Latest news with #NappaLeather
Edmunds
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Edmunds
2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Long Term Update: Luxury on a Budget?
Hyundai offering a luxury trim might seem a little incongruous considering the same company has a legitimate luxury brand known as Genesis. However, Hyundai isn't alone in this. Think about the Chevy Tahoe and its High Country trim, which offers a ton of luxury features even though the mechanically similar Cadillac Escalade exists. It's because the brands appeal to different kinds of buyers, and along the same lines, some Hyundai shoppers would never think of shopping at a Genesis store. It also lets those who have fallen in love with the Santa Fe's blocky styling get a few extra bells and whistles. What does the Calligraphy add? Our Santa Fe cost us $51,425 with the $1,415 destination charge included, with the only options being the $1,000 matte-finish paint job and $210 carpeted floor mats. Opting for the Calligraphy gets you Nappa leather seats, which are softer than the regular leather you get in a Santa Fe Limited, and they feature eight-way adjustability for the passenger. There's also a "relaxation" setting for the driver and front passenger, which reclines and adjusts the seat into an optimal napping position when you're parked. You also get two wireless charging pads instead of one, a head-up display on the windshield, two-tone leather on the steering wheel, a faux suede headliner, and a more advanced driver assist system. In the rear, the second row gets a pair of ultra-comfy captain's chairs instead of the three-across bench in the rest of the lineup.
Forbes
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Test-Driving The Polestar3 Electric
The 2025 Polestar 3 is a great-looking luxury electric SUV, a dressed-for-dinner, performance-focused 5-seater spun off from Volvo. Need speed? It can go 0-60 in 4.6 seconds. Need total automation? That's here, too. Let's have a look, based on a recent weeklong test-drive. Polestar 3 Long range Single motor Polestar It announces 'electric,' from its minimalist front fascia to its wide, low stance and body-colored Pollstar badge. Its flush side profile gives it gravitas. It's a big guy, and the large panoramic moonroof lends it a romantic flavor - you can park and look up at the stars. My neighbors have seen many a ride in my driveway but this one evoked immediate, positive comments. 2025 Polestar3 Polestar Inside, the vehicle is reminiscent of Tesla in that 'You sit down and the vehicle is on.' It offers a similarly minimalist cabin with high-quality, sustainable materials. Upholstery options include Nappa leather, wool, and vegan alternatives like MicroTech. It seats five, with heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats. Cargo space is 17.1 cubic feet behind the rear seats, with a small frunk for additional storage. It's nice and big inside, as an SUV should be. 2025 Polestar3 Polestar You've got a 14.5-inch central touchscreen, a 9-inch digital driver display and an optional head-up display for essential driving information. Standard features include wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and multiple USB-C ports. An optional 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system is rich and deep and crispy and therefore good. 2025 Polestar3 Polestar All models feature a 111-kWh battery pack, with DC fast charging capabilities allowing a 10-80% charge in approximately 30 minutes. I had the top-end Performance Pack, delivering 517 hp, 671 lb-ft torque, 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds, and a pretty-good EPA-estimated range of 279 miles. Charging was a simple, routine matter. Driving Experience As you expect with a vehicle with this much blast power, acceleration is hasty and satisfying. You'll have to remember you are driving a vehicle weighing upwards of 5,550 pounds because it feels light as the proverbial feather. It's composed around corners and regenerative braking allows for one-pedal driving. Brakes are tight-tight. Visibility is satisfactory. It is a smooth, satisfying drive. Polestar 3 Long range Single motor Polestar Pricing My Dual motor trip starts at $84,900. With all options and extras, it tops out at $93,100. Available packages include the Plus Pack (soft-close doors, heated steering wheel, upgraded audio), Pilot Pack (advanced driver assistance systems, head-up display), and Performance Pack (enhanced power, sport-tuned suspension, 22-inch wheels) Room for improvement On my first voyage, I emerged from a store and found myself locked out for about 10 minutes. I thought it was time for the tow truck, maybe. But then, out of the blue, the vehicle relented. It never got itself together with that fob, though - sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't, up until the last 20 minutes I had the vehicle. Also, the tech is complicated and of course learnable, but to open the glove box positioned below the passenger seat, for example, required three separate steps on the touch screen. Safety Features Standard safety features include automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and a driver attention monitor. An optional LiDAR system enhances semi-autonomous driving capabilities, Conclusion: It is a fine start from a fine brand and as soon as the electronics work 100% of the time, it'll be sweet indeed.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla Model 3 vs Polestar 2: A battle of two popular electrified sedans
When it comes to electrified sedans, the Tesla Model 3 outsells the field by a wide margin. Sales don't tell the whole story, as Tesla jumped out to an early lead when it came to EVs but now faces stiff competition from automakers like BMW, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, and reign supreme, but the allure of sedans calls to car buyers again. Electrified sedans have a narrow path to success, and Tesla and Polestar have solid offerings. The Model 3 is ubiquitous, but the Polestar 2 is turning heads. So, which should you choose: the tried-and-true Model 3 or the flashy upstart Polestar 2? We can help you decide. 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?
