- The Polestar 2 is getting some updates under the skin.
- For the 2026 model, the four-door EV comes with a new battery on the entry-level version.
- All variants get a faster Qualcomm Snapdragon processor for the infotainment system.
The Polestar 2 has been around for five years, and until recently, it has been the company’s sole model. But even as the Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 hit showroom floors across the world, the Polestar 2 is sticking around until the end of the decade and will eventually get a direct replacement before 2030.
Until that happens, though, Polestar has updated its entry-level EV once again. The 2026 Polestar 2 debuted today in Europe with an upgraded Qualcomm Snapdragon processor chip for the infotainment system that should make the whole user experience smoother, with faster reaction times and quicker download speeds for in-car applications.
Another notable update concerns the battery. In the Standard Range Single Motor model, the LG Chem-made 69-kilowatt-hour battery pack was ditched in favor of a 70 kWh pack from China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology, better known as CATL. When connected to a DC fast charger, it can accept up to 135 kW for a 10 to 80% top-up in 34 minutes.
The Long Range versions’ 82 kWh battery remains unchanged. It can charge at up to 205 kW, and its 10 to 80% charge time is quoted at 28 minutes. Plug & Charge is standard on all versions.
According to Polestar, the slightly larger battery in the entry-level variant ups the WLTP-rated combined range from 339 miles (546 kilometers) to 334 miles (554 km). Not a huge improvement, but an improvement nonetheless.
For the first time since its introduction in 2020, the Polestar 2 is now available with an optional Bowers & Wilkins high-end audio system with 14 speakers and a total output of 1,350 Watts. Something else that’s new inside the 2026 Polestar 2 is the optional MicroTech upholstery in Charchoal with contrasting Black Ash decor that can be had with the Plus Pack.
Gallery: 2026 Polestar 2 (European Spec)
Outside, the four-door electric sedan is available in a new Dune metallic color that replaces the old Jupiter hue. There’s also a fresh five-spoke design for the 20-inch forged alloy Performance wheels that come with the optional Performance Pack. Speaking of performance, it’s the same as before.
The entry-level Standard Range Single Motor is powered by a rear-mounted drive unit making 268 horsepower and 361 pound-feet of torque (490 Newton-meters). It can sprint from zero to 60 miles per hour in 6.2 seconds.
The Long Range Single Motor has 295 hp and 361 lb-ft of torque and can reach 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. The Long Range Dual Motor adds a front drive unit for a total output of 416 hp and 546 lb-ft (740 Nm); it can reach 60 mph in 4.3 seconds. The Long Range Dual Motor with the Performance Pack ups the power to 469 hp and slashes the zero to 60 mph time to 4 seconds. All Polestar 2 versions have a top speed of 127 mph (204 kph).
The 2026 Polestar 2 is available now in Europe (excluding Iceland and Ireland), Hong Kong and Israel. The updated EV will make its way to more markets around the world as the year goes on.
