Polestar 2 2023

I was sceptical about a Chinese brand, but the 2023 Polestar Polestar 2 genuinely surprised me. The fit and finish is excellent, the tech is class-leading, and the value for money is extraordinary. European rivals should be worried.

Excited at purchase, reality more subdued. Positives: generous space, good economy. Negatives: touchscreen occasionally freezes, rear wiper smears in light rain, lane-keeping is too aggressive. Not bad but needs polish.

45,000 miles, zero mechanical issues. Everything works as it did on day one, resale is holding up brilliantly. If you want reliable long-term ownership, look no further.

Bought on strong reviews and brand reputation. Ongoing electronic issues: infotainment crashed twice, lane-keeping triggered unexpectedly three times. Dealer slow to acknowledge these as known issues. The car itself drives fine but reliability soured everything.

Functional but underwhelming. Ride is fine, economy acceptable, reliable enough. But every time I get in I feel I settled. Looking at alternatives for my next purchase.