THE Polestar 2 is a handsome fellow with a dreamy, luxurious interior and exciting road manners. It's also a direct shot at the EV consumer-dominant Tesla Model 3. The sales pitch would be even better with a few quick tune-ups.
I drove the Polestar 2 for five days and was highly impressed with its beauty, power, and usability. I shouldn't have been surprised by its speed. Polestar has performance in its DNA.
The company was formerly the racer brand of the Swedish multinational manufacturer Volvo . I tested the car's acceleration a few times. My foot pressed the accelerator pedal to the max, and the car's power thrust my head back into the headrest.
While the acceleration was immediate and exciting, the car was mostly serene. A gorgeous panoramic roof replaces metal on the ceiling, allowing light to stream throughout the cabin. Sun illuminated the patterned Nappa leather seats and natural wood colors.
Polestar blends the calming materials with a dash of whimsical character. Passengers are strapped in with yellow seatbelts. The center console and door panels are intentionally closer to the driver to give the feel of a sports car cockpit.
The Polestar 2 is one of the most accessible cars to transition into for drivers used to gas-powered vehicles. The infotainment system allows drivers to adjust the car's steering feel, control the amount of braking when releasing the accelerator, and enable the car to creep forward at low speeds in traffic. But the dash, powered by Google opera.
