In this new test from Auto Express, we get to see that very three-way comparison test, as the BMW i4 eDrive40, Polestar 2 Long Range Single Motor, and Tesla Model 3 Long Range go head-to-head-to-head.

All three cars are in the £40,000-£50,000 range to start, though the BMW i4 is by far the most expensive, with the Polestar being the cheapest. Of the three cars, on the Tesla is a dual-motor, all-wheel drive car. The BMW i4 is single-motor/rear-wheel drive, while the Polestar 2 is single-motor/front-wheel drive. In terms of usable battery capacity, the BMW has the most, at 80.7 kWh, the Polestar 2 is right behind it at 78 kWh, and the Tesla just behind that at 75 kWh.

Despite having the smallest battery capacity, the Tesla Model 3 has the highest claimed range, of 374 miles. The BMW i4 is next, with 365 miles, and the Polestar 2 is last, with 336 miles. In Auto Express’ testing, none of the cars reached their max ranges but the hierarchy remained the same.

It must be said that the Tesla Model 3 was able to achieve more miles of range with the smallest battery, one more electric motor than the other two, and the most power. The Model 3’s 434 bhp is quite a bit more than the BMW i4’s 335 bhp, and a ton more than the Polestar 2’s 228 bhp.

However, it’s not just a comparison of spec sheets, as Auto Express actually got both cars out on the road to test them out. How they drive is more important than small differences in efficiency. So can either the BMW i4’s supposed Ultimate Driving Machine dynamics or the Polestar 2’s Scandinavian charm best the Tesla? Check out AE’s comparison test to find out.

[Source: Auto Express]

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The specific cars in this test were the BMW i4 eDrive40e and the Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor, which actually made the test a bit lopsided. The dual-motor, all-wheel drive Polestar 2 was TG’s long-term test car, so it was the only one they had on hand to take on the rear-drive, single-motor BMW i4 eDrive40. Because of that lopsidedness, the i4 was at a disadvantage, in terms of both power and grip. The Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor makes 400 horsepower and can reach 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. While the BMW i4 only makes 340 horsepower and takes a leisurely 5.7 seconds to hit 60 mph. The Bimmer has more range, though.

However, what’s more important is how these two cars feel. If all you care about is range and power, the Tesla Model 3 is likely your better bet. But if you want a nicer, more premium driving experience, you choose one of these two cars. So which one is the better car to drive?

When it comes to how the two cars actually drive, the BMW i4 eDrive40 is the better car. It steers sweeter, has better chassis balance, and even a better ride. The Polestar 2 comes with very expensive Ohlins dampers but they’re a bit too stiff, making the Polestar a bit less comfortable than the Bimmer, without an improvement in handling. The Polestar 2 is, without question, the better looking car and has a nicer interior. It’s more stylish and more interesting. However, if you’re looking for a more premium driving experience, it’s the Bimmer that wins.

[Source: Top Gear]

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Available for the punchy Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor version, the OTA update consists of software-based tuning to extract a substantial 67 horsepower (50 kilowatts) and 20 Newton-meters (15 pound-feet) of torque from the pair of electric motors.  With the upgraded software in place, the car now packs an impressive 470 hp (350 kW) and 680 Nm (502 lb-ft).

The OTA update was actually rolled out in late November, but it’s only now the company is making the news official. The software was previewed earlier this year when the Polestar 2 experimental prototype was introduced at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Courtesy of the newly gained oomph, the sprint to 62 mph (100 km/h) has decreased to 4.4 seconds.

It is worth mentioning the additional power is not available at all times as it only kicks in as a boost while the Polestar 2 is doing anywhere between 43 to 81 mph (70 to 130 km/h). That translates to quicker acceleration in the mid-range, enabling the zero-emissions hatchback to complete the run from 50 to 75 mph (80 to 120 km/h) in only 2.2 seconds or half a second quicker than before the OTA update.

The Polestar performance software upgrade is offered through the Polestar Extras webshop in the following countries: Austria, Germany, UK, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Additional markets will be added in due course, including the United States and Canada where it’s programmed to arrive next spring.

