EV World: A different EV experience

What it was like trying out an EV made by an experienced carmaker

I spent four days in Vancouver this spring behind the wheel of a 2023 Polestar 2, and I came away with one clear thought: This is what an electric vehicle should feel like.

I rented the car through Turo — my second time using the platform — and the experience was seamless. The host met me at Vancouver International Airport, gave me a quick run thorough and tutorial of the car and handed over the keys. I dropped it off at the same spot four days later, fully charged and with a new appreciation for what a thoughtfully designed EV can offer.

This wasn’t my first time driving electric. I’ve test driven several. I’d previously rented a Tesla Model Y for a road trip from Toronto to a conference in Detroit. That was detailed in the pages of the Summer 2024 issue of this magazine.

But that was a different kind of test, with long-distance driving to experience extended highway time behind the wheel of an EV. This time, I wanted to see how an EV performed in a more everyday setting: City streets, highway hops and the occasional rural detour.

From the moment I got the Polestar 2, it gave off a different vibe. I’ve seen them on the road before so I was familiar with the look from the outside. It stands out as most EVs do but not in a way that goes too far like some. It felt modern and grounded — like a car designed for today, not a concept from tomorrow. That first impression carried through to the driving experience.

The vehicle felt solid, smooth and intuitive. It handled just as you’d want in both city traffic and on the open road. Of course, EVs are a different beast when you’re behind the wheel with the quicker acceleration and the regenerative braking, which does take some time to get used to. Doesn’t matter if you’re in a Polestar or a Tesla, these are similar experiences.

Inside, however, is where things deviate between the two brands. The infotainment system in the Polestar wasn’t as oversized or in-your-face as Tesla’s, which I appreciated. I found Tesla’s massive screen distracting at times — and often confusing as it’d display a notification on the screen then alert you that your eyes are off the road when you look at said notification.

˝But this time, I wanted to see how an EV performed in a more everyday setting: City streets, highway hops and the occasional rural detour.˝

In contrast, the Polestar’s layout felt more like it was designed by people who’ve been building cars for decades — because it was. Polestar is owned by

Volvo, and that legacy of driver-focused design is obvious. Where Tesla often feels like a tech company that happens to make cars, Polestar feels like a car company that’s embraced tech in all the right ways. Even though they’ve only been test drives, I’ve had the same impression when driving the Ford Lighting or Volkswagen ID.4.

One of the biggest differences I noticed was in the overall user experience. Tesla’s approach often feels like it’s trying to impress you with features. Polestar’s approach, which is more in line with traditional automakers, is more subtle: “Here’s a great driving experience — and yes, we’ve added some cool stuff too.” That shift in priorities made a big difference.

Charging wasn’t an issue either. I was staying with family and they own a different EV. So with a charger at their home, I was able to charge up with them before returning the vehicle. I didn’t need to use public charging stations, but I noticed plenty of them around B.C. If I had needed one, I wouldn’t have been worried.

I was apprehensive following my Tesla experience last year. I worried that all EVs would have similar user experiences. Hence why I wanted to try an EV from a traditional automaker for more than just a test drive.

This put my mind at ease. Politics aside, it just felt like a more complete vehicle. It was less about showing off and more about delivering a great drive. And that’s what I want from a car — electric or not.

Driving an EV isn’t complicated. Once you get the hang of charging and adjust to the regenerative braking, it’s just driving — only quieter, smoother and, in many cases, more fun.

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2025 issue of EV World