Three electric cars, three different paths to success. The Kia EV2, Volvo EX60 and Polestar 5 differ in almost every way – but show that the most memorable driving experiences are still more about character than kilowatt-hours.

POLESTAR – when the pace increases
The Polestar 5 is the car that makes most people stop and take a second look. The shape is unusual, the proportions are different and the ambition is clear. This is a car that goes its own way in a segment where more and more models are starting to look alike. Polestar 5 takes off in GT tradition, but do it in your own way.

It doesn't take long before the pace starts to pick up. Not because the car encourages it with drama or tough sports car genes, but because it feels so natural through the curves. The steering is precise without getting nervous, The chassis keeps the body calm over uneven asphalt and the car takes challenging curves in the mountains above Marbella with an ease that makes it feel smaller than it actually is.

THIS IS A CAR THAT GOES ITS OWN WAY IN A SEGMENT WHERE MORE AND MORE MODELS ARE BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE EACH OTHER

What impresses most is the balance. Many electric cars are either very comfort-oriented or clearly sporty. The Polestar 5 manages to be somewhere in between. It filters out enough of the road to function as a long-distance car, but at the same time lets in enough information to make the driver feel involved in the driving.

The same philosophy is evident in the cabin. Up front, the seating position is low and focused, while the rear seat is more reminiscent of a lounge than a traditional sports sedan. The material choices are well thought out and contributes to a feeling that the car was developed with a greater focus on the experience than on impressing with specifications.

The Polestar 5 is brutally fast when you want it to be it. But it's not the acceleration that sticks in your memory after the test drive. It's the balance. After a while you stop thinking about the power and instead start to appreciate how naturally the car handles high speeds. The speed increases, the braking points move forward and the car just feels better the more you demand of it.

POLESTAR 5 PERFORMANCE
Drivetrain Electric motor front and rear, 884 hp, 1,015 Nm
Battery: 112 kWh
Range Up to 660 km (WLTP)
Charge: AC 11 kW, DC 350 kW
Acceleration 0–100 km/h: 3.2 seconds
Top speed 250 km/h
Luggage compartment: 365 liters
Towing weight: 1,800 kg
Price from: SEK 1,599,000