The 2026 Polestar 4 Has No Rear Window, No Key Buttons, and Mood Lighting Named After Planets

Doug DeMuro works through every quirk of the 2026 Polestar 4, starting with the big one: there is no rear window. Polestar removed it entirely, replacing it with a permanent digital rear-view mirror and using the reclaimed space to stretch the interior. The missing glass is not a gimmick. Without the rear window and its associated hardware, Polestar was able to pull the entire interior rearward, maximizing passenger room in a car that otherwise looks like a fastback coupe. The body type debate runs deep. Polestar markets the car as an SUV coupe. At 60 inches tall, it sits two inches above a Toyota Camry and three inches below the Polestar 3, which is a proper crossover. Doug's verdict: it drives and feels like a tall sedan, not an SUV, regardless of what the marketing says. Two trim levels are available. The single-motor rear-wheel-drive base starts at around $58,000 with approximately 275 hp and 310 miles of range. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive version starts around $64,000, makes 535 hp, and runs to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, though range drops to around 275 miles. The test car, fully equipped, came in at just over $80,000. Highlights from the interior: the infotainment screen is large, responsive, and genuinely well laid out. Ambient lighting modes are named after planets, Neptune being one example, and they shift the interior light color accordingly. The key fob is a small square with zero buttons. Walk up to the car, and it should recognize you and pop the door handles out automatically. The center console has a single play/pause button with a volume ring surrounding it. The rear seat is spacious for a car this size, with power reclining backrests, a touchscreen for climate and audio control, and lit USB-C ports. Shortcomings worth noting: all climate adjustments except temperature require going through the infotainment screen. There is no household power outlet anywhere in the car, only a 12-volt port in the cargo area. The rear seats cannot be folded from the cargo area. Ride quality is a touch firm for the price, likely a byproduct of tuning toward the performance dual-motor setup. DougScore: 64 out of 100.