Andrew McKendry drives a Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor Pilot Plus 2022 electric car.
This is Andrew’s first electric car, he’s owned the Polestar 2 from new and drives 10,000-15,000 miles annually. The current mileage of the car is between 1,000-5,000 miles and he achieves 210 miles range from a full charge.
Rate your Polestar 2 out of 5
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Why did you choose this electric car?
Keen on a well-reviewed car, with excellent handling, poise on the road and enough oomph to put a smile on my face when needed. I needed something to match the feel on the wheel of some of my favourite cars of the past (namely some of the older BMWs); the Polestar 2 was the only EV that gave me that connection with the road and the thrill of driving beyond the ‘off the line’ performance, thus steering was key (this notably ruled out the Tesla Model 3).
Range needed to be sufficient to do my daily commute (~60 miles) and never have to worry if I couldn’t charge it for a while. Utilisable technology was very important (not interested in ability for full self-driving as not legal currently); so Adaptive Cruise Control & Steering Assist was essential. I’m a Google Home user, so Android Automotive tied in nicely with that.
Styling was key – wanted to avoid the ostentatious and have something that stood out, yet was calmly understated. I really liked the ‘cockpit’ enclosed feel.
Positives – List 3 or more reasons why you love this electric car
- Styling
- performance
- handling
- uniqueness
- Google.
Negatives – List 3 or more things that you really don’t like about this electric car
- App needs more development
- Pilot Assist hugs the side of the lane more than the centre
- no Netflix!
Have you experienced any faults with the car? If so, what have they been?
TCAM reset required – needed to take apart trim in the boot to get to the TCAM battery to disconnect it to force a reset. Was previously a common problem but software upgrades seem to have stopped this for most owners.
What are the standout tech features of the car?
Android Automotive integrated thoroughly with the car – as a Google ecosystem user, it’s powerful, intuitive and links well with my smart home network.
Surprise us! Tell us something people wouldn’t readily know about this electric car
It has a ‘curry hook’ – a retractable hook can come out from the glovebox, allowing you to hang a small bag there – perfect for the takeaway runs!
What electric car are you interested in next and why?
Polestar 5 – 2024 is a long way away but I’ve found myself aligned with the Polestar ethos and the 5 looks like the next logical step as a larger, more luxurious model.
What home charging unit do you use? Would you recommend it to others and why?
Indra Smart Pro – lesser known unit but can tie in with a solar array, matches itself to the cheapest times on the tariff and will blend your charging to utilise electricity more off-peak and when CO2 intensity is less.
Rate your home charging unit out of 5
What home electricity supplier & tariff do you use? Would you recommend it to others and why?
Octopus Go – the only tariff worth considering for an EV these days. Amazingly cheap off-peak and very competitive on-peak. Customer service has been exceptional.
Rate your electricity supplier out of 5
What public charging networks would you recommend to others and why?
IONITY – Polestar give a discount for IONITY fast chargers.
List your top 3 favourite public charging networks (in order of preference)
- IONITY
- Gridserve
- Pod Point.
Who do you insure your electric car with? Would you recommend them to others and why?
Direct Line – reasonable prices, sensible policy.
Rate your insurance provider out of 5
Estimate how much money you save per month owning and running an electric car compared to a petrol/diesel car
£200
See other owner reviews here
