Tesla, Polestar or Audi
Discussion
I have a 71-plate Polestar 2 Dual Motor, I like it a lot. It's decent to drive, feels very responsive and good body control, obviously quick with 470hp. Seats are great, interior is a nice place to be. If you're ordering new I think they all now come with most of the features as standard (Plus and Pilot packs).
Downsides are the ride is a bit firm (tbh it stopped bothering me after about six weeks) and the rear seats aren't the most spacious. Efficiency is meh, post-facelift models are a bit better but not as good as Teslas I believe.
Overall it's a really nice daily.
No experience of the others but I'd point out that the Model 3 is a four-door saloon vs the others being five-door hatchbacks; this ruled it out of my consideration although it may not be an issue for you.
I test drove all 3 about a month ago (although 3-4 year old used) and settled on the Model 3. All of them have positives and negatives, so it really depends on your use case. I was between the Polestar and Model 3 but just tried a Q4 out of interest as there was one on site at the time.
The Audi was the most spacious and I think looks good in the right trim level. Some bits of the interior felt really cheap though and it came with the fewest toys as standard. Also the shortest range, but not too much in it between it in 40 guise and the Polestar long range. I never drove a Skoda Enyaq but it's apparently the better of these VAG siblings (Q4, VW ID4, etc).
Polestar interior is fantastic. Everything feels rock solid and well made. Same budget as the Q4 and Model 3 got a Long Range Single Motor Plus Pack one which had loads more kit (upgraded stereo, pan roof, upgraded seats, etc). Central screen and dash are excellent. It drove well but a bit on the firm side due to it's heft - not a deal breaker for me though. Interior felt hugely cramped - like a real inverse tardis. I quite liked it in the front as it has the cockpit vibe, but 2 teen kids and a dog seat to fit in the rear ruled it out as it was just too cramped - inexplicably mahoosive redundant transmission tunnel running through the middle. Boot was surprisingly small too for the size of car. I drove a Volvo V40 to the test drive and that feels hugely more spacious inside. Would possibly go for the electric Volvo XC40 the Polestar shares a platform with if that's an option.
Model 3 Long Range dual motor that I went for was kind of the midpoint of the two and just made the most sense. Interior materials not up to the standard of the Polestar (or even my 2016 V40 for that matter!), but probably better overall than the Q4. Much more space for a family than the Polestar, but seats not quite as comfy. Bigger boot too. And obviously comfortably the most efficient and best range. Central control screen is excellent, although takes some getting used to finding all the controls! Things that came on the Polestar Plus Pack are standard on the Tesla (except the stereo). 4.2 seconds to 0-60 still making me giggle!
If I was single or just me and the missus then I would almost certainly have gone Polestar
The Audi was the most spacious and I think looks good in the right trim level. Some bits of the interior felt really cheap though and it came with the fewest toys as standard. Also the shortest range, but not too much in it between it in 40 guise and the Polestar long range. I never drove a Skoda Enyaq but it's apparently the better of these VAG siblings (Q4, VW ID4, etc).
Polestar interior is fantastic. Everything feels rock solid and well made. Same budget as the Q4 and Model 3 got a Long Range Single Motor Plus Pack one which had loads more kit (upgraded stereo, pan roof, upgraded seats, etc). Central screen and dash are excellent. It drove well but a bit on the firm side due to it's heft - not a deal breaker for me though. Interior felt hugely cramped - like a real inverse tardis. I quite liked it in the front as it has the cockpit vibe, but 2 teen kids and a dog seat to fit in the rear ruled it out as it was just too cramped - inexplicably mahoosive redundant transmission tunnel running through the middle. Boot was surprisingly small too for the size of car. I drove a Volvo V40 to the test drive and that feels hugely more spacious inside. Would possibly go for the electric Volvo XC40 the Polestar shares a platform with if that's an option.
Model 3 Long Range dual motor that I went for was kind of the midpoint of the two and just made the most sense. Interior materials not up to the standard of the Polestar (or even my 2016 V40 for that matter!), but probably better overall than the Q4. Much more space for a family than the Polestar, but seats not quite as comfy. Bigger boot too. And obviously comfortably the most efficient and best range. Central control screen is excellent, although takes some getting used to finding all the controls! Things that came on the Polestar Plus Pack are standard on the Tesla (except the stereo). 4.2 seconds to 0-60 still making me giggle!
If I was single or just me and the missus then I would almost certainly have gone Polestar
Edited by ilikejam on Friday 17th April 13:20
PushedDover said:
Doing many miles OP, and needing to charge away from Home?
I would say that would have a big influence.
Polestar will be the nicest place, the Tesla the better car.
25-30k per year business miles one up+ another 10k odd knocking about the doors personal usually with 1 front seat passenger. I would say that would have a big influence.
Polestar will be the nicest place, the Tesla the better car.
