USA Polestar owners: EV options
In spite of the bad news, I still think Polestar has one of the best built EV’s out there. My plan is to enjoy my P4 and drive it for as long as I can. I don’t expect this to be everyone’s experience. But knowing they’ll still be sold in Canada tells me we’ll still see updates and the cars won’t be obsolete. Maintenance is minimal and major issues were already taking a long time so I don’t expect it to change. With that said for those looking for options, this is a list of major EV cars sold in the US and their main issues. I’ve used this as my own reference before deciding on Polestar but sharing it for public consumption.
Tesla: Build quality, rattles, phantom braking
Hyundai: ICCU failures
Kia: ICCU failures, 12V battery drain
Genesis: ICCU concerns
Volkswagen: Software and infotainment issues
Chevrolet: Software bugs
Cadillac: Software and infotainment issues
Ford: Battery contactor/module issues, software glitches
Rivian: Suspension noises, limited service network - this was my second choice
Lucid: Software quirks, limited service network
Nissan: Slower DC fast charging
Toyota: Slow charging
Subaru: Slow charging
Honda: GM software issues
Acura: GM software issues
BMW: Minor software/electronics issues
Audi: Software and charging issues
Mercedes-Benz: Software/electronics complexity
Volvo: Software issues
Fiat: Limited range
Porsche: Too new for long-term reliability trends
**Edit to include my notes on Polestar since people keep asking. I assumed it was obvious because it’s a Polestar Reddit but I’ll add them below. This list is not inclusive and limited to my personal notes and what I focused on. The positives are highlighted in the marketing strategy so I didn’t feel the need to write those down. I just wrote based on real world experiences. Which again doesn’t apply to everyone.
Polestar: Limited service network, weak resale value, occasional software bugs
Polestar 2: TCAM connectivity issues (mostly early models), infotainment glitches, suspension creaks on some cars, 12V battery failures on early builds
Polestar 3: Launch software bugs, occasional camera/sensor faults, OTA updates still improving features
Polestar 4: Software still maturing, missing promised features at launch, occasional key/app connectivity issues, limited service network