Polestar 2 Long Range Performance

Overview

The 2023 Polestar 2 Long Range Performance is the Swedish brand's all-electric liftback, dialed up to eleven for thrill-seekers. It’s a sharp-suited alternative to the Tesla Model 3, blending minimalist Scandinavian design with serious poke. This top-tier trim packs dual motors for all-wheel drive, a punchy powertrain, and the coveted Performance Pack goodies like Öhlins dampers and Brembo brakes. While discontinued new, the provided data suggests an estimated used price around $18,100 for this specific configuration, offering a compelling package of style and electric grunt for the US market.

What's New for 2023?

For its final model year before a major 2024 refresh, the 2023 Polestar 2 Long Range Performance solidified its sporty credentials. This variant already boasted the upgraded software tune, unleashing the full 350 kW from its dual motors. Minor updates included refreshed alloy wheel designs and some new paint options like "Space" black. Importantly, this model year retained the Google Android Automotive OS, with Apple CarPlay having become available. It was the last hurrah for this iteration, setting the stage for the updated RWD-biased models that followed.

Design & Exterior

The Polestar 2 Long Range Performance cuts a distinctive figure with its crisp, minimalist lines and muscular stance – proper Scandinavian cool. Signature "Thor's Hammer" LED headlights lead the charge. This liftback measures 181.3 inches long, 73.2 inches wide (sans mirrors), and 58 inches tall. The Performance trim shouts its intent with 20-inch forged alloy wheels, beefy Brembo brakes peeking through with their iconic gold calipers, and matching gold valve caps on the manually adjustable Öhlins dampers. It’s subtly aggressive and undeniably premium.

Interior, Tech & Cargo

Inside, the Polestar 2 Long Range Performance offers a cabin championing sustainable luxury and tech. Standard WeaveTech vegan upholstery feels premium, complementing the clean, architectural design. Passenger space is good up front, though rear headroom might be a tad snug for six-footers. You get a practical 14.3 cubic feet of trunk space, expanding to 38.7 cubic feet with seats down, plus a handy 1.4 cubic foot frunk. Dominating the dash is an 11.2-inch tablet running Google’s Android Automotive OS, paired with a 12.3-inch digital driver display. Apple CarPlay is also on board.

Performance & Driving Experience

Strap in, because the Long Range Performance model is a rocket! It zaps from 0-60 mph in a mere 4.2 seconds, courtesy of its dual Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (one front, one rear) kicking out a combined 350 kW (around 469 hp) and a hefty 502 lb-ft of torque through its all-wheel-drive system. The Performance Pack’s manually adjustable Öhlins dampers deliver a firm, controlled ride that can be tweaked for preference, while Brembo brakes provide immense stopping power. It’s agile, planted, and seriously quick, with effective one-pedal driving available.

Range, Battery & Charging

The 2023 Polestar 2 Long Range Performance is equipped with a 75 kWh usable battery pack. Green Cars Compare calculates a real-world range of around 247 miles, with an efficiency of 3.29 miles per kWh. For charging, its 400V architecture supports a standard 11 kW on-board AC charger, meaning a full top-up at home takes about 8 hours. Out on the road, it can gulp down DC fast charging at up to 150 kW via its CCS Type 1 port, zapping the battery from 10-80% in roughly 30-35 minutes.

Safety & Driver-Assistance Features

Polestar doesn't skimp on safety, and the 2023 Polestar 2 Long Range Performance proudly wears a 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA. It also typically scored highly with the IIHS. This trim comes loaded with driver-assistance goodies, many as standard. Expect features like Pilot Assist (which combines adaptive cruise control and lane centering), blind-spot information system with steer assist, cross-traffic alert with brake support, rear collision warning & mitigation, and road sign information to keep you secure on your electrifying journeys.

Warranty & Maintenance Coverage

For US buyers, Polestar typically offers a comprehensive warranty package. This usually includes a 4-year/50,000-mile basic vehicle warranty and an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty for the battery and electric drive components, often guaranteeing at least 70% battery health. New Polestar 2s also came with complimentary scheduled maintenance for the first 3 years or 30,000 miles. Built on proven Volvo architecture, reliability is generally strong, with software updates often smoothing out any early quirks. This provides solid peace of mind for this performance EV.