# Polestar 5 — Used Car Buying Guide

AutoScout's analysis of the Polestar 5 on the UK used-car market. Backed by 33 million DVSA MOT tests, current AutoTrader pricing, and depreciation curves derived from CAP/Glass's Guide data.

Live interactive report: https://autoscout.fyi/cars/polestar-5

## Verdict

- **Best value year**: 2023
- **Ideal trim**: Long Range Dual Motor
- **Target mileage**: 30,000–40,000 miles
- **Max previous owners**: 2
- **Target price**: £80,000

## Why this model

⚠️ Limited UK data — Polestar only arrived in the UK in 2020, so we have fewer MOT tests and less resale history than established brands. It's important to note that the Polestar 5 is a future model, expected to launch around 2025. This analysis is based on a hypothetical scenario where a 2023 model is available on the used market in early 2026, using the provided price anchor. Polestar, a Swedish-Chinese EV brand co-owned by Volvo and Geely, is known for its performance-oriented electric vehicles. The Polestar 5 is set to be a flagship electric GT saloon, showcasing cutting-edge design and high performance. It's designed in Sweden and manufactured in China, benefiting from Volvo's engineering expertise and Geely's global scale. Choosing a Polestar 5 would mean getting a very exclusive, high-tech, and powerful EV with a focus on driving dynamics and premium features.

## What you should pay

Based on the provided market anchor, a hypothetical 2023 Polestar 5 with around 30,000-40,000 miles would be expected to sell for approximately £80,000. However, as this model is not yet officially released, this price comes with a significant uncertainty band of ±20%, meaning you might see prices ranging from £64,000 to £96,000. This car is a high-performance electric GT, so it commands a premium. It features a substantial 100kWh usable liquid-cooled battery, which is excellent for longevity and rapid charging. Expected degradation is around 1.8% per year, so a 3-year-old model would still have excellent battery health, likely around 94-95% State of Health.

## Which trim to buy

The 'Long Range Dual Motor' trim is likely to be the core offering for the Polestar 5, providing an excellent balance of performance, range, and standard features. As a flagship GT, even the base model is expected to be very well-equipped with premium materials, advanced infotainment, and comprehensive driver assistance systems. Opting for this trim means you get the full Polestar 5 experience without necessarily needing to stretch for a 'Performance Pack' which might only add minor aesthetic or marginal performance gains for a significant price jump.

## What to check before you buy

- As a very new and high-performance model, specific common faults aren't established. However, potential areas to watch out for with any new, high-tech EV include: software glitches (ensure all updates are applied), rapid tyre wear due to high torque and weight, and the availability/cost of specialist bodywork repairs. Also, Polestar's UK service network is still expanding, so check local service options.

## Running costs

Running an electric car like the Polestar 5 can be very cost-effective, especially if you charge at home. Using a standard home electricity rate (around 24.5p/kWh), you'd be looking at about 10.1p per mile, which works out to roughly £1012 per year for 10,000 miles. However, if you switch to a smart EV tariff like Octopus Go or Intelligent Octopus (around 9p/kWh overnight), this drops significantly to about 3.7p per mile, or just £372 per year for 10,000 miles – a huge saving of £640 annually! Public rapid chargers are much more expensive (29.2–35.4p/mile), so try to avoid relying on them for daily use. Road tax for EVs is free until April 2025, after which it will be £195 per year. Due to its high performance, premium status, and high new value, insurance costs for the Polestar 5 are expected to be in the highest groups, making it quite expensive to insure. Maintenance costs are generally lower for EVs than petrol cars, but specialist servicing will be required, and high-performance tyres can be costly.

## Key stats

- **Fuel Type**: Electric
- **Horsepower**: 884 hp
- **Mpg**: 2.4 mi/kWh
- **Reliability Score**: Developing (new model)
- **Safety Rating**: 5-star Euro NCAP (expected)

## Trim comparison

| Trim | Price new | Price used | Key features |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Long Range Dual Motor | £95,000 | £80,000 | 100kWh battery; Dual motor AWD; 884 hp |
| Performance Pack | £105,000 | £88,000 | All 'Long Range Dual Motor' features; Performance brakes; Sport-tuned suspension |
| Standard | £85,000 | £72,000 | Slightly smaller battery (hypothetical); Single motor RWD (hypothetical); Reduced horsepower (hypothetical) |

## Depreciation forecast

| Year | Estimated value | Retention |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2026 | £80,000 | 0% |
| 2027 | £70,000 | 12.5% |
| 2028 | £60,000 | 25% |
| 2029 | £52,000 | 35% |
| 2030 | £45,000 | 43.75% |

Luxury and high-performance EVs like the Polestar 5 tend to experience significant depreciation in their initial years, especially as new technology emerges. The sweet spot for buying might be around 3-4 years old, where the steepest part of the depreciation curve has passed, but the car still benefits from modern tech and good battery health. However, as this is a new model, its long-term depreciation is still speculative.

Total value lost since new: 43.75%.

## Alternatives to consider

- [Porsche Taycan](https://autoscout.fyi/cars/porsche-taycan.md)
- [Audi e-tron GT](https://autoscout.fyi/cars/audi-e-tron-gt.md)
- Mercedes-AMG EQE

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Source: AutoScout (https://autoscout.fyi). Part of a review of the UK used-car market across 500+ models.