Huge upgrade for Tesla fighter

After close to four years in market, the car that started it all for Polestar in Australia, the pure-electric, mid-size, liftback Polestar 2 has received a substantial upgrade ranging from faster charging for the Standard range Single motor variant, additional optional features, a fresh wheel design as part of the ‘Performance Pack’ and a new exterior colour.  

And the good news for potential buyers is no change to the basic price structure, the only technical change being inclusion of the ‘Plus Pack’ option bundle in the flagship Long range Dual motor Performance model’s MSRP.   

The first tech upgrade is the addition of a Qualcomm ‘Snapdragon’ processor chip for higher download speeds and reaction times for in-car apps, improved centre display responsiveness and smoother performance across the multimedia system.

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Then, the entry-grade Standard range Single motor model picks up a (CATL-sourced) 70kWh battery, replacing a 69kWh (LG Chem) pack, the extra juice bringing a modest increase in claimed range from 546km to 554km, both WLTP. 

But the more useful improvement is in charging with peak DC capacity rising from 135kW to 180kW for a 10-80 per cent fill in 26 minutes.

Another change is availability of a 1350-watt, 14-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system ($3500) once the ‘Plus Pack’ ($4700) option box has been ticked.

‘Dune’, “a contemporary metallic colour with a smooth mica finish and a sandy hue” replaces ‘Jupiter’ (silver) in the Polestar palette and a new 20-inch, five-spoke forged alloy ‘Performance’ wheel, said to be the lightest available for the Polestar 2 so far, is now part of the optional ‘Performance Pack’.

2026 Polestar 2

Inside, a new ‘bio-attributed’ (mix of renewable and fossil-based materials) ‘MicroTech’ upholstery in ‘Charcoal’ as well as ‘Black Ash deco’ (natural wood grain) is available with the Plus Pack.

According to Australian Electric Vehicle Council data, year-to-date Polestar sales (to the end of July) were up 33 per cent compared to the same period in 2024, thanks largely to the relatively recent introduction of the Polestar 3 and 4.

However, the Polestar 2 is down 48 per cent (537 vs 1040), so clearly these upgrades are timely and Polestar says the 2026 Polestar 2 is available for order now via Polestar.com.

2026 Polestar 2: