[jwaterman]

A couple of weeks ago my 2020 Bolt LT got hit by a red light runner. The impact was directly on the rear driver side wheel damaging the axel, strut, wheel, fender and bumper. Since I drive an EV I wanted to rent an EV and after two weeks, Enterprise came up with a Polestar 2. I’m looking forward to learning all about it. I know others here have spoken favorably about it. Just the little bit of driving I’ve done so far has illuminated the differences between it and the Bolt. My neighbor just texted how sporty it looks.

 

[SteveCaz]

I bought one and it is a much better build quality and drives much smoother than my Bolt. The tech is much superior but 360 camera view isn't that great. Also miss the rearview mirror camera function. Wife wanted nothing to do with Tesla and others at or around this price point weren't as good. We love it and very happy with the purchase.

 

[jwaterman]

@SteveCaz We will be replacing a Niro hybrid in the near future with a second EV. I’m glad to have this opportunity to try the Polestar 2 for an extended period. Glad to hear you are happy with your purchase.

 

[kendallg]

I bought one and it is a much better build quality and drives much smoother than my Bolt. The tech is much superior but 360 camera view isn't that great. Also miss the rearview mirror camera function. Wife wanted nothing to do with Tesla and others at or around this price point weren't as good. We love it and very happy with the purchase.

What's your take on the cargo space and roominess of the Polestar 2 in comparison with the Bolt? We're potentially considering the Polestar, but compared to the MY (on which we have an order for June delivery) I'm concerned about the space. We need to take some test drives, but getting the wife to do that is no easy endeavor

 

[Packard V8]

We need to take some test drives, but getting the wife to do that is no easy endeavor

We would potentially be interested, but the nearest test drive is 300 miles away.

jack vines

 

[kendallg]

We would potentially be interested, but the nearest test drive is 300 miles away.

jack vines

That's a wee little roadblock...Polestar is definitely not widely present.

 

[Packard V8]

That's a wee little roadblock...Polestar is definitely not widely present.

There's a Turo rental in Cincinnati for $150/day.

jack vines

 

[SteveCaz]

What's your take on the cargo space and roominess of the Polestar 2 in comparison with the Bolt? We're potentially considering the Polestar, but compared to the MY (on which we have an order for June delivery) I'm concerned about the space. We need to take some test drives, but getting the wife to do that is no easy endeavor

Don't know the exact specs but I think pretty close. Maybe less headroom but with the panoramic glass roof it doesn't feel confined. One thing I don't like is it still has center hump like an ice vehicle. So person in back middle would have to straddle it. Just like the Bolt need to fold down rear seats to get 2 sets of golf clubs in. Being of Swedish decent it has a ski pass thru. Better usable space in trunk under floor. Has a cool grocery bag holder that folds up from the first level of the trunk. Small frunk in front which holds jack and tire inflator and OEM charge cable. It's just me and SWMBO so not sure how it would work for kids or more than 4 people. Really love the car it is not fair to compare the Bolt to P*2. Two completely different cars. Don't get me wrong I still like my Bolt but the P*2 is much better ride, drive and tech and seats are comfortable!

 

[jwaterman]

I agree there is a lot to like about the Polestar 2 but I really think the center console is intrusive in a way the Bolt’s isn’t. There is one exposed cup holder which is high enough that my elbow keep hitting my water bottle. Flip the lid for the other bottle holder but there doesn’t appear to be any storage space. I’m tall and narrow and my right leg rests uncomfortably against the console whereas the Bolt is open there. Also I’ve hit my head on the doorframe a couple times. The Bolt definitely has more headroom. Haven’t used the trunk yet but it looks roomy. I‘m still searching for the sweet spot of regen level and creep. Bolt, because it’s simpler, is more intuitive, IMO. It’s a nice rental but I don’t think I’m interested in buying a Polestar 2.

 

[kendallg]

Don't know the exact specs but I think pretty close. Maybe less headroom but with the panoramic glass roof it doesn't feel confined. One thing I don't like is it still has center hump like an ice vehicle. So person in back middle would have to straddle it. Just like the Bolt need to fold down rear seats to get 2 sets of golf clubs in. Being of Swedish decent it has a ski pass thru. Better usable space in trunk under floor. Has a cool grocery bag holder that folds up from the first level of the trunk. Small frunk in front which holds jack and tire inflator and OEM charge cable. It's just me and SWMBO so not sure how it would work for kids or more than 4 people. Really love the car it is not fair to compare the Bolt to P*2. Two completely different cars. Don't get me wrong I still like my Bolt but the P*2 is much better ride, drive and tech and seats are comfortable!