Lots of mile munching motorway trips from Central Scotland down to Yorkshire, Manchester Liverpool and E Midlands.
Tannedbaldhead said:
PushedDover said:
Doing many miles OP, and needing to charge away from Home?
I would say that would have a big influence.
Polestar will be the nicest place, the Tesla the better car.
25-30k per year business miles one up+ another 10k odd knocking about the doors personal usually with 1 front seat passenger. I would say that would have a big influence.
Polestar will be the nicest place, the Tesla the better car.
Lots of mile munching motorway trips from Central Scotland down to Yorkshire, Manchester Liverpool and E Midlands.
I have never had to queue for one, ever. All other chargers seem a ball ache.
Tesla will be cheapest and easiest to charge, most efficient, fastest, most reliable and by far the best app and media system. I found tesla seats uncomfortable though (and I'm not exactly a fat f
k), it ain't no lexus. Wasn't a problem for me as did less than 10k a year, but if I was sat in it for 30k, I'd probably go elsewhere. Is the lexus rz 550e on the list?
I believe the M3 now comes with indicator stalks. A feature that should never have been taken out!
k), it ain't no lexus. Wasn't a problem for me as did less than 10k a year, but if I was sat in it for 30k, I'd probably go elsewhere. Is the lexus rz 550e on the list? I believe the M3 now comes with indicator stalks. A feature that should never have been taken out!
My Polestar has been great and I'd happily have another but it's quite spec dependent. Mine has every option and for lots of motorway driving I'd not go without the pilot pack or plus pack. Note that the latest Polestars have plug and charge so no need for apps etc and if you use the Polestar charge app it means you get a discount on several providers (including Tesla). If range is a priority over power/4wd then the LRSM Polestar would be hard to beat unless you need loads of rear legroom.
If you have regular routes you need to drive it would be worth looking at what chargers are available on those as there are huge areas of Scotland and Northern England with hardly any Tesla Superchargers which makes it less of a pull compared to further South, especially when those that do exist are mainly open to all EVs anyway.
If you have regular routes you need to drive it would be worth looking at what chargers are available on those as there are huge areas of Scotland and Northern England with hardly any Tesla Superchargers which makes it less of a pull compared to further South, especially when those that do exist are mainly open to all EVs anyway.
PushedDover said:
Tesla with Supercharger network is therefore the answer.
I have never had to queue for one, ever. All other chargers seem a ball ache.
OP could check https://www.tesla.com/en_gb/findus?bounds=55.91738... open the filters panel, and try ticking and unticking the "Vehicle Type: Tesla" to see how many Tesla-exclusive sites there are on the roads they'll be driving. I have never had to queue for one, ever. All other chargers seem a ball ache.
John87 said:
If you have regular routes you need to drive it would be worth looking at what chargers are available on those as there are huge areas of Scotland and Northern England with hardly any Tesla Superchargers which makes it less of a pull compared to further South, especially when those that do exist are mainly open to all EVs anyway.
As someone in central Scotland new to EV ownership and so far 3x journeys 'down south' to Notts, West Yorkshire and Lancashire, I agree with this. Fewer superchargers and ability for my Polestar 2 to use them anyway means this was not the factor I thought it might be.Realistically I have managed one way on home charge, and have charged twice. Once was Penrith Rheged Superchargers, the other Warmsworth at Donny on Ionity. Both cost about the same, both similar speed, both plug, tap card, charge, go.
PushedDover said:
Tannedbaldhead said:
PushedDover said:
Doing many miles OP, and needing to charge away from Home?
I would say that would have a big influence.
Polestar will be the nicest place, the Tesla the better car.
25-30k per year business miles one up+ another 10k odd knocking about the doors personal usually with 1 front seat passenger. I would say that would have a big influence.
Polestar will be the nicest place, the Tesla the better car.
Lots of mile munching motorway trips from Central Scotland down to Yorkshire, Manchester Liverpool and E Midlands.
This 1000% over
The polestar is the best looking car but the Tesla charging network is so far ahead of anything else out there it makes the most sense, in a Tesla, you just pull up, plug in and charge and it’s 41p a kw currently (or 20ish off peak) any other brand you’re have loads of apps, cards, rfid etc
I’ve had a model 3 3 months and it’s a great car, it’s got its annoyces like awful cruise control but the rest of it is a great car,
I have never had to queue for one, ever. All other chargers seem a ball ache.
Tannedbaldhead said:
25-30k per year business miles one up+ another 10k odd knocking about the doors personal usually with 1 front seat passenger.
Lots of mile munching motorway trips from Central Scotland down to Yorkshire, Manchester Liverpool and E Midlands.
Gotta be Tesla then I'd think...Lots of mile munching motorway trips from Central Scotland down to Yorkshire, Manchester Liverpool and E Midlands.
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