2026 Polestar 4 Fixes all the Annoying Bugs

The chic and unique look Polestar provided the Polestar 4 is GT class defining. This handsome hatchback is part SUV, part coupé, and part supercar, but it originally arrived with frustrating flaws that poleaxed its potential. With the 2026 updates, Polestar has answered the critics, refining a package that was visually vibrant but technically temperamental.

The EV drivetrain eschews the frumpy, unlovable looks of the past. Some of the most beautiful cars ever penned now have batteries in their nethers, and Polestar is right at the front of the speed’n’sexy set. It manages to feel futuristic without looking like a science project. More importantly, Polestar avoided the completely insane push for the self-driving trap Tesla has fallen into. AI simply is not ready, and calling it “supervised” seeks only to avoid court cases, not light poles. Our short Tesla self-drive ran a red light—that was enough for me. Code brown moments are one thing, but risking life and licence points are quite another.

The fresh Geely platform is shared by Lynk & Co Z10, Ji Yue 01 and 07, Volvo EM90 and Zeekr 001 and 009s, and the Polestar 4. The Volvo link gives Polestar added Je ne sais quoi as well as the common sense to say, “not yet” to full autonomy. While the updates don’t give the slinky continent-crosser the ability to go it alone, it does make life easier for the people inside. The 2026 changes banish the brain-piercing gongs, make the ride less like a ferry crossing in a cyclone, and sharpen the AI smarts behind the lane assistant.

The most common complaint from the previous model was the steering wheel touch-sliders. These have finally been replaced with proper, physical buttons. There are no more accidental brushes with phantom radio station changes mid-corner. Although newer models in the stable will eventually get 800v architecture, the Polestar 4’s 400v architecture still limits fast charging to 200kW DC. It is close, but no cigar when compared to the ultra-fast charging rivals appearing on the market.

Software updates are sent to the on-board SIM, quietly downloading in the background. That’s almost ubiquitous now, but you know what is as rare as rocking horse poo? EV drivers get the changes spirited in from HQ, update at their leisure, then top up the battery while sipping cocktails. No matter what petrol-loving proselytisers tell you, no petrol car can refuel in the garage while they sleep. The convenience of waking up to a full “tank” and a fruity fresh software interface remains the EV’s greatest “hidden” feature.

Above: This Week’s VIDEO Review –2026 Polestar 4 Fixed the techy Buttons and the sickening Ride

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ABOVE: Polestar 4 Performance

The electrochromic roof is now $500 cheaper. The $2200 option is a complete revelation. The smart glass goes from translucent to clear at the touch of a virtual button. It significantly reduces heat and those nasty UV rays that transform plastics to dust. Those same rays cause skin cancer, something for us Australians to consider seriously.

Our burger with the lot included 1,340 watts of concert hall sound, heated and cooled seats that also rub you up the right way. Then there are the sensuous gold seatbelts and brake callipers that are just there because. The “B ridge of Weir” Nappa leather comes from meat production and is gently tanned with natural products rather than planet-killing carcinogens. Polestar use blockchain to track the ethics of production and provide a reassuring CO2 footprint from cradle to grave. Many of the fixtures and fittings are made with the same ingredients, meaning recycling is less of a nightmare.

Polestar simply must reposition the utterly ludicrous micro-SD dashcam slot to a more conducive spot, one that doesn’t need the dexterity of a gymnast to access. The electric glovebox release is bad enough, but the slot on the upper surface of the glovebox has a rubber cover. You have to open the rubber with one hand and insert the SD with the other, all by feel. It is a rare ergonomic fail in an otherwise brilliant, beautiful, and bolstered cabin.

Other changes include an electronic driver mirror which seems sharper and generally more helpful, even if it remains auto-dimming for some strange reason. Ahead of the Polestar 5 GT, the Polestar 4 remains a luxurious, spacious, fast, and incredibly smart limousine. 3.8 seconds to 100kph is more than enough to be going on with, and it represents slightly better value than the larger Polestar 3.

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