Polestar is finally giving the Polestar 4 something it lacked: a rear window
The car that removed the rear window is putting it back
Here is a rare thing: a carmaker adding a feature back that it deliberately took away. Polestar is teasing a new version of the Polestar 4 that restores an actual rear window, quietly addressing one of the most talked-about quirks of the original. Sometimes, it turns out, the old ways are the best.
Remember the no-window Polestar 4?
When the Polestar 4 arrived, its headline talking point was what it did not have: a rear window. In its place, Polestar fitted a roof-mounted camera feeding a digital rear-view mirror, freeing up head room for rear passengers. It was clever and futuristic, but plenty of drivers found the camera mirror unintuitive, particularly when reversing and parking, where a simple pane of glass is hard to beat.
What's changing
The new variant Polestar is teasing swaps the sloping, glass-free tail for a straighter rear hatch with a proper window, restoring conventional over-the-shoulder visibility and making the car much easier to park. Intriguingly, those who have seen test cars reckon the reshaped rear gives it a look that suits a wagon more than an SUV, which, as committed estate fans, only makes us more curious. Underneath it carries over the Polestar 4's 400-volt platform, with single rear-motor or dual-motor all-wheel-drive options expected to remain.
Still to be fully revealed
For now this is a teaser rather than a full unveiling, so treat the finer details with a little caution until Polestar shows the finished car and confirms the specifics. What is clear is the direction: Polestar has listened to feedback and is giving buyers the option of a more practical, easier-to-live-with Polestar 4. Full details, including range, pricing and exact body style naming, are still to come.
AutoNext Take
We have a lot of time for this. The original Polestar 4's missing rear window was a bold design flourish, but boldness is not much comfort when you are trying to reverse into a tight space and squinting at a laggy screen. A brand quietly admitting that some drivers just want a window, and giving them one, is refreshingly humble and genuinely useful. The bonus is that the reworked tail apparently leans more wagon than SUV, and you know how we feel about that. We will hold final judgement until the full reveal, but on the face of it, this is Polestar making a good car more usable. It is another sign of the Geely group's breadth, from this to sister brand Zeekr acing the new Euro NCAP test, though Polestar has had a bumpier ride lately after pulling out of the US. And if it really is wagon-shaped, it joins a good run of estates lately, from the Dacia Striker to that gorgeous Ferrari Daytona shooting brake.