Meanwhile, the OTA update costs about €1,000 on average in the aforementioned Euro markets.

Source: Polestar

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Before we get started, let’s just get this out of the way; this isn’t going to be an exact apples-to-apples comparison for every car. Electric vehicles in the Q4’s price range are not created equal; some are sedans, some are hatchbacks, some are crossovers.

But because EV buyers have such a limited selection, they’re cross-shopping all of them. So even though it might not seem fair that a crossover gets bonus points over a sedan for its practicality, EV customers are going to weigh those factors when searching through their limited choice of EVs.

We’re also going to stick with entry-level prices and specs, as options and packages can be very different and difficult to compare. Since most EV customers’ main concern is always range anyway, we’re just gonna stick with the basics. Additionally, we’ll be using pre-destination prices and excluding any sort of government tax incentives, as some vary.

AUDI Q4 E-TRON

The Audi Q4 e-tron uses a 77 kWh battery pack and a single rear-mounted motor to make 201 horsepower and 229 lb-ft of torque, so expect a 0-60 mph time of 7.9 seconds. It’s also said to have around 250 miles of range in its entry-level form. Audi says the entry-level Q4 e-tron will start at around $45,000. There will be a dual-motor model coming soon, which will likely start between $50,000-$55,000 and come with 295 horsepower, slightly less range than 250 miles, and a 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds.

VOLKSWAGEN ID.4

Audi’s sibling from Wolfsburg brings its own EV crossover to the fight. The Volkswagen ID.4 starts at $39,995 and has a single rear-mounted electric motor, paired with an 77 kWh net battery pack. The motor makes 201 horsepower and 229 lb-ft of torque, getting the ID.4 from 0-60 mph in 7.9 seconds. It’s essentially a cheaper, less premium Q4 e-tron. It has a max range of 260 miles. The dual-motor all-wheel drive model comes in at under $50,000 and should bring the same 295 horsepower, 249 miles of range, and a 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds as the dual-motor Audi.

TESLA MODEL 3

Without question, the most popular EV in the segment is the Tesla Model 3. The entry-level Model 3 is called the “Standard Range Plus” and it comes with a starting price off $39,990. Don’t be fooled by Tesla’s shady marketing that claims it starts at $30,690, because that’s after Tesla factors in the maximum government tax breaks and “gas savings”, which is absurd because its actual starting price is actually very good, so there’s no need to be shady about it. For that money, you get a single rear-mounted motor with 221 horsepower, 302 lb-ft of torque, and a 0-60 mph of 5.3 seconds. Additionally, an 80.5 kWh net battery pack provides 262 miles of range.

However, if you want a bit more miles or better performance, you can choose from either the Long Range ($49,990) or Performance ($56,990). The Model 3 Long Range gets 352 miles of range and a 4.2 seconds 0-60 mph time, while the Model 3 Performance gets 315 miles of range and around a 3.1 seconds 0-60 time.

POLESTAR 2

The Polestar 2 is an out-of-left-field choice but it’s still a good one and in the right price range. It starts at $45,900 and comes with a single front-mounted electric motor (which is unique in this list, as all other single-motor cars are rear-wheel drive), which makes 228 horsepower and 243 lb-ft. It has a range of 265 miles and gets from 0-60 mph in a claimed 7.0 seconds. Again, bumping the Polestar 2 to the same price point as the BMW nets you the dual-motor version ($51,200) that gets 402 horsepower, 487 lb-ft of torque, and a 4.5 seconds 0-60 mph time. Though, range drops to 249 miles.

MUSTANG MACH E

The Mustang Mach E wears a starting price of $42,895 and for that you get a net 68 kWh battery pack and a single rear-mounted motor with 266 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. According to Ford, the Mach E can reach 60 mph in 5.8 seconds and achieve 230 miles of range.

Though, if you bump up to the California Route 1 model ($50,400), you get a few extra horses, 290 horsepower to be exact and a 305 mile range. Though, 0-60 drops to 6.1 seconds. The GT model ($59,900) is barely more than what the dual motor Q4 e-tron will be and uses dual motors to make 480 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque, helping it hit 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. Though, it only gets 250 miles of range.

