2026 Polestar 2 gets faster infotainment, Bowers & Wilkins; larger base battery boosts range to 554 km

The Polestar 2 is six years old now and has already been through a number of mid-cycle refreshes, so why not one more? For the 2026 model year, the electric sedan gains some tech and battery upgrades in a bid to revive the car’s flagging sales worldwide.

Front and centre of this revamp is a new, faster Qualcomm Snapdragon chip (likely the ubiquitous 8155), which should help the Android Automotive OS feel snappier. Polestar claims the infotainment system is smoother, with quicker responses from the 11.2-inch portrait touchscreen, system apps and actions as well as faster download speeds for in-car apps.

Also new is a 14-speaker, 1,350-watt Bowers & Wilkins sound system that Volvo owners will be familiar with, replete with Continuum midrange speakers, branded stainless steel speaker grilles and a top-mounted centre tweeter. This will be offered as an upgrade over the standard eight-speakers and the mid-range 13-speaker, 600-watt Harman Kardon option.

Polestar has steadily improved the 2’s range over the past several years, and it has now moved to standardise the battery on the Standard Range single-motor variant across the globe. Instead of the 69 kWh LG Chem pack still offered in selected countries, all markets now receive a 70 kWh CATL unit that offers a slight boost in range to 554 km on the WLTP cycle, up from 546 km.

No changes to the rest of the mechanicals, so the SR model continues to be powered by a 272 PS (200 kW) rear-mounted motor. All other Long Range trims receive an unchanged 82 kWh battery that provides a range of 658 km on the 299 PS (220 kW) single-motor version, 595 km on the 421 PS (310 kW) dual-motor all-wheel-drive variant and 566 km on the 476 PS (350 kW) Performance Pack model.

The Polestar 2 also gets the Tesla-style Plug & Charge feature from the larger 3. This enables the car to initiate, authenticate and pay for the charging process automatically, allowing users to simply plug their car up to the charger. Other minor changes include a new off-white Dune mica paint option that replaces the Jupiter gold hue introduced in 2022, as well as lighter 20-inch forged alloy wheels on the Performance Pack.

Inside, the Polestar 2 gains “bio-attributed” MicroTech quilted faux leather upholstery in Charcoal, paired with Black Ash wood decor; this is offered on the optional Plus pack. Speaking of option pack, buyers now get the option of the Prime pack that includes the contents of the Pilot, Plus and Climate packs, along with privacy glass. The updated 2 is now available to order in Europe and Hong Kong, with other markets following suit throughout the year.

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