Polestar 4: Drive TV Episode Wrap-Up

Today at 12:00 AM

Winding down the coast in the Polestar 4

It's not often I get told by my boss that next week at work my job is to… have a day off.

But that is exactly the instruction I was given when Drive TV had access to the Polestar 4. While a leisurely day mooching around my home suburb was tempting, I'm a lover of the great outdoors and I have a fantastic car to get around in – I’d better put it to good use. 

The Polestar 4 is the Swedish brand's fastest and most sustainable car to date, with a 0–100km/h acceleration speed of just 3.8 seconds. Such a zippy little car deserves to stretch its legs on long windy roads and highways, so where better than in my favourite part of Sydney, the Royal National Park, 44km from Sydney's CBD. 

I'm based in Sydney's South Coast, so for me the Royal National Park, which is my go-to spot for a good trail run or hike, is on my doorstep – but today distance isn't on my mind. 

For one thing, my son is safely at daycare for the day, so I'm not beholden to nap times and snack breaks (other than my own, of course).

Secondly, the Polestar has an impressive driving range of up to 620km in the long range single motor (or 590km in the dual motor), so the last thing I'm worrying about is having to stop and charge.

For long-term use, though, this car has a DC charging capacity of up to 200kW and an AC charging capacity of 11kW (or 22kW with the optional Plus pack). That means it should take about half an hour to charge from 10–80 per cent on a fast charger, and about five-and-a-half hours to charge on an AC charger. 

I'm starting my journey today at Cronulla Beach, which is just over 30km from Sydney CBD. As you can imagine in a beach town where old utes and combi-vans designed to carry surfboards are the norm, the Polestar 4 certainly caught some attention. 

Exterior details

The Polestar 4 is smaller than its predecessor, the Polestar 3 with a strong, sporty coupe profile thanks to its low nose and wide body.

As is typical of Polestar models, the doors and windows are frameless, which increases the aerodynamics of the car as the flush glazing reduces drag. 

Polestar's unique lighting signature can be seen in the dual-blade headlights that are full LED and, saving the best until last, my favourite design feature: the illuminated badge. 

Running gear on and swimming gear in the bag for a post-run dip, I'm on my way. In the Polestar 4, you're able to get pretty detailed with the customisation.

The driver can adjust the suspension to standard, nimble or firm depending on their preference, and steering can be adjusted too. So if you prefer a more sporty driving experience when you've got a big stretch of road ahead of you, you can adjust it. 

Interior details

But personal driving adjustments aside, I don't think I can start talking about the Polestar 4 without mentioning a couple of other interior features you're likely to notice pretty darn quickly. 

Firstly, the whopping 15.4-inch infotainment screen. Like other Polestar models, this infotainment system is integrated with Google, so even though the car is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, you don't really need to connect – instead, all the apps you'd usually use through those Bluetooth connections are already at your fingertips. 

Unlike other Polestar models, though, this screen is in landscape position. What's particularly great about this is that if you find yourself having to charge en route on a road trip and can't leave the car – then no problem. Get your favourite show on the screen, kick back and relax while the car gets a boost. 

The second stand-out feature has to be the rear-view camera. Instead of a traditional rear-view mirror, and back window, Polestar has installed a screen in the place of the mirror that receives footage from a roof-mounted camera, and a full-length glass roof stretches across the heads of all rear occupants in lieu of a traditional back window.

Running and swimming my way down the South Coast

On to the Royal National Park then and time for a run. The Royal National Park was formally established in 1879, though, of course, it has existed for millennia before that.

In the heritage-listed park that spans over 15,000 hectares, you will spot everything from indigenous artwork to waterfalls to whales migrating during the winter months. My favourite running route is from Garie Beach to Wattamolla, but with Garie Beach carpark temporarily closed, I find one of the other hundreds of tracks. 

Post-run, I'm able to utilise the 526 litres of boot space for a quick stretch and change out of my running gear. I promise you I'm not normally quite so energetic, but a toddler-free, desk-free day with a fast car at my disposal has inspired me to keep on moving.

As it's a hot day, I decide to head on further down the South Coast to my favourite ocean pool for a cool-down dip. 

Of course, once I got to Coalcliff Pools, I probably wasn't expecting conditions quite so choppy. Still – Coalcliff rock pools are nearly 69km away from Sydney CBD or 40km away from my hometown of Cronulla, so I'm not about to turn back now.

Plus, the views across the ocean and back into the Royal National Park are absolutely gorgeous, so I know I won't regret it.

And what I've got in store for lunch – you need to work up a big appetite. 

Creature comforts in the Polestar 4

Back on the road again post-swim and I'm really taking in the comforts of the car at this point. There's no doubt it looks good, but it really does feel good too.

For back-seat occupants, there is a 5.7-inch screen where you can play around with climate control and music. And if you fancy a little snooze, then the rear seats recline as well, so you can get a proper rest without needing to see a chiropractor afterwards. 

And back in the front, I'm having a play with the new ambient lighting. All controlled via the infotainment system, the lighting is playfully themed around the solar system, with each planet changing the car to a different hue. I'm feeling particularly girl-power today, so I opt for Venus and enjoy the soft pink hue that brings. 

The Scarborough Hotel

My final stop is the famous Scarborough Hotel for a well-deserved pub lunch. The heritage-listed Scarborough Hotel, which was built in 1886, is a must-stop for anyone travelling along the South Coast between Cronulla and Wollongong, known not just for its epic food but also for its epic views.

And to get there when you're coming south from Sydney, you will need to cross the famous Sea Cliff Bridge, a 665m stretch of road that has become a cult favourite for car advertisers as it offers such an impressive view. 

Driving impressions

Having refuelled with a pub lunch, it's time for me to enjoy a leisurely drive back up towards Sydney and head home.

Although I'm in no great rush, I have to say it's such a powerful car that it's hard not to put your foot to the floor and ramp up some speed. The car produces 400kW of power and 686Nm of torque, so it's no wallflower. And thanks to being an electric car, you get all that power right from the off. 

And while it is a fun car to drive on the South Coast highways and open roads of the Royal National Park, it's actually very comfortable in the suburbs too, and I feel very at ease knowing that I can go from home to daycare drop-off to the office five days a week without having to worry about range. A quick charge at weekends is all I need to get the car ready for another week. 

For now, it's time for the Polestar 4 to head back to Polestar Head Office and for me – it's time to head back to reality and do daycare pick-up. Thanks to a day of exhilarating power in the Polestar 4 and plenty of endorphins in my favourite South Coast haunts, I'm well and truly revitalised. 

Tune in on Channel Nine or 9Now to watch Drive TV every week – Sunday afternoon at 1pm, subject to network changes.

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