Key Takeaways
- 2026 is the final model year the Polestar 4 will be sold new in the US.
- Starting price is about $56,400 (Single Motor) to $62,900 (Dual Motor).
- Up to 310 miles of range on a roughly 100-kWh battery pack.
- Dual Motor version makes around 544 hp and
The 2026 Polestar 4 Just Got Way More Interesting (For All the Wrong Reasons)
Let’s rip the band-aid off right away: if you’ve been eyeing a Polestar 4, the clock is ticking. Polestar has been forced to pull out of the US market after regulators denied the brand’s request to keep selling its connected vehicles here past this model year. That means the 2026 Polestar 4 is the last chance to buy one new in the States. Dealers are winding down inventory, which also means the deals right now are honestly pretty wild.
But let’s back up. Even without the “last call” drama, the Polestar 4 was already one of the most talked-about EVs on sale. It’s a Swedish-designed, Chinese-built electric SUV that looks like it drove straight out of a concept car show floor, and it comes with one feature that has car reviewers everywhere scratching their heads: there’s no rear window. At all.
Table of Contents
What Exactly Is the Polestar 4?
The Polestar 4 slots in as a compact-to-midsize electric luxury SUV, sitting between the smaller (and now-discontinued in the US) Polestar 2 sedan and the bigger Polestar 3. Polestar calls it an SUV, though with its low, swoopy roofline it drives and looks more like a fastback crossover than a boxy family hauler. It’s built on Geely’s SEA platform, the same underpinnings used by the Zeekr 001, which explains a lot of the futuristic tech packed inside.
It goes toe-to-toe with the Tesla Model Y, BMW iX, Audi Q6 e-tron, and Volvo’s newer electric SUVs, but it plays its own game with a design that’s built to turn heads in a parking lot.
No Rear Window? Yep, You Read That Right
Here’s the party trick everyone’s talking about: instead of a traditional rear window, Polestar swapped it for a solid panel and put a camera on the roof that streams a live feed to the digital rearview mirror inside. It’s a bold move that gives the cabin a sleek, cocoon-like feel and frees up cargo space, but it’s also the single most polarizing thing about this SUV. Some reviewers say the camera feed is crisp and even better in low light. Others say it takes real time to trust it, especially when you’re merging or backing out of a tight spot, and that the back seat can feel a little closed-in without actual glass back there.
Performance: How Much Juice Are We Talking?
The Polestar 4 comes in two flavors:
- Single Motor (rear-wheel drive): around 268 horsepower, tuned for smooth, efficient daily driving and the longest range in the lineup.
- Dual Motor (all-wheel drive): roughly 544 horsepower, with a Performance Pack available that sharpens the brakes, tires, and chassis. This version is legitimately quick, capable of hitting 60 mph in under 4 seconds.
On the road, the Polestar 4 drives tight and planted, more sport sedan than tall SUV. The tradeoff is a firmer ride than some rivals, so if you’re coming from a plush luxury crossover, expect a bit more road feel through the seat.
Range and Charging: The Real-World Numbers
The Polestar 4 runs on a roughly 100-kWh battery pack good for up to 310 miles of range on the Single Motor version, with the Dual Motor trimming that down some in exchange for extra punch. When it’s time to plug in, DC fast charging tops out around 200 kW, which gets you from 10 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes at a solid public fast charger. That’s competitive, though it doesn’t quite match the fastest-charging EVs on the market right now.
Interior and Tech: Minimalist to a Fault
Step inside and it’s screens, screens, and more screens. A 15.4-inch landscape touchscreen runs Google built-in with Apple CarPlay support, paired with a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster. Spring for the Plus Pack and you’ll add a 14.7-inch head-up display too. Standard seats use a recycled PET knit fabric, while buyers who want the full luxury treatment can upgrade to Nappa leather with ventilation and massage functions up front, plus reclining rear seats and a rear-seat control screen.
There’s also a fun ambient lighting setup with nine color themes inspired by the solar system, because why not. The one catch: Polestar leaned hard into touchscreen controls, so simple stuff like adjusting the seat ventilation or dimming the sunroof shade means digging through menus instead of hitting a physical button.
Cargo space checks in at 18.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 54.2 cubic feet with them folded flat, which is decent for the segment even with that sloped roofline eating into headroom.
Also Read : Polestar 5 Review: Over 880 HP, 800-Volt Charging & Scandinavian Luxury
Pricing and Warranty
The Single Motor starts at around $56,400, while the Dual Motor kicks off closer to $62,900 before options. Load one up with the Plus Pack, Pilot Pack, and Nappa leather, and you can push into the low-$70,000s or higher. Every Polestar 4 comes backed by a 4-year/50,000-mile vehicle warranty and an 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranty, which is right in line with the EV segment.
Given the brand’s exit from the US, dealers are reportedly offering steep discounts to clear out remaining stock, so the actual transaction price you’ll pay could look a lot friendlier than the sticker.
Why Is Polestar Leaving the US Market?
This is the part that’s turning heads outside the usual car-review crowd. Citing the government’s Connected Vehicle Rule, US regulators denied Polestar the ability to continue selling its 2027 model year vehicles in America, effectively forcing the brand to wind down its US sales operations after 2026. Polestar’s ties to Chinese ownership and manufacturing put it in the crosshairs of rules aimed at limiting Chinese-linked connected car tech and software in the US market. Practically speaking, that means the 2026 Polestar 4 is the final new one you’ll be able to buy from a US dealer, and long-term concerns about parts supply and service support are now part of the buying decision.
Pros and Cons at a Glance
What’s great: head-turning design, strong horsepower on the Dual Motor, comfy and tech-loaded cabin, solid warranty coverage, and right now, aggressive dealer pricing as inventory clears out.
What’s not so great: no rear window takes getting used to, over-reliance on touchscreen menus for basic functions, some reported software glitches, and a genuine question mark over long-term support now that the brand is exiting the US.
Author’s Take
The 2026 Polestar 4 is a genuinely quick, good-looking, tech-forward electric SUV that dares to do things differently, for better and for worse. If the camera-based rearview and touchscreen-heavy controls don’t scare you off, and you can snag one of the discounted deals while dealers clear their lots, it’s a lot of EV for the money. Just go in with eyes open about the brand’s uncertain future in the US.
Source Name : U.S. News & World Report; Edmunds; Consumer Guide
FAQ
Does the Polestar 4 really not have a rear window?
Correct, there’s no traditional rear window. A roof-mounted camera feeds a live video stream to the digital rearview mirror instead.
How much does the 2026 Polestar 4 cost?
Pricing starts around $56,400 for the Single Motor and about $62,900 for the Dual Motor, before options and destination fees.
What’s the range of the Polestar 4?
The Single Motor version is rated up to 310 miles per charge on a roughly 100-kWh battery pack.
How fast can the Polestar 4 charge?
DC fast charging at up to 200 kW can take the battery from 10 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes.
Why is Polestar leaving the US market?
US regulators denied Polestar’s request to keep selling vehicles here past the 2026 model year, citing the government’s Connected Vehicle Rule, which targets Chinese-linked connected car technology.
Is the 2026 Polestar 4 the last one sold in the US?
Yes, 2026 is the final model year Polestar is selling new in the US as the brand winds down its American sales operations.
What is the Polestar 4’s warranty?
It comes with a 4-year/50,000-mile vehicle warranty and an 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranty.
