Image credit: https://media.polestar.com/
When it comes to choosing your next car, especially an electric one, safety often tops the list of priorities. After all, performance and design may turn heads, but it is peace of mind that truly wins hearts. The Polestar 4, the newest addition to the Swedish electric performance brand’s lineup, has just been awarded a prestigious five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. That puts it in excellent company, alongside the Polestar 2 and Polestar 3, both of which have already achieved the same recognition.
But what exactly does this rating mean for everyday drivers? Why should you care about an 86% overall score or terms like “adult occupant protection” and “safety assist”? And how does this recognition place Polestar in the broader world of electric vehicles?
This blog takes a deep dive into these questions, breaking down the significance of Euro NCAP, analyzing Polestar 4’s test results, exploring its advanced safety technologies, and examining what this achievement means for the future of EVs.
Understanding Euro NCAP and Why It Matters
For more than two decades, Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) has been setting the benchmark for car safety in Europe and influencing standards globally. Since its launch in 1997, Euro NCAP has provided independent crash-test results that consumers can trust when comparing vehicles.
The program evaluates cars across four core areas:
- Adult Occupant Protection: How well does the vehicle protect the driver and adult passengers in a crash?
- Child Occupant Protection: How effectively does it safeguard children using child seats or boosters?
- Vulnerable Road Users: How safe is the car for pedestrians and cyclists who might be struck?
- Safety Assist: How advanced and reliable are the driver-assistance technologies designed to prevent accidents?
Each vehicle is put through rigorous crash simulations, including frontal impacts, side pole strikes, and pedestrian impact tests. Only those cars that achieve high scores across all categories are awarded the coveted five-star rating.
Importantly, Euro NCAP’s standards evolve over time. What earned five stars a decade ago would not necessarily pass today. With each passing year, the organization tightens its protocols, incorporating more advanced crash-avoidance technology into its criteria. That means a modern five-star rating is more valuable than ever before.
For drivers, this rating is more than just a number. It signals trust, reliability, and the assurance that a car has been tested under extreme conditions to replicate real-world scenarios.
Breaking Down the Polestar 4’s Results
So how did the Polestar 4 perform? In short, it excelled across the board. Let’s look at the details:
- Overall rating: Five stars with an impressive 86% overall score.
- Adult Occupant Protection: Scored 92%, one of the highest marks in the current round of tests. The Polestar 4 received maximum points in side barrier and side pole impact tests, showcasing its ability to protect passengers even in severe collisions.
- Child Occupant Protection: Achieved 85%. Euro NCAP commended Polestar 4 for its strong performance in frontal offset and side barrier crash tests, ensuring high levels of protection for younger passengers.
- Vulnerable Road Users: Scored 81%, reflecting strong pedestrian and cyclist safety features. This is critical as cities move toward more shared mobility environments where vehicles interact closely with non-drivers.
- Safety Assist: Received 79%, a solid score for advanced driver support systems that help avoid accidents before they happen.
These numbers put the Polestar 4 in elite territory. Not only did it meet the tough standards of Euro NCAP, it exceeded expectations in key areas that matter most to families and urban drivers.
Advanced Safety Features in the Polestar 4
What makes these scores possible is a suite of sophisticated safety systems. The Polestar 4 isn’t just built to withstand crashes, it’s engineered to avoid them.
- Comprehensive airbag system: The Polestar 4 comes with seven airbags, including inner side airbags designed to reduce injuries between occupants during a collision. This innovative approach helps protect passengers from secondary impacts within the cabin.
- Automatic emergency response: The built-in E-call system automatically notifies emergency services in the event of a severe accident, ensuring help arrives faster when every second counts.
- Driver assistance and awareness: With an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), the car uses 11 exterior cameras, one driver monitoring camera, a mid-range radar, and 12 ultrasonic sensors to constantly track its surroundings. Whether it is detecting vehicles in blind spots, monitoring driver fatigue, or automatically intervening in dangerous situations, the Polestar 4 is designed to step in when humans might slip up.
- A new take on rear visibility: Instead of a traditional rear window, the Polestar 4 employs a roof-mounted rear-view camera. This provides a wider, clearer field of vision, particularly in low-light conditions or when the car is fully loaded with luggage or passengers.
Together, these features create a safety net that extends beyond crash protection. They actively reduce the likelihood of accidents, making driving both more secure and less stressful.
Completing the Five-Star Polestar Lineup
The Polestar 4’s recognition is more than just a single success story. It represents the final piece of a consistent pattern across the brand’s core lineup.
- The Polestar 2 received its five-star Euro NCAP rating in 2021, earning praise for its robust occupant protection.
- The Polestar 3 followed earlier this year, setting a new benchmark in child occupant safety with a remarkable 93% score.
- Now the Polestar 4 completes the trio, giving buyers confidence that no matter which model they choose, they are investing in one of the safest EVs on the market.
This consistency is crucial. In a competitive EV market where new brands are emerging rapidly, consumers often ask: “Can I trust this manufacturer?” Polestar’s lineup of five-star-rated cars provides a clear answer. Safety is not an afterthought for the brand; it is embedded in its DNA.
What This Means for the EV Industry
The significance of the Polestar 4’s rating goes beyond a single model. It reflects broader shifts in the automotive industry, especially as electric vehicles become mainstream.
- Rising consumer expectations: Drivers are no longer satisfied with EVs that just offer long range or fast charging. Safety has become a central expectation, and brands that fail to meet these standards risk losing trust.
- Competitive pressure: When a relatively young brand like Polestar consistently delivers five-star safety ratings, it forces established automakers to raise their game. The result is safer cars for everyone.
- Integration of safety and technology: EVs often come with more advanced sensor suites and computing power than traditional cars. Polestar’s safety assist systems show how these technologies can be harnessed to protect not just passengers, but also pedestrians and cyclists.
- EV adoption drivers: For many buyers still hesitant about going electric, safety can be the deciding factor. Knowing that an EV is as safe, if not safer, than a petrol or diesel equivalent helps accelerate adoption.
Polestar’s Bigger Vision
Michael Lohscheller, CEO of Polestar, summed it up well: “As the most recent car in our current lineup to achieve this top award, the Polestar 4 continues to demonstrate our commitment to make amongst the safest performance cars you can buy. And for our customers, they can enjoy the peace of mind that no matter which Polestar they choose it’s one of the safest cars, not just EVs, on the market.”
This commitment is part of Polestar’s broader strategy. Beyond safety, the company is investing heavily in sustainability, design, and innovation. Upcoming models like the Polestar 5 GT, Polestar 6 roadster, and Polestar 7 compact SUV will continue to expand the lineup, while Polestar remains on track to halve its per-vehicle greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieve full climate neutrality by 2040.
By combining sustainability with uncompromising safety, Polestar is shaping the next chapter of premium electric mobility.
Safety and Innovation for UAE Drivers
In the UAE, driving conditions present unique challenges. Long highways connecting Emirates, high-speed traffic, and hot weather all put cars and drivers to the test. In such an environment, safety is not just about meeting regulations it is about ensuring families, commuters, and professional drivers can travel with confidence every day.
A five-star Euro NCAP rating means the Polestar 4 has been tested under some of the most demanding scenarios and proven itself among the safest cars available. For families in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, the strong child occupant protection scores offer reassurance on school runs and weekend trips. Meanwhile, advanced driver-assist systems make city driving smoother and long inter-emirate journeys safer. At MotorHub, we connect UAE drivers with trusted workshops equipped to handle the latest EV technology, including advanced driver assistance calibration, sensor maintenance, and EV battery health checks. As Polestar cements its place among the safest carmakers, it is clear that premium EVs are no longer