BMW i4

The BMW i4 40 is at the pricier end of the segment. The “40” model is the entry level i4 model and it packs a decent amount of power and range for its $55,400 starting price. For that money, you get a four-door sedan, with a hatchback trunk, and a single rear-mounted electric motor that packs 335 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque, getting it from 0-60 mph in a claimed 5.7 seconds. Sending the juice to that motor is a 81.5 kWh battery (83.9 kWh gross). Total range is 300 miles, according to BMW.

VERDICT

As you can see, the Audi Q4 e-tron is a bit outgunned in this segment, even with its competitive starting price. For similar money, or even less, you can get quite a few premium EVs that all have more impressive specs than the Q4. While the Audi’s cabin is nice and it’s apparently nice to drive, the same can be said for the Polestar and Mustang Mach E. The Tesla Model 3, while lacking the nice cabin, is also great to drive and has far better specs.

As good as the Audi Q4 e-tron may be, it seems like it’s going to struggle to find sales in an extremely competitive market.

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Those looking to purchase the Polestar 2 at the lowest price possible will want the Single Motor and all the available federal and state EV incentives. For example, the vehicle’s starting price drops to just $34,900 in California after factoring in all applicable discounts for zero-emissions models. Upgrading to the Dual Motor setup will bump the price to $38,900 after incentives.

For your money’s worth, you’ll be getting an EPA-estimated 265 miles of range from the new Polestar 2 Single Motor. The front-wheel-drive EV makes do with 231 horsepower whereas the Dual Motor variant offers 408 hp and the additional benefit of having an AWD layout. The beefier derivative delivers an estimated range of 249 miles, which represents an increase of 16 miles compared to the 2021 model year.

New for 2022MY is a mechanical heat pump as part of the optional $4,000 Plus Pack, which Polestar says boosts range by 10%, but only “under certain conditions.” The kit also encompasses vegan-based upholstery, a Harman Kardon premium sound system, and a full-length panoramic glass roof.

Spend an extra $3,200 for the Pilot Pack and your Polestar 2 will be equipped with a variety of safety and driver assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, a 360-degree camera, front and rear parking sensors, and Cross Traffic Alert.

Exclusive to the Dual Motor version is an optional Performance Pack worth $5,000, featuring adjustable Öhlins dampers, forged 20-inch alloy wheels with Continental sport tires, along with Brembo brakes and gold design accents.

Polestar is charging $1,200 for metallic paint, $4,000 for a Nappa leather upholstery, and another $1,200 for 20-inch rims. Customer deliveries are programmed to commence towards the end of the year.

Source: Polestar

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There’s more to the Experimental Polestar 2 than its beefier electric motors as the engineers have also installed a stiffer suspension setup lowering the car by 25 millimeters (nearly one inch). In addition, the sporty EV features a +10 mm wider track and rides on 21-inch wheels backed by six-piston Akebono brakes at the front, borrowed from the Polestar 1. Speaking of the limited-run coupe, it also lent its Pirelli P Zero Rosso performance tires measuring 275/30 ZR1.

Compared to the standard Polestar 2, the Goodwood-bound prototype boasts 80% stiffer front springs and 40% rear springs, with three-way Öhlins dampers that are 30% stiffer than the original setup. Inherited from the Volvo S60 Polestar Engineered is the front suspension strut bar made from carbon fiber to shave off weight. At the back, a rear strut bar was custom-made for the one-off car.

Aside from the plethora of hardware revisions, the Experimental Polestar 2 comes with unique front and rear bumpers. It’s painted in Snow Matte adorned with a Magnesium Matte decal, glossy black side mirrors, and a color-coded front grid. Those large 21-inch alloys come with a two-tone finish by combining glossy and matte black surfaces.

The unique creation will be going up at the famous hill at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this week. Polestar says it has spent thousands of hours perfecting the car’s chassis, but there’s no word about coming out with a production version in the near future. For the time being, it’s just a demonstrator showcasing what the engineering team can do if given complete freedom to upgrade the electric fastback.

