Rear windows let you see what's behind you and keep the cabin bright, but the Polestar 4 trades glass for gadgets.

It has done so quietly and without melodrama, but with so many manufacturers dialing back on their commitment to all-electric ...

Naturally, no rear window means no rear-view mirror. Instead, Polestar is replacing a rear-view mirror with a high-def screen that broadcasts real-time footage from a camera mounted on the roof.

POLESTAR 2 FLIPS MOTORS, EXTENDS RANGE FOR 2024 The Polestar 4 has no rear window. (Polestar) Instead, there is a full glass sunroof that extends over the heads of the rear passengers.

“Hey, just a heads up, if you drive a 2023 Honda HR-V, do not use the rear defrost,” a voiceover on the video says. “Apparently, it clears your window by shattering it. Good luck.” ...

The rear glass may be as large as 7 to 10 square feet. Lowering the rear vertical sliding window allows it to be fully or partially contained within the void space and managed with less equipment.