Polestar 2 VS Jeep WRANGLER UNLIMITED
Polestar 2
Likes
- Has the fun of an EV but on-road feel of an ICE
- Understated sporty looks
- Long driving range
Dislikes
- Back row is light on space and storage
- Too many decent features are built into option packs
- Technology isn't seamless to use
Jeep WRANGLER UNLIMITED
Likes
- Fun to drive
- Very capable off-road
- Ready for adventure direct from the showroom
Dislikes
- Price-tag
- Needs all-terrain tyres
- Lacks driver-assist tech
Summary
Polestar 2
The newly updated Polestar 2 Long range Single motor is an electric five-door fastback that has an understated sportiness about it.
There are some 'EV' vibes in the styling but this car sways more towards a conventional look than some other electric sedans on the market (I'm looking at you Ioniq 6).
And I'm all for it, as there's something charming about how it blends its electric underpinnings with its driver-orientated on-road experience.
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With a driving range that is sure to ease any anxiety, it still has some hot rivals nipping at its heels, like the BMW i4, Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Tesla Model 3.
Read on to see how it handles a domesticated life with a small family of three.
| Safety rating | — |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | — |
| Fuel Type | Electric |
| Fuel Efficiency | —L/100km |
| Seating | 5 seats |
Jeep WRANGLER UNLIMITED
The Jeep Wrangler is a very capable 4WD with real bush cred, but the all-out glory is usually reserved for the hard-core Wrangler variant, the Rubicon.
The Overland is often disparagingly referred to as the city Wrangler. But is that really the case? After all, it’s 'Trail Rated', as well.
We tested the four-door Overland over a seven-day period to see how it’d perform on-road, but most of our focus was on its comfort and capability in an off-road environment.
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Read on.
| Safety rating | |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | 3.6L |
| Fuel Type | Regular Unleaded Petrol |
| Fuel Efficiency | 9.7L/100km |
| Seating | 5 seats |
Verdict
Polestar 27.8/10
The Polestar 2 Long range Single motor showcases a beautiful build and design. Not including the features from those optional packs just makes you focus on their individual price and devalues the relative affordability of the car compared to its competitors. The back seat isn't super passenger friendly when it comes to space, either. However, once you get used to its little quirks, it's a great car to get around in and the long driving range eases any range anxiety, which is often a cause for worry with EV ownership! My son loved the sunroof because it made him feel like he was in a spaceship, so it's a hit with the kids, too.
Jeep WRANGLER UNLIMITED7/10
The Overland is (surprisingly) not atrocious on-road and (not surprisingly) very capable off-road. It costs a lot but, geez, it's a barrel of laughs.
If your heart is set on a four-door mid-size 4WD that's a whole lot of fun to drive, but rather impractical for daily life, then it’s difficult to over-look the Overland.
If you’re really gung-ho about hard-core off-roading – rock-crawling etc – then perhaps you should focus on the Rubicon, but for everything else the Overland, even on standard tyres, is more than capable.
Design
Polestar 2
The Polestar 2 has a more conventional design approach than some of its rivals but it maintains a futuristic EV vibe with its origami-like edges in the panelling and cool pixel LED lights at the front and rear.
It is not a large car and sits at 4606mm long, 1985mm wide and a low 1479mm high but that compact design makes it look sporty.
Expect a couple of grunts from the oldies (ahem) when exiting as ground clearance is 151mm at the front and 167mm at the rear.
The interior is pared back in true Scandinavian fashion but it's a nice to see some ethically-friendly design elements, like the vegan knit upholstery on the doors and dash and the Nappa leather is responsibly sourced. All of which makes an otherwise simple interior feel warm and inviting.
There is an overwhelming sense of the Polestar 2 being of a high-quality build. There are no squeaks or rattles, joinery is flush and the doors close with a soft thump.
However, the minor update still sees the dashboard headlined by a portrait-orientated iPad-looking 11.2-inch multimedia system. It seems at odds with the rest of the sleek design.
The panoramic sunroof creates a light-filled cabin and at certain times of the day, this makes it feel airy but underneath a blazing midday sun, you might miss having a sunblind for it.
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The Wrangler's appearance has been tweaked throughout the years without ever sacrificing any of the ol’ Wrangler spirit.
