MOTORING REVIEW: Polestar 4 - the car with no rear window

POLESTAR is a premium electric brand that arrived in Ireland in 2022 with the launch of the Polestar 2 model. This is a Swedish automotive manufacturer principally owned by Geely Holding and Volvo Cars, each of which have ties to the Geely industrial conglomerate in China. The Polestar company has its headquarters in Gothenburg in Sweden but produces its cars in facilities controlled by Volvo or Geely. 

Polestar models 3 and 4 were introduced here a few months ago along with a revised Polestar 2. Polestar 3 went on to win the Irish Premium SUV/MPV category in the Irish Car of the Year 2025 awards in association with sponsor Continental Tyres. 

My first drive car was the Polestar 4 Long Range Single Motor version powered by a 100kWh battery, with 272hp and with a claimed range of 620km which is probably up to around 550kms in real world range. 

This is a gorgeous looking, low and sleek car, but although classified as an SUV Coupe, in reality it is very unlike the familiar high SUV style. Stunning from every angle, I particularly liked the continuous light bar that runs across the rear. 

The very roomy interior of this 5-seater is both luxurious and minimalist. Sumptuous seating and high quality materials - many of which are made from recycled plastic bottles including a tailored 3D knit new material on seats, with similar properties to leather giving a premium feel.

The ethos is minimalist as there are no knobs or buttons. The 16.4-inch HD screen display controls features for the whole vehicle even to the opening of the glovebox, the tailgate, or to adjust the side mirror settings where you select the car icon, go to short cuts, and adjust your side mirrors via buttons on the steering wheel. However, quick access to key features like climate control are permanently located on the bottom of the screen. You can also opt to use Voice Control to change the car’s temperature, radio station or to navigate to a destination. 

The central screen interface is powered by Google Automotive so Google maps is inbuilt. If you enter a destination and haven’t enough charge in the battery, the system will suggest where you can charge en route and will plan your route around that. Before you arrive, it will even start preparing the car for efficiently taking that charge.

However, the main talking point on launch day was the lack of a rear window! The roof structure of the coupe-styled car has been moved back to allow more rear head room, which would make a traditional rear mirror virtually useless. The driver has rear vision via a high-definition camera on the roof. The very wide angle camera sends your rear view to a screen where the mirror would normally be located. It certainly looks like a traditional rear view mirror but provides the driver with a wider field of view than a traditional mirror. It can be turned into an ordinary mirror for short spells so the driver can keep an eye on youngsters in the rear. 

A panoramic sunroof stretches from the A-Pillars to beyond the heads of any rear passengers so people seated there have plenty of light. The sunroof is also tinted to block out bright sunshine rays. Passengers here enjoy plenty of space and can control their radio, climate control or heat their seats. 

Boot space is a decent 520 litres and there’s a deep storage below for a tyre sealant and cables, or you can put them in the 15 litre frunk under the bonnet. 

On my drive, I didn’t get accustomed to the wider than normal rear view ‘mirror’. It was disconcerting to say the least and meant me having to refocus my eyes every time I glanced at it. I wear specs for driving. I’d rather a rear window and a traditional rear view mirror any day.

Optional extras included a Pilot Pack at €1,600 and tinted rear windows €500. 

Other models had the metallic paint, 21-inch Sport wheels, two Packs - a Pilot Pack and a Plus Pack and with tinted rear windows which combined added another €11,650 to the overall cost of €68,600 with another €1,300 for delivery charges. 

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On the road, the car was quite a joy to drive, with plenty of oomph for overtaking or for motorway cruising. And all in absolute comfort and spaciousness. 

A Long Range Dual Motor with a claimed range of 590km and a whopping 544hp is also available. 

Polestar 4 Long Range Single Motor from €68,600; the Long Range Dual Motor from €76,200; and the Long Range Single Motor from €80,250. All prices are plus delivery charges of €1,300.