[PNWPolestar2!]

My wife has a 2023 Volvo C40 AWD and while it's really nice and comfortable to drive, it does not handle any way close to my Polestar 2. The Volvo wallows around bends if pushed hard and it sits higher than my Polestar 2 which is the PPP trim. Polestar 2 wins all day long!

 

[Dude]

Per the OP'ss question of how the P2 and XC40 differentiate...

Well, at first glance, it's very obvious. One looks more like a sedan (technically a crossover), while the other looks like just another SUV. For me, the traditional SUV look has gotten old.

90% of people make their car buying decision based on two factors: (1) looks and (2) price.

 

[eGuru]

Per the OP'ss question of how the P2 and XC40 differentiate...

Well, at first glance, it's very obvious. One looks more like a sedan (technically a crossover), while the other looks like just another SUV. For me, the traditional SUV look has gotten old.

90% of people make their car buying decision based on two factors: (1) looks and (2) price.

Where are you finding that 90% statistic?

 

[Dude]

Where are you finding that 90% statistic?

At a sales and marketing seminar I attended last year.

Doesn't mean that other factors aren't considered, but say, for example, people won't buy a car if they really don't like the looks, while overlooking things like the number of cupholders. Most cars have very similar options on cars these days, so that's a wash.

Price is still the key driver for the majority of people. But the 1% group really don't worry about price.

 

[Dude]

As an aside, when I go to look at a new model for the first time....while walking away from the car, if I don't turn around to get another glance, that is my signal to myself that I'm not interested.

IMO, looking at. a car is like admiring a beautiful woman.

 

[Tacoenthusiast]

Per the OP'ss question of how the P2 and XC40 differentiate...

Well, at first glance, it's very obvious. One looks more like a sedan (technically a crossover), while the other looks like just another SUV. For me, the traditional SUV look has gotten old.

Yeah xc40 is a total mom ride, might as well be a crv or rav4

 

[evinyatar]

I did a test drive last week with the C40 LRSM (same underpinnings as the XC40) and the EX30 Twin Motor, as I'm looking for a replacement for my PS2 LRDM (non-performance). The first thing I noticed about the C40 was how much worse the rear visibility is; I'm 1.90m, the chair was at the lowest setting, and I had to duck to see anything through the rear-view mirror. The second thing I noticed how different the handling is; it's a much softer suspension and it felt like I was driving a boat. The EX30 wasn't much better in that regard; it feels a lot quicker compared to the PS2, but in the curves it feels like it's rocking you to sleep. The obvious upside to that is that on cobblestones, these don't rattle at all; my PS2 sounds like it's going to come apart sometimes on those same roads.
I did appreciate however how well the upgraded infotainment system in the EX30 works; it wasn't the final software yet so no wireless carplay yet, but it already felt a lot faster than what's in our PS2's.
Long story short; I'm probably going for a 2024 PS2 again.

 

[CCS]

Do we know why Polestar chose to include the transmission tunnel? I see why it's there in the Volvo but couldn't they have left it out on the PS2? Is the tunnel a part of the chassis rigidity in the CMA? Not that I'm concerned about it - just curious.

I believe the tunnel on the Polestar has more batteries in it so I suppose overall it sits lower than it would otherwise

 

[Giove]

Do we know why Polestar chose to include the transmission tunnel? I see why it's there in the Volvo but couldn't they have left it out on the PS2? Is the tunnel a part of the chassis rigidity in the CMA? Not that I'm concerned about it - just curious.

because the section between front axle and steering wheel is the only fixed mark in CMA platform.
the "transmission tunnel" contains rigidity structure so is not negotiable.