It has stuck to its traditional roots and, as such, retains its old-school chunkiness, which is good, but the Overland is less of a hardcore-looking 4WD and more of a lifestyle-suited off-roader than its Rubicon stablemate.
Though the Overland version has a certain blocky appeal, I reckon the Rubicon is better for having fully embraced the all-out off-road look and feel, tyres and all.
Practicality
Polestar 2
The Polestar 2's cabin is generous up front with plenty of leg- and headroom to enjoy. You don't have to jostle for premium armrest position, either, which is nice given you still feel 'tucked' into the car.
A feeling that is enhanced by the solid, and rather tall, centre console that divides you from your co-pilot.
The electric front seats are delightfully comfortable with their padding and Nappa leather trim. Both feature four-way adjustable lumbar support and extendable under thigh support.
The heat and ventilation functions will ensure comfort, no matter the season but the ventilation system is quite loud.
In the rear, space is tight with my 168cm (5'6") height just fitting behind my driving position. The footwells seem cosy as well due to the limited under-seat space but the seats are fairly comfortable, if narrow.
However, the small door apertures in the rear and the narrow seats make it feel more suited as a four- than a five-seater.
Individual storage options are okay throughout the car with a couple of cupholders in each row, drink bottle holders in the front door storage bins, as well as a middle console and glove box.
There are two skinny shelves on either side of the centre console that would reasonably fit a wallet or phone and the rear also get two map pockets.
Amenities in the rear are enough to satisfy a mature occupant on a longer journey as the outboard seats feature a heat function and there are directional air vents, a fold down armrest and two USB-C ports.
Front occupants enjoy two USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad to charge their devices.
The rest of the technology is a bit awkward to use. The 11.2-inch touchscreen multimedia system is responsive to touch but you can't access a lot of basic information on it and I didn't like how the climate control is embedded in it as you have to touch the screen a few times to even see the controls.
The 12.3-inch digital instrument panel looks nice but isn't all that customisable. It takes a while to get used to how to access all of its functions, too.
It's easy to connect to the wired Apple CarPlay and there is wired Android Auto and in-built google apps, too.
The optioned Harman Kardon sound system with its 13 speakers means you can listen to your music as if you're in a private show performed by your favourite artist!
To round out the practicality of this sedan, the boot is large enough to carry your gear at 405L and the large compartment underneath the floor is super handy to store smaller items.
There is a panel that lifts up to make a cosier storage area, say if you only had a couple of bags of groceries you didn't want rolling around.
And because the Polestar 2 lacks an engine, there is frunk storage of 41L at the front which is perfect for any charging cables.
The compromise for getting all of this space is that you only get a tyre inflator repair kit, which is housed in the frunk storage area.
And lastly, having a powered tailgate is always a bonus but I miss having a good old-fashioned button on the boot lid to open it.
Jeep WRANGLER UNLIMITED
What can you say about a vehicle that has a “wash-out interior with drain plugs” listed in its specs?
This is a purpose-built off-roader and the Overland’s five-seat cabin is a basic but functional space, in which it’s easy to immediately feel comfortable.
All dials, knobs and switches are easy to locate and chunky enough to operate while skipping over corrugations or climbing up steep rock steps.
There's leather everywhere – seats, steering wheel, shifter knob – but durable outdoors-tough surfaces also abound.
What always strikes me about the Wrangler interior is the fact that it’s abundantly clear Jeep designers regularly experience – or at least are familiar with – the type of life that Wranglers are aimed at: fun, dirty, rough-and-tumble adventures in the great outdoors.
There isn’t a lot of storage space inside but there are a few small, deep, and textured receptacles – ideal for keeping your bits and pieces in the same spot while you bounce around off-road – as well as grab handles, including a big sturdy one in front of the front-seat passenger.
There are also tensioned net pockets on the doors so you can throw stuff in there, but beyond those there aren't a lot of storage options.
There are air vents, two USB-C ports, and a 230V inverter in the centre console.
Rear cargo space is listed at 898 litres; with the rear seat stowed away, there is a claimed 2050 litres of room.
Price and features
Polestar 2
There are four variants available for the Polestar 2 and our test model is the Long range Single motor which costs $71,400, before on road costs and before any optional packs or paintwork options.