Thanks for the insight! I'm really only comparing the roominess between Bolt and Polestar. Won't even try to compare tech or finish as they're in completely different classes of vehicle, though I am certainly comparing between Polestar and Tesla, since that's where the decision will most probably end up. I am however curious of the one-pedal driving experience with the P*2. How good is that feature? That has to be the one thing that I find Chevrolet has nailed with the Bolt, even far superior to Tesla.

 

[Packard V8]

IMO. It’s a nice rental but I don’t think I’m interested in buying a Polestar 2.

Amazing how many will buy a house or a car based upon an hour's acquaintance. Back when there were cars, an overnight test drive was a requirement for me to even consider buying.

FWIW, the local Auto Nation sleazeballs lost a Bolt sale because the salesman said no problem with an overnight test drive and then the sales manager said no way. I told him, "I'm on my way to Camp Chevrolet and when I drive by in my new Bolt, I'll honk and wave!" I did buy from Camp, but continued to get canned e-mails from the Auto Nation General Manager about how much they wanted my business. At each receipt, I'd reply with a copy of my previous replies and raise the insult level another notch. Finally, they took me off the sucker list.

jack vines

 

[SteveCaz]

The Bolt one pedal is a little more aggressive and shows a better graphical representation. P*2 has different settings for one pedal but I really like the no creep mode. Just has Drive, Reverse and Park no Lmode.
Pure progressive performance | Polestar

 

[SteveCaz]

On P* forum there is a 3d printed cup holder that fits by the glove box. Pretty nice and $6.60 for the file. Having a friend make me one. Great forum for P* and a large global audience. Kind like this was when I first joined in 2016 but the recall has turned this one into a ***** fest.

 

[Packard V8]

The Bolt one pedal is a little more aggressive and shows a better graphical representation. P*2 has different settings for one pedal but I really like the no creep mode. Just has Drive, Reverse and Park no Lmode.
Pure progressive performance | Polestar

Interesting in that while GM wanted driving an EV to seem familiar to any ICE driver, Polestar 2 goes farther, with one passing mention of energy recovery, but calling it "braking" eight different times.
Setting level of braking effect
There are three different levels for energy recovery using the accelerator pedal that regulate braking effect.
The vehicle's factory default setting is Standard mode. Adapts braking effect to the driving situation in which the vehicle is used, e.g. snowy or icy roads.
Setting in the center display
Select Drive.

• Adjust braking effect preferences under One Pedal Drive.

Position	Braking effect
Off	No braking power will be applied and the vehicle will roll freely.
Low	Some braking effect will be applied.
Standard	High braking effect.

jack vines

 

[jwaterman]

Interesting in that while GM wanted driving an EV to seem familiar to any ICE driver, Polestar 2 goes farther, with one passing mention of energy recovery, but calling it "braking" eight different times.
Setting level of braking effect
There are three different levels for energy recovery using the accelerator pedal that regulate braking effect.
The vehicle's factory default setting is Standard mode. Adapts braking effect to the driving situation in which the vehicle is used, e.g. snowy or icy roads.
Setting in the center display
Select Drive.

• Adjust braking effect preferences under One Pedal Drive.

Position	Braking effect
Off	No braking power will be applied and the vehicle will roll freely.
Low	Some braking effect will be applied.
Standard	High braking effect.

jack vines

I currently have the setting at Low with Creep On. That’s produced the smoothest starting and stopping experience, so far. Standard with Creep Off was just too abrupt stopping and too much pedal work getting going in traffic and backing out. Sometimes simpler is better and here I think the Bolt is better than P2. I’m sure over the time I have this until the Bolt is repaired I’ll get used to it.

 

[Packard V8]

I currently have the setting at Low with Creep On. That’s produced the smoothest starting and stopping experience, so far. Standard with Creep Off was just too abrupt stopping and too much pedal work getting going in traffic and backing out. Sometimes simpler is better and here I think the Bolt is better than P2. I’m sure over the time I have this until the Bolt is repaired I’ll get used to it.

