You're forgiven if you haven't come across a Polestar 2 before. But, mark these words, Polestar is a name that's going to be on the lips of many a motor fan in years to come, and all in a very good way.
In fact, the Polestar 2 is, at the very least, snapping at the heels of the much-revered Tesla 3. Some may say it's gone even further. Tesla is well-known for bringing us electric cars that don't sacrifice performance, style or comfort for the Earth-friendly electric label. They're also renowned for producing cars that don't suffer from smaller mileage ranges between top-up charges. But, they couldn't be the only contender in the large electric car class forever and Polestar is now delivering a serious challenge to their doorstep.
So, who is Polestar and what's so good about this EV?
Polestar is a Swedish brand, sister to Volvo, parented by Geely. They're the new kids on the block when it comes to electric performance cars, performance hardware upgrades and software optimisations for Volvo. They have racing team heritage in the form of Polestar Performance AB, later Cyan Racing, and serve as an innovation lab for Volvo.
The Polestar 2 hatchback is built on the same platform as Volvo's XC40. It has the body of a saloon but is a five-door hatchback. It's reminiscent of a crossover it has plenty of room for the family - but with better looks and styling than other cars in this class.
The Polestar 2 Hatchback has undeniably impressive performance. The 78kWh battery conjures up 403bhp, 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds and enough acceleration to keep the thrill level high for those seeking excitement. All that and a quoted range of 300 miles on a single charge.