Relative to its nearest competitors, it seems like the most affordable but our model has been optioned with a few packs, which add a host of features that mostly come standard on its rivals.
Standard items include 19-inch alloy wheels, frameless side mirrors (very cool), pixel LED headlights with adaptive high beam and some decent technology, like four USB-C ports, an 11.2-inch touchscreen multimedia system and a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. But more on tech later.
Our test model has the 'Pilot Pack' fitted, which tacks on $3500 and includes safety items like 'Emergency Stop Assist', which brings the car to a halt safely if the driver is unresponsive, and adaptive cruise control with 'Pilot Assist' (helps keep the car in its lane).
Our test model also has the 'Plus Pack' which adds luxury items like a panoramic sunroof, a premium Harman Kardon sound system, powered front seats with four-way lumbar support, extendable under-thigh support and net map pockets.
You'll also enjoy 'vegan knit' upholstery trims on the doors, a heated steering wheel, heated front and rear outboard seats, as well as a powered tailgate with foot sensor, all for an additional $6000.
But wait, we're not done. Our model also has the optional Nappa leather upholstery which includes a ventilation function on the front seats for an eye-watering $6000 extra.
So, when it's all done and dusted… this model will actually set you back $86,900, before on roads. That puts it on par with its rivals but it's a bit of a bugbear of mine when the pricing is set out like this as it makes it feel more expensive for some reason.
I like the fact that Polestar throws in the carpet mats and a charging cable but the paintwork options are a little expensive at $1500 and only one colour ('Magnesium') is included.
Jeep WRANGLER UNLIMITED
If you’re keen on one of these Jeeps you’ll have to be ready to sell one of your organs – and I don’t mean your church keyboard.
This five-seat vehicle as tested has a manufacturer suggested retail price of $86,950, excluding on-road costs.
The list of standard features is extensive, as it should be at this price, and includes an 8.4-inch multimedia touchscreen unit, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a nine-speaker Alpine premium audio system (with subwoofer), as well as premium touches like heating for the steering wheel and front seats, black leather trimmed seats (with ‘Overland’ logo), leather-wrapped gear-shifter knob and parking brake handle, 18-inch alloy wheels and more.
Exterior paint includes 'Bright White' (on our test vehicle) and black (both standard), and optional colours such as 'Silver Zynith', 'Sting Grey', 'Firecracker Red', 'Punk’n' (orange), 'Earl' (blue-ish grey), 'Hydro Blue' and 'High Velocity' (yellow).
If you opt for the 'Sky-One-Touch Premium Package' (which includes the 'Sky-One-Touch Power Top', and body colour fender flares) that’s an extra $6450.
Under the bonnet
Polestar 2
The name of our model says it all, as it has a long range, single motor electric powertrain.
Coupled with a large 82kWh lithium-ion battery, which is a 4.0kWh increase from the previous model, the maximum power output is 220kW and 490Nm of torque, which is also up from the previous model.
The Polestar 2 is now rear-wheel drive, superceding the previous front-wheel drive model.
The regen braking isn't as strong as the previous model and although it is called 'one-pedal' braking on this system, it's not truly a one pedal driving experience.
You can change the strength levels from low to standard and I kept it in low for most of the week.
Jeep WRANGLER UNLIMITED
This Jeep has a 3.6-litre 'Pentastar' V6 engine – producing 209kW at 6400rpm and 347Nm at 4100rpm – and an eight-speed automatic transmission.
It's an effective engine-and-auto pairing for driving on sealed surfaces and well suited to high- and low-range 4WDing.
Efficiency
Polestar 2
The Polestar 2 Long range Single motor has a great driving range of up to 655km (WLTP). Goodbye range anxiety!
It also has a Type 2 CCS charging port and can accept charging speeds of up to 205kW, which is 50kW more than the previous model, and that means you can hook up to an ultra-fast 350kW charger.
On DC you can expect to see a charge time of 28 minutes to get from 10 to 80 per cent. On an 11kW AC charger, expect to see that time jump to around eight-hours for a zero to 100 per cent charge.
The official energy consumption figure is 14.8kWh (WTLP) but my on-road average was 15.0kWh after a fair bit of open-road driving, which is a great result.
Jeep WRANGLER UNLIMITED
Official fuel consumption is listed as 9.7L/100km on a combined cycle.
