- New flagship model for Polestar in NZ.
- Polestar 5 has Porsche Taycan in its sights.
- Top Performance hits 10km/h in 3.2sec, boasts 1015Nm.
A quarter of a million dollars is a lot of money. But it's still only just enough for Kiwi buyers to secure the entry-level version of the new Polestar 5 luxury sedan/fastback/coupe thingy. As is often the case with Polestar, we've not super-clear exactly what it is.
It's a flagship car for the brand and a high-end sports/luxury EV that tackles the Porsche Taycan head on. If you doubt that, check out the Taycan-homage alloy wheels on the white 5 pictured here.
Polestar 5 is now on sale in New Zealand at $239,900 for the 550kW/812Nm dual motor and $269,900 for the 650kW/1015Nm Performance model, although customer deliveries won't start until March 2027.
Both models can hit 100km/h in less than 4 seconds: 3.9 for the dual motor and 3.2 for the Performance.
"The role of the 5 is to act as a brand halo and demonstrate what Polestar is capable of from a design, engineering and performance perspective," says Polestar NZ country manager Daile Stephens.
“It ain't cheap," says Polestar brand expert Bruce Fowler. "But when you look at the vehicle, get a chance to drive it, it really does hold its own in the grand tourer segment. We know it hasn’t got Porsche brand value, but bums on seats sells cars, as the old saying goes.”
That segment includes the likes of the Taycan ($243,000-$512,000), Audi e-tron GT ($235,900-$295,990) and BMW M5 ($247,400). Not to mention the Lotus Emeya ($224,900-$279,900) - like the Polestar 5, from the Geely stable of brands and under the same NordEast distribution group in NZ.
NordEast is also part of the Giltrap Group network, which distributes both Porsche and Audi. So it seems to have everything covered...
You could make an argument that the 5 is actually the first pure Polestar: it's based on a new platform developed in the UK specifically for the brand. All previous Polestar models have been built on architecture shared with other Geely brands, in one way or another.
It features an 800-volt electrical system and can charge at up to 350kW on a compatible DC station. Range is 678km for the dual motor and 558km for the Performance.
The 5 is derived form the Polestar Precept concept of 2020. The dramatic styling has made it through to production in very similar form, save structural changes such as the shift from rear-hinged rear doors to conventional openings.
