Should you buy one?

If you’re looking specifically for a beautiful PHEV with killer performance and handling, then yes – otherwise you may want to look elsewhere. In many ways, the Polestar 1 is a hard car to recommend when compared with similarly priced rivals such as the Bentley Continental GT and Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe. Thanks to its unique suspension setup, it’s not as comfortable as either, nor does it have the ability to switch between settings at the touch of a button (a key part of the modern GT car).

This wouldn’t be an issue if the suspension could provide an ideal mix between a comfort and sharpness in its standard guise, yet, of course, it can’t – hence why all majors rivals use adaptive suspension. The interior is another point of contention. It works well and feels like a pleasant place to sit, but since many of the parts are from Volvos that cost a third of the price, it could reasonably be argued that it’s not special enough for a £140,000 car. Practicality, too, is poor compared with the aforementioned rivals.

However, that doesn’t mean you should completely discount the Polestar. For starters, it’s going to be incredibly exclusive with only 1,500 units made. The handling and performance are also genuinely exceptional and enough to give the Continental GT a run for its money. And then, there’s perhaps the biggest reason you might want to buy the 1. It’s powertrain.

If you discount the aging BMW i8, the Polestar 1 is the only two-door GT car to offer a plug-in hybrid element, with nothing on the market (in any sector) capable of more miles on electric power alone. Therefore, you could quite easily drive the 1 on electric power only during the week (even if you have a 70-mile round trip to work) and then deploy the devasting performance on weekends.

Such a car won’t be for everyone, yet if it works for you, the Polestar 1 is in a class of its own. More direct rivals will almost certainly follow (and also be available in right-hand drive, unlike the Polestar), yet for now the 1’s appeal is as strong as it is niche.