Interesting that when the Bolt was introduced in 2017, the One-Pedal in L was so perfect, it sent all the competition back to writing new code and drawing up new hardware. Five years later and still no one has done it better and few do it as well.

jack vines, who loves him some One-Pedal.

 

[Dark-Fx]

The Bolt one pedal is a little more aggressive and shows a better graphical representation. P*2 has different settings for one pedal but I really like the no creep mode. Just has Drive, Reverse and Park no Lmode.
Pure progressive performance | Polestar

I feel like the Regen in my polestar is very comparable to the Bolt. It comes on a lot smoother than the Bolt, so it seems like it might not be as strong, but I can stop in about the same distances from the same speeds.

At real high SoCs, one pedal will blend in the mechanical brake some without hitting the brake pedal. It doesn't seem offer any indication that it is doing it. Makes it more predictable than the Bolt that just... keeps going. When doing this it brakes slightly less powerfully than full Regen on a warm battery though.

The accelerator is tuned a bit different. You have a lot of travel for low speed manuvering. It seems fairly linear once you get going. Overall I like the one-pedal experience better than in the Bolt.

As for trunk storage space, the polestar seems to have about the same amount of space, but just flipped down horizontal. The trunk isn't as wide though.

Traction control with AWD is loads better than the Bolt. I was surprised at how slow the Bolt felt after driving my polestar for a few weeks and got used to it.

 

[SteveCaz]

I feel like the Regen in my polestar is very comparable to the Bolt. It comes on a lot smoother than the Bolt, so it seems like it might not be as strong, but I can stop in about the same distances from the same speeds.

At real high SoCs, one pedal will blend in the mechanical brake some without hitting the brake pedal. It doesn't seem offer any indication that it is doing it. Makes it more predictable than the Bolt that just... keeps going. When doing this it brakes slightly less powerfully than full Regen on a warm battery though.

The accelerator is tuned a bit different. You have a lot of travel for low speed manuvering. It seems fairly linear once you get going. Overall I like the one-pedal experience better than in the Bolt.

As for trunk storage space, the polestar seems to have about the same amount of space, but just flipped down horizontal. The trunk isn't as wide though.

Traction control with AWD is loads better than the Bolt. I was surprised at how slow the Bolt felt after driving my polestar for a few weeks and got used to it.

The software tech side is miles ahead of the Bolt. Driving is much smoother and agree about the one pedal driving experience. I think it would be an easier transition for an ICE driver to the P*2 than the Bolt.

 

[AJ-ptmdy]

Bolt 2017 owner, L-mode driver in city and on trips. Recently added a Polestar 2 AWD (replaced our 16 year Volvo XC70). The OPD is good on both, perhaps the Polestar's braking is a bit less strong than my 2017 Bolt's L-plus-paddle. The Polestar is certainly a more solid ride than the Bolt - heavier, long wheelbase, bigger wheels/tires. Lower cabin, quickly learned that the Bolt-entry is not compatible with our new ride - ouch, but only once. Looking forward to Spring-Summer and some highway trips, the Bolt was very good on trips, but our new EV will be even better.

 

[jwaterman]

After three weeks my Bolt is repaired and I’ve returned the Polestar 2 to the rental company. The extended rental period allowed for validation of many initial impressions and reconsideration of others.

I found the front console to be poorly designed. There is little storage space in an incredibly large space. Never got comfortable with the cup holder placement. I, and 3 passengers found the seats to be the most difficult of any to climb out. They are low. The back seats are low.

I really liked the user interface with the infotainment system. Intuitive and responsive. The Google assistant is much better than Siri. Climate control worked very well.

The car was very quick and powerful. It wasn’t the smoothest ride in the world. The range, too, was less than I expected. At 90% charge it showed 220 miles of expected range.

Overall, I would expect many people to be satisfied with the Polestar 2. There is a lot to like. As a driver I found the issues with space and storage to grow more annoying over time. As a healthy 70 year old man, I found getting out of the vehicle to be more difficult than it should be. I’m sure it’s okay for many, but not for me.

I would not buy a Polestar 2 but I understand why many would. I’m glad I had the chance to drive it for an extended period.