Like many people who have only experienced gas-powered vehicles their whole life, the concept of driving a fully electric car had always felt somewhat foreign to me. However, as they become increasingly more common, it will only be a matter of time until everyone experiences them at some point. For my first assignment as an editor at Kelley Blue Book, I attended the North American launch of the Polestar 4. As a certified “newbie” to EVs, my eyes were quickly opened to the differences of the all-electric driving experience. Here’s what I learned from the experience, and what you might expect if you’re considering an EV for your next car.
Instant Acceleration
My colleague and I were evaluating a long-range dual-motor model equipped with the Performance pack, which Polestar describes as a “more responsive and engaging drive.” This model has all-wheel drive, a range of up to 280 miles, and 544 horsepower. Pricing for a dual-motor Polestar 4 begins at $64,300.
Upon accelerating, I felt the instant power the two electric motors provided to get the vehicle up to speed. This was far more than I was used to in a car powered by a gasoline engine alone. That is thanks to the electric motors’ instant torque, which feels as if you are being flung out of a slingshot. If anyone thinks driving an EV isn’t fun, they might want to give it a try.
Performance mode, which offers the driver peak power and torque, can be adjusted via the infotainment screen. I opted to have it off to get used to driving the car at a normal pace, which felt smooth and quick, but not so harsh as to snap your neck back onto the headrest. However, when I needed to cross a two-way highway, my colleague turned Performance mode back on, and I was able to zoom across quickly and efficiently.
The Polestar 4 is also available as a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive model that makes 272 hp. In addition to its lower starting price — $57,800 – that entry-level model has a greater range of up to 310 miles. Both are quick, with the single-motor model doing zero to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, and the dual-motor variant like the model I tested blazing to that figure in just 3.7 seconds. Charging is also quite fast, with the 100 kWh battery able to charge from 10% to 80% in 30 minutes on a DC fast charger.
One-Pedal Driving
Like other EVs, the Polestar 4 has regenerative braking, which means it feeds energy back into the battery as the vehicle decelerates. There are three levels of regen that you can set: off, low, and standard, with low and standard. The latter allows full one-pedal driving which means that means by simply lifting off the accelerator, the car can come to a complete stop.
One-pedal driving was an entirely new concept to me. My first attempts with this feature were a bit finicky, as I was not accustomed to controlling the acceleration and braking with the accelerator alone. My poor passenger felt the herky jerky back-and-forth motions of my less-than-smooth execution, so I opted to turn the feature off for the majority of my drive.
As someone completely new to this feature, I think it would take some time for a newbie to get used to it. I also think that one-pedal drive might be more useful over short distances like city driving, but less useful at high speeds on longer road trips. Thankfully, drivers can turn the one-pedal drive on and off as desired, and the setting is reachable either through the infotainment screen or by conveniently pushing a button on the steering wheel.
Customizable Driving Experience
One thing I really appreciated about the Polestar 4 was the ability to customize the vehicle’s driving manners. I test drove the car with my colleague, who is much more experienced with EVs, so it was helpful that he was able to customize all settings to his liking, and I to mine.
This customization feels appropriate for a more premium and performance-minded vehicle, which the Polestar 4 certainly is. It was interesting to experiment with all the different driving options, like suspension feel, steering feel, power delivery, and more, but I couldn’t tell largely noticeable differences these made in my drive, so these options may not be as important for the average driver.
No Rear Window, No Problem
To address maybe the most asked question about this car: What was it like to drive with no rear window, and instead just have a digital rearview mirror to see what’s behind you? To be completely honest, I was hesitant about only having the digital rearview mirror to rely on; however, after driving the car, I can confidently say that it’s not as strange as you might think.
I found that it didn’t take long to get adjusted to the digital mirror, as the image was clear and precise, and showed a wide range of distances behind you. The camera even moved left or right based on your turn signal to show the driver even more coverage when changing lanes. While the lack of a rear window might be somewhat of a dealbreaker to some, I didn’t feel like it negatively affected my driving experience.
Final Thoughts
The Polestar 4 provided an exhilarating experience for my first EV drive. I enjoyed the smooth ride, and I was blown away by the differences in speed and acceleration. However, with that in mind, I think that the car might be better suited for those looking to capitalize on a performance-forward vehicle.
For newbies to EVs, you might find that the dual motor Polestar 4 has a little bit more power than you might need for daily driving, but if you’re truly in the market for one, the single-motor variant may be the more suitable option for you.
