Our Thoughts Exactly: 2026 Polestar 4

We were very surprised by the 2026 Polestar 4.

We shouldn’t be. It is a vehicle that struck curious poses amongst those who saw it. 

Just like them, we had to reorient ourselves to figure out what it is exactly supposed to be. 

To define it, we had to experience it. 

On paper, this is a premium electric hatchback with four doors. It is a sporty car, by definition, as is part of Polestar’s mission. They also throw in the “SUV” term, which looks crossover-ish than anything. 

The 2026 Polestar 4 seems to fit in a segment that includes the BMW i4. The size of both vehicles are about the same, except the Polestar stands taller. It is clear that this is more of a global vehicle than one North American consumers would embrace. 

The one thing the Polestar has that is distinctive is something that we never thought would be applied to a new vehicle – or deleted.

If you examine the exterior closely, you will notice the absence of a rear glass pane. A design choice, indeed. But, let us talk you through it.

This is not the first automobile designed without a rear glass pane. Unknown outside of Europe, the Czech automaker Tatra produced rear-engined vehicles powered by V8 engines. Because the engines were substantial, the replaced the rear glass with a large engine cover. 

The 2026 Polestar 4 is an electric vehicle. So, there should be no excuse to omit a rear glass pane. We know there is an explanation for its absence. However, they created a solution. 

Today’s motorists tend to rely on their mirrors and back-up camera screens when they to look around and back when they drive. Polestar tuned the 8.9-inch rearview mirror into a camera screen. This is not a new solution, but one created from necessity. 

These views are captured by a dual-lens camera mounted where the rear glass pane would be installed. Their location simulates the actual position of where the rearview mirror would look out through. The resolution if the rearview mirror was fine, and you can adjust its position on the mirror housing itself through the buttons below. 

In addition, Polestar also enabled the 15.4-inch center touchscreen display to show both a directional view, along with a 360-degree overhead view. The latter is enabled when the vehicle is shifted into reverse. You can also select camera views on the center screen, as well. 

While the rear hatchback area gets all of the attention, one should truly look at the entire exterior design to see how the Polestar 4 is distinguishing itself from the rest of its lineup. Gone are the near-overt cues from its sibling Volvo. The Thor’s Hammer headlamp arrangement is now split into two horizontal units on each side of the fascia. The front end is cleaner, with a lower grille down below. The roofline is coupe-like, while the ground clearance rises to about seven inches at the rear. 

Our test vehicle adds a set of 21-inch alloy wheels shod with Michelin low-profile tires. This all points to Polestar’s claim of combining a sporty four-door coupe/hatchback design with an SUV – and crossover – stance.

Even with the absence of a rear glass pane, the interior atmosphere does get some light to offer the dark. A large fixed electrochromic glass can be switched from letting the sun shine though to a protective opaque “shade.” The Zinc colored seats, upholstered in Bridge of Weir Nappa leather, also lighten up the mood inside for up to five people. 

The rest of the 2026 Polestar 4’s interior design follows brand standards. A 10.2-inch instrument cluster pod sits behind the three-spoke steering wheel. That information is augmented by a 14.7-inch head-up display. 

Practically every control resides in the center touchscreen display. Everything from interior lighting to side mirror positioning, drive modes to steering feel. It also offers Google Built-in integration where the priority is to use their apps over tethering your smartphone. You can still do the latter, however. 

Being a hatchback, the 2026 Polestar 4 is quite practical. Behind the rear seats, you can load up to 18.6 cubic feet of cargo. Folding down the rear seats opens up that space to 54.2 cubic feet. 

Powering our test vehicle are two electric motors – one mounted at each axle. This forms an electronic all-wheel drive system, made for performance and added traction. Combined, they put down 544 horsepower and 506 pound-feet of torque. 

Energy to these electric motors comes from a 100-kilowatt-hour battery pack fed by a J1772 CCS plug. Polestar states that it can recover energy from 10-80% state of charge in 30 minutes at DC Fast Charging stations cycling on a rate of 200 kilowatts.  You can get a NACS adapter to use at those charging stations, as well. 

Range has varied during our time, as we observed between 275 to 300 miles at a 100% state of charge. 

The driving experience of the 2026 Polestar 4 inspired plenty of confidence all around, While the ride was firm, feedback from rougher roads were minimalized. Its weight and battery position enabled it to go near-flat into the corners. It never felt sloppy in these situations. 

The steering system was precise. On-center feel mirrored this, although it had a balanced weight. You can make it heavier by putting the 2026 Polestar 4 into Performance mode. The brakes were also quite good, as was the pedal feel. You can adjust the One Pedal driving settings, as well as to enable or disable Creep mode if you prefer. 

The 2026 Polestar 4 is offered in one four-door hatchback body style with a single or dual motor driveline options with only one Long Range battery. You can add the Plus, Pilot, and Performance packages to it, as well. Pricing starts at $56,400. Our Long Range Dual Motor test vehicle with the Pilot and Plus packages came with a sticker price of $79,100.

This is a vehicle that has a few hard sells for consumers to overcome. It is a hatchback that is either a sedan, SUV, or crossover. Perhaps seeing one would help determine whether it is the right vehicle for you. The electric vehicle architecture might be a hard sell, especially since there is no longer a tax incentive to get one. Considering the geopolitical state we are in, we could see a resurgence of EV sales to offset the rising cost of petroleum. 

It is the absence of a rear glass on the hatchback’s liftgate that could be a deal breaker. Quite frankly, it might not be. The camera technology on the 2026 Polestar 4 is very good, giving you a chance to overlook that one design choice. 

Yet, the driving experience of the 2026 Polestar 4 will win you over. It’s not a sports car, but it gas loads of power to get you going. Once you master the interface and its systems and work the mirrors and cameras, you might just find it suitable for your daily routine. 

DISCLAIMER: Vehicle provided by Polestar US – our opinions are of our own.

Photos by Randy Stern and George Torline