Sports cars are made for speed, which isn’t always ideal for drivers during snowy months. Fortunately, many sporty vehicles are beginning to include driving aids to make it a bit safer to drive in the winter. The Polestar 2 is one such option, as it comes standard with all-wheel drive. Here’s what you can expect from this luxurious car.

The Polestar 2’s convenient all-wheel drive

U.S. News points out that all-wheel drive has a number of benefits when it comes to winter driving. Most obviously, this feature improves your car’s traction, thus making it easier to maintain control when roads are slick with snow or ice.

However, all-wheel drive can also make it easier and safer to speed up rapidly during inclement weather. This may be particularly appealing to drivers of sports cars, who are likely to value the rapid launch times their vehicles can offer.

The Polestar 2 is new this year, and it’s the fully electric successor to the hybrid Polestar 1. All-wheel drive comes standard with this vehicle. In fact, it made the U.S. News list of “The 13 Best All-Wheel-Drive Sports Cars in 2021.” 

Polestar is not a new automaker, although the name may not sound familiar to everyone. It was originally a performance-oriented subset of Volvo but was acquired in 2017. Now, Polestar is a brand dedicated to using various Volvo platforms to create performance EVs.

Performance specs of the Polestar 2

The 2021 Polestar 2 has two electric motors: one at the front, and one in the rear. Together, these motors provide an impressive 408 hp. Polestar asserts that the Polestar 2 can reach 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds, and U.S. News praises the acceleration of this vehicle. Test drivers note that although it is incredibly fast, it “doesn’t throw you back in your seat like a Tesla does.”

Although it stands out for its speed and power, the Polestar 2 is about average in most other performance areas. It gets approximately 92 MPGe, which is on par with its competitors. Similarly, its range places it firmly in the middle of the pack, according to U.S. News.

The Polestar 2 can travel approximately 233 miles on one charge, which is similar to the Jaguar I-Pace and the Audi e-tron, but it’s significantly lower than the ranges Tesla claims to offer.

What else should you expect from this luxury vehicle?

The 2021 Polestar 2 has an MSRP of $59,900. U.S. News states that there are almost 25,000 charging stations available nationwide and that your infotainment system will find you the nearest one if you say, “Hey Google, where is the closest charging station?”

While the overall performance of this vehicle is excellent, test drivers did have one complaint: the ride quality is somewhat stiff. Smaller bumps in the road tend not to be an issue, but you can definitely feel it when you drive over rough roads or potholes. 

Inside the cabin, though, this vehicle is luxurious and comfortable. It has an 11.2-inch touchscreen that utilizes an Android platform, and Google Assistant makes it possible for you to use voice recognition to operate the infotainment system. Other standard features include a panoramic glass roof, dual-zone automatic climate control, and adaptive cruise control.

This vehicle features 38.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down. It has an additional 1.2 cubic feet of space in the front where the engine would normally be found.

The Polestar 2 is the first Polestar vehicle to be available on the mass market. While it may not excel in every area, its powerful performance and luxurious interior make it well worth a look — especially if you live in an area with a lot of snow.