They call it an SUV. It isn’t

By Gary S. Vasilash

In December 2025 Polestar began deliveries of its striking Polestar 4 in the US. As an indication of just how global the auto industry is, know that the Polestar 4 comes from a company headquartered in Sweden that is owned by a company based in China and the vehicle available in the US is made in a plant in South Korea.

Polestar, it must be acknowledged, isn’t particularly well known in the United States. Outside enthusiasts—and they might have to be electric vehicle enthusiasts, because that’s what Polestar has on offer in its showrooms—it is pretty much a stealth brand. But the Polestar 4 is anything but a stealth vehicle because it is gorgeous inside and out.

It is considered to be a an “SUV coupe,” and the SUV part of it is probably a label given to it by the Polestar Marketing Department because the global vehicle market is increasingly interested in SUVs, so given that there is the Polestar 3 that is SUVish, the company needs more SUV product to proffer.

But the thing: the ground clearance of the Polestar 4 is 6.5 inches in the front and 7.3 inches in the back* (a clue that this vehicle dives toward the front). An SUV like a Honda Passport has a ground clearance of 8.3 inches. Or a Subaru Outback at 8.7 inches. Or a Jeep Grand Cherokee at 10.9 inches (with air suspension).

That’s not what people think of when they think “SUV.”

What’s more, just look at that roofline: coupe-like, yes; SUV, no.

And that roofline leads to an unusual feature of the Polestar 4: There is no rear window. None.

It is worth noting that the roof is full-length glass, so it isn’t like one is in some sort of cocoon.

And it is said that because of that panoramic glass roof (no headliner), a low floor due to the EV powertrain, and the elimination of that back glass there is more rear headroom than would otherwise be the case: 37.8 inches for those in the back (a possibility of three back there, but more likely two). (For those in the front, 40.2 inches.)

So how do you see what’s behind you?

There is a video image appearing in the rearview mirror.

The Polestar 4 is nothing if not camera-centric: 4 short-range cameras, providing a 360º view; 1 rearview HD camera;2 forward-facing HD cameras behind windshield; 4 side-view HD cameras; 1 driver-monitoring camera in A-pillar.

While I am not going to get all huffy about the inability to look over one’s shoulder while backing up (there is a horizontally oriented 15.4-inch infotainment screen that provides real-time views of what’s what while in reverse), I will acknowledge that there were a few instances when driving west in the morning there was a less-than-sharp image in the mirror because the sun was shining on the lens.

While this probably wouldn’t be a deal-breaker for a well-appointed EV that has a starting MSRP of $72,900 (for the dual-motor, Pilot Plus and Performance packages**) that has a zero to 60 time of 3.7 seconds.

But it is something to consider.

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*As for the rest of the specs:

• Wheelbase: 118 inches
• Length: 190.5 inches
• Height: 60.4 inches
• Width: 79.1 inches

**The Pilot package adds things like Pilot assist, which combines adaptive cruise control with lane centering. The Performance package brings Brembo four-piston calipers, active dampers, and exceedingly nice touches including gold valve stem caps that are sizeable enough to be noticed poking out of the 22-inch forged alloy wheels.