Review: Polestar 5

Polestar looks set to accelerate its profile to warp speed with the addition of the sculptural new Polestar 5 flagship to its model line-up.

Against the backdrop of Alnwick Castle, at its UK launch in Northumberland, the five-metre-long grand tourer looks like a car from another age, with its low, arcing roofline, shark-like nose and sharp-edged shoulders.

But with two massively powerful versions available at launch, its performance is downright otherworldly.

The £89,500 Dual Motor delivers 737bhp and a 3.8-second dash to 62mph. The £102,900 Performance driven here dials power up to 871bhp, trimming that benchmark time to 3.1 seconds.

With all-wheel drive and masses of traction from bespoke Michelin tyres helping to deliver seemingly limitless traction, either car is capable of rearranging your insides with its sheer thrust.

On Northumberland’s rural roads, the 5 never felt like running out of grip or accelerative urge, a jet turbine-like sound accompanying every lunge towards the horizon.

Almost equally eye-widening is the poise with which the 5 tackles turns and the braking power of the massive four-pot Brembo brake callipers.

However, this is a car that combines dynamic prowess with impressive build quality and comfort.

Inside, the Recaro sports seats are heated and massaging, while my test car featured the option of Bridge of Weir Nappa Leather – a cool £5,300 option.

Exceptional build quality and understated design allude to the Gothenburg-based brand’s Swedish design principles and its links to Volvo.

A 14.3-inch central touchscreen and the eye-catching dashtop tweeter of the 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system are other visual highlights.

In the rear are two more heated and massaging seats while, overhead, a two-metre-long panoramic sunroof makes a ride in a 5 feel something akin to a cocooning convertible or a supersonic powerboat.

Described by Polestar as a 4+1, the rear quarters’ centre armrest can be folded up to liberate space for a fifth passenger, albeit this perch lacks significant support or headroom.

The underfloor location of the 5’s 112kW battery also leaves little room for rear passengers’ feet beneath the front seats, compromising what appears to be plentiful rear legroom.

Elsewhere, this is a car brimming with attention to detail.

In line with Polestar’s focus on sustainability, each 5 comes with a lifecycle assessment, detailing the environmental impact of its production.

Its bonded aluminium construction uses 18 per cent recycled material while the door cards and seat frames are produced using BComp, a sustainable alternative to carbon fibre.

Polestar’s performance-oriented premium EVs have achieved 60,000 sales in their six years on sale in the UK.

While the six-figure asking price for the Polestar 5 means it is unlikely to sell in big numbers, the impressive showcase of all the brand stands for is sure to raise its profile.

Polestar 5 Performance

Price: £102,900

Engine: 112kWh battery

Power: 871bhp

Torque: 1,015Nm

Transmission: single-speed

Top Speed: 155mph

0-62mph: 3.1 seconds

Range: 347 miles (WLTP combined)

CO2 emissions: 0g/km