Tesla Model 3 vs Polestar 2: A battle of two popular electrified sedans
Tesla Model 3 Long Range RWD: $42,490
Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD: $47,490
Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD: $54,990
Long Range Dual motor with Performance pack - AWD: $64,800
At a full $10,000 more, the choice seems clear—but it's not. Both vehicles offer add-ons that bump the price up, yet Polestar has a bevy of standard premium features like 20-inch wheels and a cold-weather climate pack that Tesla doesn't offer. $10,000 is nothing to ignore, but the Tesla Model 3 can't touch the Polestar 2 in premium touches and features.
Tesla Model 3 Long Range RWD: 363 miles of range, 125 mph top speed, 0-60 in 4.9 seconds
Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD: 346 miles of range, 125 mph top speed, 0-60 in 4.2 seconds
Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD: 298 miles of range, 163 mph top speed, 0-60 in 2.9 seconds
Long Range Dual motor with Performance pack - AWD: 254 miles of range, 127 mph top speed, 0-60 in 4 seconds
To be equitable, we'll compare the Model 3 Performance AWD to the Polestar 2, which only comes in a performance trim. While 44 miles of EPA estimated range is nothing to ignore, it's not a huge difference.
The Model 3 Long Range AWD is probably your best choice if range anxiety is real for you. It's as powerful as the Polestar 2 (we encourage you to disregard top speed, which you should never try to reach) with a nearly identical 0-60 time and has 92 miles more range. That's hard to overlook.
Both vehicles can access Tesla's Supercharger network, but the Polestar 2 needs an adapter. The Polestar 2 charges from 10-80 percent in just under 30 minutes via DC fast charging on its 400-volt architecture, while the Tesla Model 3 charges from 10-80 percent in 15-20 minutes at one of its Superchargers.
Both vehicles have minimalist interiors, but the Polestar 2 feels more like a traditional ICE car interior. It has a large center console-mounted screen, just like the Tesla Model 3, but adds a physical gear shift to the center console, hardware air conditioning controls, and plenty of wheel-mounted buttons to control things like audio volume and cruise control.
The Polestar 2's front and rear seats are comfortable and supportive. The $4,000 Nappa Leather upgrade is hard to overlook if you're into a real leather car interior, but the standard 'WeaveTech' fabric is great, too. The Tesla Model 3 has leatherette as standard and a $1,000 upgrade for white seats, but they're not as comfortable as Polestar 2 seats.
Both vehicles have full-glass roofs, and the Tesla Model 3 has upgraded acoustic glass meant to dampen road noise, but we don't find a discernible difference between it and the Polestar 2's glass.
The Tesla Model 3 is a Tesla, through and through. The automaker hasn't changed its overall design language—well, ever. The Model 3 has Tesla's familiar rounded roofline; its flat-face fascia is a physical parenthetical to the frowning-face trunk spoiler you'll find on all Teslas except Cybertruck.
The Polestar 2 design is a breath of fresh air in all the best ways. Its bold stance and angular exterior features scream performance without compromising its familiarity. EV automakers usually try to stand out with 'futuristic' styling, and Polestar created an absolutely gorgeous vehicle.
We appreciate that Polestar took a decidedly traditional road for its design language. In not trying so hard to stand out, Polestar 2 set itself apart.
There are a few other things to consider when deciding between a Tesla Model 3 and the Polestar 2 that might set one apart from the other.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: If you're invested in either platform, know that Tesla doesn't allow them in its vehicles. With a connectivity subscription, you can use apps like Spotify in the Model 3, but you'll still have to subscribe to Tesla's Premium Connectivity package for better mapping and other features.
Tesla's Premium Connectivity subscription: It costs $10 per month or $99 per year. You'll need a subscription if you want to stream music, watch videos, see live traffic on the mapping software, or access 'Sentry Mode,' which activates the car's cameras when someone approaches.
Your driving habits: If you're a daily commuter who can plug in at home, range may not matter much to you. However, if you take many road trips or can't charge at home, please give more weight to vehicle range.
Driver assist and self-driving: Look, Tesla's unassisted self-driving likely isn't coming any time soon, if ever. Assisted self-driving is common on modern vehicles, and the Polestar 2 also has it. You won't know which you like best until you give them a test drive.
User interface: This is another must-experience feature you shouldn't overlook. The Polestar 2 may have more physical buttons in the cabin, but plenty of options remain behind the screen.
Dealer network: If you have to go out of your way to find a Polestar 2, make sure the nearest dealership can (and will) service your vehicle as needed. Tesla's dealer network is more robust than Polestar's, but those dealerships aren't always the best place to be.
Elon Musk: Teslas are now drawing all the wrong kinds of attention, thanks to Elon Musk's involvement in government affairs. Know your new Model 3 could end up on the wrong side of someone's ire.
More range for less money is attractive for Model 3, but the Polestar 2 is not a vehicle to be overlooked. Its style, performance, ride, and features trump the Tesla Model 3 by a wide margin, even if the price tag is significantly higher. Which one fits your needs and which one would you choose?
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