The Luxury EV That Now Costs Less Than A New CorollaQQQQQQ1q
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The Luxury EV That Now Costs Less Than A New Corolla
That's a pain that well-heeled folks are willing to sacrifice when buying a brand-new luxury EV. After all, these are the same folks who have the money and resources to remain at the forefront of automotive tech. On the other end of the spectrum, you, as the bargain hunter, can greatly benefit from a luxury EV's freefalling resale values. The question now is, is there a catch in owning a used, highly-depreciated EV?
Actually, not a lot, as you'll find out. That's especially true when you compare it to what ICE or hybrid you can buy brand-new for the price of this used, cutting-edge luxury EV. In fact, let's use a $22,325 Toyota Corolla--one of America's most affordable new cars today--as a reference point, and you'll probably reconsider what vehicle you should go for with that amount of money.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including iSeeCars.
2022 Polestar 2: Cutting-Edge Luxury For Less Than $26,000
Wait, you know what, this luxury EV that we're talking about has an average resale value that starts at $25,997 according to iSeeCars. So yes, for less than the price of a brand-new Corolla, you can get a luxurious, tech-filled, and far more advanced 2022 Polster 2. The Polestar 2 is one of the first wave of Tesla fighters that arrived in the luxury EV scene in the early 2020s, and thanks to the magic of depreciation, you can get one for less than a brand-new 2025 Toyota Corolla LE.
Easy To Find A 2021 Model For Under $20,000
Take a look at the Polestar 2 listings at iSeeCars, and you'll see that, while most are hovering in the $25,000-$30,000 range, it's also pretty easy to find a 2021 model year vehicle for under $20,000. In fact, for that amount of coin, early model year Polestar 2s are pretty much fully loaded, since all came with the Launch Edition version for $61,200, though optional add-ons like 20-inch wheels (19s are standard) and Nappa Leather upholstery were available at the time.
How Its Prices Fare Versus Other EVs
To make the comparison fair and square, we compare the Polestar 2's five-year depreciation rather than their outright values. That's because a luxury EV's size and class positioning also play a role in determining how much it costs. Of course, a Polestar 2 will be more affordable than a BMW i7, but in terms of percentage loss, some luxury EVs in reality fare better than others. Without further ado, among luxury electric passenger cars in 2025, here's how the Polestar 2 stacks up.
The Various Updates To The Polestar 2
The Polestar 2, like many luxury EVs, received incremental and huge updates over its lifecycle. The electric luxury crossover sedan debuted in 2021, while a 2024 mid-cycle facelift fundamentally made the Polestar 2 a compelling Model 3 rival, as it got more efficient EV drivetrains and new batteries to finally offer competitive range versus what Tesla is pumping out.
2021-2023 Updates
By 2022, a new, front-wheel drive (FWD) version was introduced. It enabled the Polestar 2 to have a base price of $47,200, while the more efficient drivetrain increased its range to 270 miles. The Polestar 2 Dual Motor also sees a price drop from $61,200 a year before to $51,200. Thanks to a paid and optional over-the-air (OTA) update, the Polestar 2 Dual Motor also got a power bump. Output can be raised from 408 to 476 horses, and 487 pound-feet to 502 pound-feet of torque. A free OTA for the Dual Motor, however, came in the form of increased range, which raised its EPA-estimated range from 233 miles to 249 miles. Finally, in 2023, another update was made to the Polestar 2, giving the Dual Motor AWD an additional 11 miles of EPA-estimated range.
2024-Present Updates
Finally, in 2025, the trim structure has been simplified, now coming in as a fully-loaded Long Range with Performance Pack variant. It comes with 469 horses, along with the 82 kWh battery from the RWD model. As a result, its range drops to 254 miles despite the bigger battery, while a massive price jump brings its price to $66,200. It also gets every single optional extra as standard, but for traditional EV buyers, the appeal of the Polestar 2 becomes much more limited since range is always the biggest selling point.
What You Get In A Polestar 2
Regardless of which model year you choose, there's something in common in every Polestar 2. Don't overthink about packages and features too much, because whichever way the Polestar 2 is configured, you get a stylish electric luxury sedan with crossover proportions and a minimalist premium interior.
Sedan With Crossover Genes
Comfort With A Degree Of Sportiness
Finally, as for the driving experience, though this is a newer model car, most of what we experienced here is carried over from older models. As an EV brand with a sporting history as Volvo's performance sub-brand, the Polestar 2 blends comfort and refinement with a degree of athleticism. Models with the Performance Package's Öhlins dampers definitely make the car feel sportier and corner flatter, but their manual adjustability is a hassle rather than a pleasure to have.
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