Source: Polestar

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There are no fewer than 18 Bluetooth sensors inside and outside of the Polestar 2, helping the electric vehicle “talk” with the paired smartphone. Once the owner approaches the car, the exterior sensors detect the device “from within an arm’s length” to open the doors as well as the tailgate. For safety reasons, the EV can’t be turned on unless the smartphone is placed inside the vehicle.

The so-called digital key is embedded into the Polestar app installed on the owner’s smartphone and is far safer than a conventional key fob, according to Volvo’s sub-brand for all things electric. Those who have purchased the EV will take comfort from knowing the digital key is immune to relay attacks since it doesn’t work on radio frequency.

There’s more to the OTA update than the digital key as the Polestar app now boasts vehicle functionality. This one is too in the beta phase and provides the owner with access to vital information about the electric vehicle, including battery status. Remote locking and remote climate control start have also been added, with additional functions to be implemented in the future.

The Polestar 2 with the latest software available has a more linear algorithm for the way the distance to empty (DTE) information is shown, meaning it will display the miles/kilometers left until the battery is depleted in a more accurate manner. Additional stability improvements and bug fixes are being promised with the OTA update, plus a revised wireless charger to work better with the latest smartphones.

Source: Polestar

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There’s more good news to share as the entry point into the Polestar 2 lineup retains the 78-kWh battery pack of the dual-motor models. It will have enough juice for an EPA range of around 260 miles and even more provided the vehicle is fitted with the optional Plus Pack featuring a heat pump. For the sake of comparison, the dual-motor model has an estimated EPA range of 240 miles, with an available heat pump as well to allow the EV to cover longer distances.

The aforementioned Plus Pack encompasses a full-length panoramic glass roof and a 13-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, not to mention vegan upholstery and wood trim. Heated front and rear seats are also part of the package, with the front ones featuring electric adjustment. Also heated are the wiper blades and the steering wheel, while the mechanical heat pump can add as much as 10% of extra range.

There’s also a Pilot Pack bringing LED headlights (and fog lights), adaptive cruise control, 360-degree camera, front and rear parking sensors, and an assortment of safety systems. Go for the dual-motor Polestar 2 and an optional Performance Pack comes along with Öhlins dampers, Brembo brakes, 20-inch forged wheels with sticky tires, plus gold accents inside and out.

The single- and dual-motor models are joined by the range-topping Launch Edition, which continues to be offered in the United States and Canada. It’s essentially the fully loaded model and ready for immediate delivery, while the new base model won’t arrive in North America until the end of 2021.

Polestar doesn’t say how much the entry-level model variant costs, but it should significantly undercut the $59,900 dual-motor configuration.

Source: Polestar

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But wait, there’s more. The XC40 Recharge with the update applied brings some changes to the Android-powered operating system of the infotainment while fixing what Volvo refers to as an “important safety-related propulsion bug fix.” The eco-friendly crossover has also received tweaks to the 360-degree camera, Bluetooth connectivity, and climate timers, while the owner’s manual has some revisions as well.

This OTA update is now automatically available and all you have to do is simply download the software package and install it. Sadly, Volvo doesn’t go into any details about what sort of range increase owners should be expecting post the update. As a reminder, the US-spec XC40 Recharge has been rated by EPA at 208 miles (335 kilometers) while the Euro version has a WLTP-certified range of more than 248 miles (400 kilometers).

The Geely-owned marque also doesn’t talk about how much quicker charging is now with the OTA update applied. As you may recall, the electric crossover can charge its 78-kWh battery from 0% to approximately 80% in 40 minutes with 150 kW DC fast charging and offers 50-62 miles (80-100 kilometers) of range for 10 minutes of charging. A full recharge through 11 kW AC takes anywhere between 8 to 10 hours.

The mechanically related Polestar 2 is also getting just about the same upgrades at the same time, bringing “range improvements and incremental speed improvements for DC charging.” The other tweaks received by the XC40 Recharge are also coming to the Polestar 2 via the OTA update.

Source: Volvo, Polestar

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