Actual fuel consumption on this test, from pump to pump, was 13.6L/100km, largely attributable to the fact I did a lot of low-range four-wheel driving on this test, as always.
The Wrangler Overland Unlimited has an 81-litre tank so, going by that fuel figure above, you could reasonably expect a driving range of about 595km from a full tank.
Note: Drop 30km to 50km from your total calculated fuel-range figure for a better idea of your vehicle’s safe touring range – so that figure above would be 565km.
Also, remember that numerous other factors affect your fuel consumption and so impact your touring range, including how much extra weight you have onboard (passengers, camping gear etc), whether your vehicle is fitted with any aftermarket equipment (bullbar, spare-wheel carrier, etc), whether you are towing (a camper-trailer, caravan, or boat etc), your vehicle's tyre pressures and the conditions.
Driving
Polestar 2
The Polestar 2 is a pretty conventional car to drive because an EV newbie will be comfortable behind the wheel… once they start driving it!
You see, there is no 'ignition' switch but so long as you have the key with you, you simply get in and shift into gear to 'start it' or get out and lock the car to 'turn it off'. It's weird and I'm not sure I will ever get used to it!
The motor has a lot of grunt and it's fun to put your foot down whenever you need to get up to speed or overtake. The power output is responsive and well-balanced with the rear-wheel drive delivering a sporty on-road experience.
If you're tackling winding roads or sharper corners, you can customise your steering responsiveness to 'light', 'standard' or 'firm' but remained on standard for most of the week. It's the best mode to handle stop-start running in town and highway cornering.
The Polestar 2 sits quite low to the ground and feels stable when you hit corners or the open-road. Although, the suspension feels on the firm side, which can make a bumpy road very noticeable.
Overall, the parking experience is good but the 360-degree view system is just too wiggy-woo for me to love it.
The images from the four cameras aren't well-stitched together and the angles seem to distort the overall image, too. It just looks confusing. So much so that you might not depend on it all that much.
Jeep WRANGLER UNLIMITED
The Wrangler Overland is a fun, go-kart style drive and yields a real driver-direct experience you get from few other contemporary vehicles on the blacktop and the dirt.
But while it’s nowhere near as atrocious as you might expect on sealed surfaces its planted, squared-off stance gives it a definite composure on bitumen. It’s certainly no sports car in terms of ride and handling.
It’s quite soft on-road, soaking up most imperfections with ease, but it also takes quite a lot of effort and concentration to keep this Jeep in line on the open road because it tends to float around on the blacktop if not constantly reined in.
Also, its steering has a lightness about it that can sometimes be a bit disconcerting.
The V6 is a gutsy unit, capable of punching the Overland along at a fair clip, all while the eight-speed auto handles clever and nicely controlled shifts.
Because it’s so blocky, straight up and down, with big wing mirrors and the like, the Overland is rather noisy on sealed surfaces.
But it remains one of the few modern vehicles that deserves to be driven with the windows down, because it offers that kind of visceral driving experience – as the LC70 Series, or Suzuki Jimny do.
So, how does the Overland perform off-road? Bloody glad you asked.
Spoiler alert: The Overland is not as good an off-roader as the Rubicon because it does not have that variant’s BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain tyres, 'Rock-Trac' active on-demand 4x4 system (with 4:1 transfer case*, and 77.2:1 crawl ratio), front and rear locking differentials, or the Rubicon’s very handy electronic front sway bar disconnect. (* The Overland has 2.72:1.)
But, having said that, the Overland is still an extremely capable off-roader.
To be honest, I wasn't expecting any strife because it retains all the traditional goodness of the Wrangler with very few compromises. It’s a genuine 4WD with a dual-range transfer case, a ladder chassis, solid axles and well-proven 4WD heritage.
In terms of size, the Overland is 4882mm long (with a 3008mm wheelbase), 1894mm wide, 1838mm high. It has a listed kerb weight of 1900kg.
Steering has a nice weight to it at lower speeds, giving the driver a great sense of sustained control through even the most severe obstacles, but the Overland’s turning circle is a listed 12.44m, so this off-roader can sometimes feel like a mini-bus to steer through tight turns.
However, this is a purpose-built off-roader with a wide wheel track and low centre of gravity, so it feels planted no matter how rough and bumpy the terrain gets.
