2021 Polestar 1 Review

Name: 2021 Polestar 1
Brand: Polestar
Price: 58683 USD

Price Estimate: $58,683 - $66,631

The 2021 Polestar 1 is a significant car for many reasons, particularly because it's the first production model for Polestar since Volvo spun off the brand to focus primarily on electric mobility. The 1 pairs a potent but practical plug-in hybrid powertrain with a wide and elongated coupe body composed mostly of lightweight carbon fiber reinforced plastic. It's quick, comfortable and handsomely styled. And with only 1,500 units to be sold worldwide, it also has the potential to become a collector's item.

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Polestar 1 model years

2021
2020

Polestar 1 for Sale

2021 Polestar 1 Review

Pros

Plenty of all-electric range
Smooth and comfortable driving experience
Comes fully loaded
Rarity ensures exclusivity

Cons

Not much cargo space
Infotainment isn't as intuitive to use as rival systems

What's new

Final year of production
New Special Edition model limited to 25 units globally
Part of the first Polestar 1 generation introduced for 2020

Overview

Written by automotive expert Kurt Niebuhr

6/23/2021

For many years Polestar was Volvo's in-house performance tuning arm. But as of last year, it became a full-fledged spinoff brand focused on electrified performance. Kicking the party off was the limited-production Polestar 1. We can't remember a more stunning and impressive automotive debut in recent times. The 1 combines classic good looks of a luxury coupe with a powerful plug-in hybrid powertrain. Besides producing a substantial 619 horsepower, it enables the Polestar 1 to drive about 50 miles on all-electric power on a fully charged battery. After that, it switches to typical gasoline-powered operation.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Dover, NH

21 listings

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2021 Polestar 1
Base Coupe
$156,500
- 2,694 miles
- No accidents, personal use only
- 52 mi est. electric range
- 4cyl automatic
- Polestar Boston (59 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
Close
Located in Allston, MA
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
26 Combined MPG (22 City/31 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: LPSBE0YL9MB000851
Stock: 000851
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 05-16-2024
Price Drop
2021 Polestar 1
Base Coupe
$81,999
- 35,636 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, rental vehicle
- 52 mi est. electric range
- 4cyl automatic
- International Motor Group (109 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
Close
Located in East Greenwich, RI
ONLY 1500 PRODUCED WORLDWIDE!! ORIGINAL MSRP OVER $156,000 ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING PHEV VEHICLES EVER PRODUCED AND IT'S HERE AT INTERNATIONAL MOTOR GR...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
26 Combined MPG (22 City/31 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: LPSBE0YL8MB001098
Stock: EG10732
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 06-07-2025

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So different is the Polestar 1 that it's hard to name any direct competition. Luxury grand-touring cars like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe and striking Lexus LC 500 spring to mind, as does Porsche's all-electric Taycan. Production of the Polestar 1 was destined to be limited, and this is the final year of its production. Read our Expert Rating below to get our full take on the Polestar 1's performance, range and more.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Good

8.0

out of 10

We drove the 2021 Polestar 1 on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Performance

8.5/10

How does the 1 drive? The Polestar 1 doesn't feel like it has 619 horsepower because of how smoothly it cruises into triple-digit speeds. In our testing, it ripped to 60 mph in a mere 3.9 seconds. Powerful brakes from Akebono scrub off speed at amazing rates, stopping this portly 5,200-pound coupe in just 99 feet. For context, that's slightly shorter than a Porsche 911 GT3 Touring. In casual use, the brakes at times feel a little grabby, though hybrid brakes are often tricky to tune.

Handling and daily drivability are commendable. Tight, twisty roads are dispatched with the help of torque-vectoring all-wheel drive. Even without the electronic aids, the manually adjustable Ohlins suspension delivers exceptional body control and smooths out the road beneath. The steering could stand to be a bit more communicative on the highway.

Comfort

8.5/10

How comfortable is the 1? The Polestar seats are very comfortable. There isn't a lot of adjustability, but you can still dial in long-haul comfort. They also offer decent lateral support to keep you secure under higher cornering loads. The manually adjustable suspension, in its standard setting, hits a sweet spot of compliance and control. But even in its firmest setting, it doesn't deliver as punishing a ride as some competitors.

The climate controls are accessed entirely through the touchscreen menu, which means there's a lag before the system becomes active after starting the car. There is an option to precondition the cabin; once set, it maintains target temps well. There's no vibrations to speak of, but there is a fair amount of road noise on rough textured surfaces. When the roads are a bit smoother, this hybrid is about as quiet as they come.

Interior

8/10

How’s the interior? The Polestar 1's wide and low body beltline doesn't just look good. It also makes for excellent visibility of the road in all directions and creates a sense of spaciousness for front occupants. The long doors provide ample space to slip inside; just watch for the lower rocker sills that jut out a bit. We knocked our shins a few times.

The form-follows-function narrative changes slightly when it comes to the user interface. The Sensus infotainment system plucked from the Volvo parts bin has the aesthetic benefit of a clean, minimalistic design, but it comes with the downside of having to access everything digitally. This means lots of swiping between screens when you're on the move, which can be distracting.

