The Polestar 4 coupe costs more money than the new Polestar 4 SUV. Yet it gives you less cargo room. It has less rear headroom, too. It doesn’t even have a real rear window. That’s not a typo. Polestar just launched a second body style of its best-selling model. The pricier “upgrade” version is actually the smaller one.
If you’re shopping this brand, you’re probably confused right now. Or maybe you’re just curious why a car company would sell a smaller, pricier variant of its own SUV. Here’s what’s really going on.
What’s actually different between the Polestar 4 SUV and coupe?
The Polestar 4 SUV swaps the coupe’s sloped, windowless rear end for a taller tailgate. It gets an actual glass rear window, too. That single change adds roughly an inch of rear-seat headroom. It also boosts cargo capacity. Under the skin, it’s the same platform, motors, and interior as the coupe.
The original Polestar 4 coupe made headlines back in 2023. It skipped a rear windshield entirely. Instead, it relies on a camera and a screen where your rearview mirror used to be. Reviewers were never thrilled about it. Edmunds testers flagged the lack of a rear window as a real problem, even after months with the car. It remains the coupe’s most polarizing trait.
The SUV fixes that. Polestar says it needed only 48 new parts to pull off the redesign. Most of the car underneath stays untouched.
| Spec | Polestar 4 Coupe | Polestar 4 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Rear window | None (camera + screen) | Standard glass window |
| Cargo, seats folded | 1,536 liters | 1,665 liters |
| Rear headroom | Baseline | +25mm (about 1 inch) |
| Built in | China (Ningbo) | South Korea (Busan) |
| US starting price | $56,400 (Rear Motor) | Not sold in the US |
| Global sales start | 2025 | September 2, 2026 |
Why is the coupe more expensive if it has less room?
In markets where both are sold, the SUV actually undercuts the coupe. It’s roughly $4,600 cheaper in Australia. In the UK, it’s about £2,000 less. So the coupe’s higher price comes from its styling, not extra function. You’re paying a premium for a roofline, not a feature.
That’s the opposite of how most automakers price things. Normally the swoopy “coupe SUV” version costs more than the practical base model. Think BMW X4 versus X3, or Mercedes GLC Coupe versus the regular GLC. Polestar flipped that script for a simple reason. The coupe was the original Polestar 4, launched back in 2023. The SUV is the newer variant, built specifically to fix the coupe’s biggest complaint.
Buyers get to choose looks over cargo room and headroom, or the reverse. The SUV just happens to land cheaper. That’s due to how the two versions are built and priced in each market. It’s not because Polestar is discounting practicality.
Can you even buy a Polestar 4 SUV in the US?
No. The Polestar 4 SUV isn’t coming to America at all. The U.S. Commerce Department barred Polestar from selling new model-year 2027 vehicles under the federal Connected Vehicle Rule. Polestar has decided not to appeal. Instead, it’s focusing its investment on Europe.
That means the only Polestar 4 U.S. shoppers can buy is the original coupe. And that’s only while current inventory lasts. Polestar is already clearing out remaining stock with discounts reportedly reaching $25,000, according to Motor1’s reporting on the exit. If you’ve been eyeing a leftover Polestar, it’s worth reading our breakdown of whether those leftover Polestar deals are worth it before 2027. The brand’s American future is basically over.
Worth noting: Polestar is walking away from the U.S. That makes parts support, warranty service, and resale value bigger question marks than they’d be for a brand sticking around. If you’re weighing an EV purchase against those risks, our guide on whether you should buy an EV in 2026 walks through exactly how to think about that kind of exit risk before you sign.
So which one should you actually buy?
If you live somewhere both versions are sold, buy the SUV. You get more usable space and a proper rear window. You also pay less for it. There’s no real argument for the coupe, unless the swoopier roofline genuinely matters more to you than practicality or price.
For U.S. shoppers, the decision is simpler. There isn’t one. The coupe is what’s available, and only until Polestar’s American dealer network winds down. If the styling and the deep discount appeal to you, it’s not a bad way to get a quick, well-built EV for less than sticker. Just make sure you’re comfortable owning a car from a brand exiting the country. And go in with eyes open about long-term support. Consider cross-shopping resale performance against other EVs in our used EV battery health rankings before you commit.
FAQ
Is the Polestar 4 SUV coming to the United States?
No. Polestar is exiting the U.S. market after the Commerce Department blocked sales of new model-year 2027 vehicles. The SUV variant will never officially arrive here.
Does the Polestar 4 SUV have a rear window?
Yes. Unlike the original coupe, which uses a camera and screen instead of a rear window, the SUV has a standard glass rear window. It also gets a more upright tailgate.
How much cheaper is the Polestar 4 SUV than the coupe?
In markets where both are sold, the SUV costs roughly $4,600 less in Australia. In the UK, it’s about £2,000 less. It also offers more cargo space and rear headroom.
Should I still buy a Polestar 4 coupe in the US?
If you like the styling and can live with the camera-based rearview system, current discounts make it a reasonably priced EV. Just weigh the brand’s US exit against long-term parts and resale support.