Can the Volvo-owned Polestar threaten Tesla’s pole position?

It’s clear that the design teams behind these two electric competitors have taken very different approaches. Take one look at the Polestar 2, and the strong Volvo DNA is immediately clear. Especially the headlights and typical vertical "grille" feel familiar as well as the squared-off nose. Polestar's interior is of the highest quality and is equipped with vegan textiles as standard.

In contrast, the Model 3 has the rounded front / end design preferred by Tesla and instead of a grille, the focus is on the cat-like headlights. The minimalist design is also to be found inside the cabin, where the expression signals 'less is more'.

The Polestar has conventional door handles but Tesla has opted for high-tech hidden handles flush with the door. Both electric cars have an expansive glass roof.

As a characteristic of the Model 3, most features are not controlled by buttons, but from the central and large 15"-touch screen. The autopilot and an adaptive cruise control system that works extremely well on the highway automatically help keeping a safe distance from the car in front and in the middle of the track.

A big plus in Polestar's book is the integration of the Android operating system with associated Google services such as Google Assistant, Google Maps and the Google Play Store. If you do not have a key, both cars can be unlocked using an app.

With the Polestar 2, Volvo has launched its first electric car with an impressive range of up to 470 km on a single charge. Even though the range is short than the Model 3 Long Range offers, it's still more than the Model 3 Standard Plus variant gives with a range of up to 448 km.

If we look at performance, Tesla seems to be have the upper hand. Polestar 2 delivers 400 powerful horsepower from its dual electric motors and accelerates from 0-100 km/h in less than five seconds. With its twin engines, however, the Tesla Model 3 delivers 450 horsepower and accelerates to 100 km/h in just 3.3 seconds!

Polestar 2 has a charging rate of 150 kW, compared to the Model 3 which can charge with a rate of 250 kW. This means that, depending on connection and socket, charging your Tesla Model 3 either at home or on the road will usually take ⅓ less of the time.