Technology

7.5/10

How’s the tech? Much of the Polestar 1's tech has been proven out to some degree in Volvo's vehicle lineup, so it's better than the average exotic. Everything from the excellent 16-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system to a suite of advanced driver's aids is included, all of which make it more useful as a daily driver. While the adaptive cruise and lane keeping assist are pretty effective at relieving traffic stress, the parking cameras' low angles make for slightly awkward visual references.

Smartphones pair easily via Bluetooth, which allows clear playback for podcasts, phone calls and music using the native system interface. Or you can plug into one of two USB ports to use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, which is also standard. The vertical orientation of the touchscreen, though, downsizes the display of those systems a bit.

Storage

6.5/10

How’s the storage? At just 4.4 cubic feet, the rear trunk is tiny. The Polestar 1's batteries and electronics take up the bulk of the area. That said, it's easier to access and more usable than the trunks of either the BMW i8 or Acura NSX because of the low liftover height. In-cabin storage is a bit sparse too, which isn't uncommon for this segment. The center console has an extremely shallow bin meant just for phones and other small flat items, while the door pockets are a pretty nice size and rubber-lined.

Front-facing car seats or booster seats can be used in back, with car seat anchors relatively easy to access through zippered slits. A rear-facing seat will fit behind the passenger seat if it's adjusted to its front-most position, but it's not really practical. If you're not transporting small humans with you, the rear seats can act as overflow storage, be it for groceries or outerwear.

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates you'll get 26 mpg combined when the 1 is running in hybrid mode, which is about what the BMW i8 returns but with much more performance potential. We started with a partial battery charge (35 miles of indicated charge) on our 115-mile evaluation route and drove in hybrid mode. The car returned an impressive 36.6 mpg, which was spot-on with what the computer calculated on board.

The Polestar 1 has a 34-kWh battery that provides an estimated 52 miles of electric range, and based on our observations this range seems realistic. Charging at its maximum 11 kW of AC power will give you a full battery in about 3.5 hours. It is also equipped with DC fast-charging capability that'll get you to an 80% charge in less than an hour.

Value

8/10

Is the 1 a good value? Perception of quality for an exotic car is almost as important as actual quality. The bulk of Polestar 1's expense goes into the hybrid powertrain as well as its carbon-fiber body, which saves a lot of weight and helps create a stiffer structure. But these things go mostly unnoticed because they're either underneath the car or covered with paint.

The interior of the Polestar, while luxurious and soundly assembled, looks far less exotic than you'd expect at this price. In fact, it looks like it's from a regular Volvo. That said, this will be a rare car with just 1,500 units produced, and compared to its closest hybrid competition, it's a much better value for the features, performance and practicality.

Basic warranty coverage is pretty standard at four years/50,000 miles, but Polestar covers hybrid and battery components for eight years/100,000 miles (10 years/150,000 miles for California residents).

Wildcard

9/10

It resembles a Volvo but it's more handsome, and there's nothing else quite like it on the road. It outshines the aging BMW i8 in nearly everything except cool gullwing doors, and it's more rare and less expensive than an Acura NSX. It draws attention everywhere it goes without trying. It's the equivalent of an attractive person who's unaware of it.

The Polestar 1 may not blow you away as much as other exotic vehicles with its straight-line speed, partially because it develops power so smoothly, but it changes direction amazingly well. The hybrid system with its torque vectoring, along with the excellent Ohlins suspension, works to make spirited driving effortless yet enjoyable.

2021 Polestar 1 trim level differences

The Polestar 1 is a performance luxury coupe that also doubles as a plug-in hybrid. Electrical power comes from a 34-kWh battery pack that drives two electric motors on the rear axle. The internal combustion engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with both turbo and supercharging (326 horsepower, 384 lb-ft). When combined with the electric motors, the Polestar 1 makes a total of 619 horsepower and 738 lb-ft. The Polestar 1 uses an eight-speed automatic transmission and is all-wheel-drive.

Which 1 trim does Edmunds recommend?

The Polestar 1's options are limited to a smattering of exterior colors, wheel finishes, and two choices for interior upholstery. If you're fortunate enough to grab one of the only 25 Special Edition models, we'd absolutely recommend you do. With its striking matte gold paint and gold interior stitching, it's sure to be a future classic.

Compare 2021 Polestar 1 trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in New Hampshire

$181/mo

$166/mo

Avg. Compact Car

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Polestar 1 Owner Reviews

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2021 1 Highlights

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$155,000
EV Tax Credits & Rebates
Engine Type	Plug-in hybrid
EPA Electric Range	52 miles
Combined MPGe (Electric + Gas)	58 MPGe
Cost to Drive	$181/month
Total Charging Time (240V)	9.0 hours
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	4.4 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the 1 models:

Pilot Assist with Adaptive Cruise Control: Automatically adjusts the car's speed to speed up or slow down to match traffic and keeps the car centered in the lane.
Blind-Spot Information System: Illuminates a light in the sideview mirrors if a vehicle is in the Polestar 1's blind spot.
Collision Mitigation Support: Can help steer the car to avoid or lessen the chance of a front or rear collision.

2021 Polestar 1 Review

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2021 Polestar 1 Review

Pros