired with 'Light Ash' inserts (replacing what Polestar termed 'Reconstructed Wood').
Of more relevance for hot Australian summers, there's at last a "removable sunshade" available for the panoramic (and transparent) glass roof.
While the panoramic roof is included in the $6000 Plus Pack, Australian buyers will need to pay a further $200 to purchase the sunshade as an accessory. The shade will also be available for purchase online for existing Polestar owners from June 2022 – at least for those in Europe.
The Plus Pack also incorporates an upgraded heat pump with an improved optimal temperature – ensuring more of the battery's excess heat can be repurposed to warm the cabin – along with a new cabin filter and an upgraded interior particulate matter sensor.
In Europe, the dual-motor model's Performance Pack now includes the over-the-air 350kW/680Nm Performance Software Upgrade announced late last year – though this update isn't available in Australia for the time being.
Powering the entry-level Polestar 2 Standard Range Single Motor is a 170kW/330Nm electric motor on the front axle, hooked up to a 67kWh (net, or 69kWh gross) battery pack delivering 440km to 474km of claimed WLTP range, and a 7.4-second 0-100km/h time.
This is listed as a new feature in Europe for 2023, up from a 64kWh battery and 165kW motor – however all Standard Range Single Motor variants delivered in Australia from launch will be equipped with the larger battery, irrespective of model year.
The mid-tier Long Range Single Motor pairs the same electric motor with a 75kWh (net, or 78kWh gross) battery delivering 510km to 542km of claimed WLTP range, though with an identical 0-100km/h time.
Meanwhile, the flagship Long Range Dual Motor mates the 75kWh battery with dual electric motors developing 300kW and 660Nm combined, for a 4.7-second 0-100km/h time, 205km/h top speed and 455km to 482km of claimed driving range.
All Polestar 2 variants are claimed to be capable of charging from zero to 80 per cent in 35 minutes, at a rate of up to 130kW in the Standard Range, or 155kW in the Long Range models.
Along with the trim updates, Polestar says it has reduced the amount of CO2 emitted during the production of its battery packs, by "only [purchasing] aluminium for this component from smelters that use renewable energy."
Standard equipment across the Polestar 2 range continues to include an 11.15-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 19-inch wheels, LED headlights, heated textile seats, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist and traffic-sign recognition.
For a full list of what's on offer, scroll down to the list below.
Order books for the 2023 Polestar 2 have re-opened, ahead of first deliveries estimated to occur in late November 2022, according to Polestar Australia's configurator.
Note: All prices above exclude on-road costs and option packs.
Pixel LED headlights with active bending, upgraded fog lights with cornering (bending) functionality, and unique front and rear light sequences were previously included in a $5000 Pilot Pack, however this was downgraded to the Pilot Lite pack following semiconductor shortages (more details here).
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines as a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.
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Copyright Drive.com.au 2022ABN: 84 116 608 158
Copyright Drive.com.au 2022ABN: 84 116 608 158
DAP Pricing– Unless otherwise stated, all prices are shown as Manufacturer's Recommended List Price (MRLP) inclusive of GST, exclusive of options and on road costs.