Polestar and Oxford Study Measures Driver Physiological Response to Performance
Researchers found the 544 hp Polestar 4 required 15% less steering effort than the 268 hp version during matched laps.
Polestar and the University of Oxford’s SDG Impact Lab have published findings from a pilot study that used biometric data to quantify how drivers perceive vehicle performance. The research compared two versions of the Polestar 4, tracking physiological responses such as heart rate and eye movement alongside vehicle telemetry.
What Happened
The study took place at the Gotland Ring in Sweden, where 12 drivers operated two variants of the Polestar 4: the 268 hp Rear motor model and the 544 hp Dual motor model with the Performance pack. Researchers equipped participants with eye trackers and heart-rate monitors to log data during both calm and dynamic driving conditions. The results indicated that on matched fast laps, the Performance pack version delivered 32% higher peak acceleration while requiring 15% less steering effort than the Rear motor variant. Additionally, the Performance version logged more hard-acceleration events and pulled bigger cornering loads.
Why It Matters
The findings suggest that higher performance does not necessarily translate to increased physical workload for the driver. In the study, drivers rated the Performance version significantly higher on experiential quality (93.0 out of 100) compared to the Rear motor version (77.9). During dynamic driving, participants exhibited physiological signs of deeper attention, including reduced blinking and pupil dilation. Interviews revealed that drivers associated the Performance car with a sense of confidence and control, with several describing the sensation as a "controlled roller coaster." Max Klapow, a doctoral researcher at the Oxford SDG Impact Lab, noted that performance is "not simply about going faster" but about providing predictable vehicle responses that enhance driver confidence.
The Bottom Line
Researchers characterize this work as a feasibility pilot, noting that a larger study is required to establish the reliability and validity of these specific metrics. The study was conducted with a small sample of 12 participants using Polestar’s own vehicles. For US consumers, the context includes the brand’s current regulatory landscape, as Polestar is barred from selling new cars in the US starting with the 2027 model year under connected vehicle rules, shifting its focus toward Europe.