On the gravel track to our off-road testing site, there are numerous steering-wheel-jolting corrugations but overall the Overland – with a coil spring at each corner – soaked them up.
Our 4WD loop included the aforementioned gravel tracks, light to medium corrugations, undulating mud tracks and mud holes, and some very challenging low-range 4WD sections (in particular, a steep rocky hill), and a few other set-pieces to see if the Overland was able to do everything safely and comfortably.
As a true 4WD worth its weight in gold, the Wrangler is immediately more at home taking on low-speed 4WDing than it is negotiating suburban traffic.
Again, the V6 engine comes into its own, delivering smooth, even torque when needed, but not ever over-working to achieve that.
Considered driving is necessary as is slow and steady throttle, but that's easily achieved in the Wrangler as its go pedal is none too sensitive to a bouncing boot.
It’s refreshing to note that switching to 4WD High or 4WD Low range is still done via a stubby stick to the left of the auto shifter, rather than the push of a button, or the turn of a dial.
Low-range gearing is very good and the Overland has a well-calibrated off-road traction control that seamlessly launches into action when required, and wasted wheelspin is kept to an absolute minimum.
This Wrangler has 242mm ground clearance and a standard wading depth of 760mm, and was never troubled on climbing steep rock steps, traversing deep ruts or punching through mudholes.
It’s supremely sure-footed during low-range work but visibility can be an issue: over-bonnet visibility has improved slightly over previous generations but the driver’s view to the front and side is still a bit squeezed, making it at times difficult to visually pick correct wheel-placement, especially when driving steep terrain at sharp angles.
It can go hardcore, no worries, but it simply requires a bit more thought and you know what? That’s fine with me because it makes the off-roading experience an even more engaging one.
The Overland has approach, departure and breakover angles of 35.8, 31.2 and 20.4 degrees, respectively.
With live axles front and rear, the Overland has plenty of wheel travel to keep moving and under control through truly off-grid country.
The only real compromises in the Overland’s 4x4 set-up are its standard Bridgestone Dueler (255/70R18) highway tyres and, even on those, the Overland walked up and over our toughest off-road challenges.
Though the Overland is not historically regarded as a towing platform, it’s handy for you to know that it has listed towing capacities of 750kg (unbraked trailer) and 2495kg (braked).
Safety
Polestar 2
When it comes to safety the Polestar 2 doesn't quite have the same level of standard features as its parent company Volvo is renowned for.
It has the necessities for a family car, but having to fork out extra for adaptive cruise control feels a bit cheeky.
The update sees some previously optional features come as standard now, such as rear cross-traffic alert, a 360-degree view camera and blind-spot monitoring.
The following safety features come as standard at this grade level - LED daytime running lights, forward collision warning, intelligent seat belt reminders, lane keeping assist, lane departure alert, traffic sign recognition, driver attention monitor, as well as front and rear parking sensors.
The Polestar 2 achieved a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating from testing done in 2021 and has a total of eight airbags, including a drivers' knee airbag and front centre bag.
The autonomous emergency braking with car, pedestrian and cyclist detection is operational from 4.0-85km/h (up to 205km/h for car detection).
If you need to fit a child seat or two (definitely not three), there are ISOFIX child seat mounts on the rear outboard seats and three top tethers.
Jeep WRANGLER UNLIMITED
The Wrangler Overland Unlimited has the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating from testing in 2019.
Standard safety gear onboard includes four airbags (driver and front-seat passenger only), AEB, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning, rear-view camera, and front and rear parking sensors.
Ownership
Polestar 2
The ongoing costs for the Polestar 2 are fantastic because the servicing costs are complimentary for the first five-years or up to 100,000km, whichever occurs first!
Servicing intervals are reasonable at every two years or 30,000km, which is a usual term to see for an EV.
The normal car components are covered by a five-year/unlimited km warranty but the battery is covered by an eight-year or up to 160,000km warranty.
Jeep WRANGLER UNLIMITED
The Overland Unlimited is covered by a five-year/unlimited km warranty.
Servicing is set at 12 month or 12,000km intervals at a total cost of $1995 over five years, with servicing capped at a maximum $399 per appointment.
Lifetime roadside assist is available to Overland owners when they service through Jeep.