My Polestar 2 test drive was like a dream – but music and coffee lovers won’t be fans of glaring design oversights

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 tweaks.

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I drove the Polestar 2 for five days and was very impressed with its beauty, power, and usability.

I shouldn’t have been surprised by his speed. Polestar has performance in its DNA.

The company was previously the racing brand of Swedish multinational Volvo.

• This story is part of a series of tests carried out by Ben Shimkus, engine reporter for The US Sun.

I tested the car’s acceleration a few times. My foot pressed the gas pedal all the way down and the car’s power pushed my head back into the headrest.

Although acceleration was immediate and exhilarating, the car was mostly serene.

A beautiful panoramic roof replaces the metal roof, allowing light to flow throughout the cabin.

The sun illuminated the patterned Nappa leather seats and the natural colors of the wood.

Polestar combines calming materials with a dash of whimsical character.

Passengers are secured with yellow seat belts. 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 affordable cars for drivers accustomed to gasoline-powered vehicles.

The infotainment system allows drivers to adjust the car’s steering feel, control the amount of braking when releasing the accelerator, and allow the car to move forward at low speeds in traffic.

But the dashboard, powered by Google’s operating systems, doesn’t have wireless Apple CarPlay.

I really missed having the screen mirroring app via the car’s Bluetooth in my test.

My music stopped several times as my phone moved slightly away from the USB-C charger.

Polestar 2 Dual Motor Performance Plus Long Range Review

Ben Shimkus, automotive journalist for The US Sun, tested the Polestar 2. Here are his thoughts:

When I started scheduling this series of reviews, the Polestar 2 was one of the cars that I was most immediately excited about.

It met my high expectations.

I love the exterior of this car. The interior was nice and tidy. The performance is incredible and easily adjustable.

But I think some new touches would give the car a little more comfort.

Pros:

• Design – It’s beautiful inside and out
• Performance – This is a quick issue
• Ease of Use – There are many changeable options for beginner EV drivers
• Storage – A good sized trunk pairs well with a decent frunk
• Seat Belts – They Are So Cool

Cons:

• No wireless Apple CarPlay
• The price is a little high in a segment with expanding players
• Front seat with standard cup holders in a large car is an odd choice

Furthermore, just below the infotainment, the center console only has a standard cup holder.

There is a second cup holder inside the storage compartment, but drivers do without the armrest if passengers have a cup.

Most gasoline-powered cars need to have a bulge in the rear floor to make room for the gear tunnel at the bottom of the car.

EVs do not have a standard shift tunnel, which allows them to use a flat floor and gives rear seat passengers more space.

But Polestar maintains the impact of the floor. If I had a passenger in the middle seat, he would have to share the foot space with the two passengers next to him.

I think the positives outweigh the car’s three design flaws. The powertrain and beauty are too exciting to be marred by a cordless phone or a cup holder.

But I would say that with small changes to the interior, the Polestar could make long trips a little more comfortable for passengers.

Our long-range Dual Motor Performance Plus tester has an MSRP around $60,000.

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