Man Maths: Polestar 2

Prices for this chiselled, modern fastback start from £12,000 for five-year old models, and there’s plentiful choice from around £13,500 (that’s seven-year old cooking VW Golf money). Most will be Single Motor versions, and if you grab a 78kWh Long Range battery rather than the standard 64kWh, you’ll have a real-world range easily over 250 miles.

As a popular company car, there are plenty of higher-mileage Polestar 2s out there. Smart sellers will build on the inherent reliability of EV running gear with a battery health check report; these often show over 90 per cent, contradicting the myth that EV batteries decline like mobile phones. I saw one with 106k on the odo and a battery health of 92 per cent. (Also, according to Polestar’s extensive Life Cycle Assessment, get one with more than 50k on the clock and it will already be carbon neutral.)

We’ve driven lots of Polestar 2s over the years here at Ti. Steve Sutcliffe even ran one as a long-termer. They’ve always been well-liked, with good driving dynamics, ample performance, sporty looks and attractive interiors. The fastback hatch makes them great family cars and the superb Google-based infotainment is constantly updated – the latest software even set to bring Gemini AI to the UK’s parc of Polestar 2s.

There aren’t many things to look for. Front suspension struts can get clunky over bumps, and there were reports about failing strut mount bearings on earlier cars (mind you, some also report fixes under warranty). Motor failures are rare, but expensive; listen for high-pitched whines or grinding sounds. Also make sure you get both keys, or you won’t be able to pair with the surprisingly handy Polestar remote smartphone app.

Early Polestar 2s will either be front or all-wheel drive; single-motor versions switched to rear-wheel drive in 2024, in the interests of efficiency. Even with the single motor, you’ll have 228bhp and 0-62mph in 7.0 seconds; dual motor versions produce 402bhp for 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds. There’s one main trim line, with desirable extras added via packs – Pilot, Plus and Performance.

Pilot Pack is identified by the fitment of front fog lights, and adds Pixel LED headlights, a 360-degree parking camera and adaptive cruise control. Plus Pack includes a full-length glass sunroof, a rather fine 600W Harman Kardon sound system, electric front seats and a power tailgate. Performance Pack? More power, 20-inch forged alloy wheels, Brembo four-pot brakes, Swedish gold accents… and those fabulous Öhlins dampers that so impressed Sutcliffe.

With diesel now around £2 a litre, spending £150 a pop to fill a tank quickly loses its appeal. How about, on the right energy tariff, £4 or so, to fully charge a Polestar 2 at home instead? That’s what I’ve been doing for the past few months, as I’ve been running a pre-owned Polestar 2 from the firm’s certified pre-owned scheme; these cars are newer, and a little pricier, but also come with a two-year warranty, There’s currently ample choice around the £18k mark. And it’s been fabulous, so much so that I, like Sutcliffe, might ask how much it might be to buy it.

As your first electric car, the Polestar 2 is a driver-pleasing choice. It’s also one that won’t cost a fortune to buy, and will save you plenty more while living with it. The prices certainly make the Man Maths add up – but the rest of it is also sensible enough to warrant grabbing another cuppa and seeing what’s out there.