EVs with Hatchback and Tow Bar - Tesla Model Y v BMW i4 M50 v Polestar 2 

Sorry but I need to say the BMW is so ugly plus only 4 star NCAP. If you look at the scores it barely made 4 stars and its 15 grand more. Polestar 2 is good value, very safe, handles and looks nice but look in the forums and JD Power, got lots of bugs. Tesla Model Y is a winner for me. Tesla wins, Polestar second, BMW firth.

Another great vídeo ! Congrats

Love the three, but Y has thr space and eficiency

Girl might light that RED BMW interior, I hope BMW make that car LONGER so rear seat actually usable for tall people LOL

Why is everybody talking about tesla has better tech, better charging network etc? Do you buy the car to drive it as little as possible by yourself? The bmw is better in every way if you actually like to drive your car yourself. And most people who buys an ev has a wall charger at home. I've driven the range of teslas, but they are so minimalistic that I get bored after 1 day. Bmw for me.

The PS2 can be unlocked/locked and started with the phone as a digital key in the pocket. There’s no need to remove the phone from the pocket.

A third of BEV’s sold in the USA are model Y’s ! *33% of the market , just one car ! BMW and VW must be weeping* I do remember when everyone laughed at Elon, a little over 9 years ago.

Tesla's look like a half-used bar of soap that has been dropped in the shower. Also, having to do everything through a screen is a bit FruityCo fanboi rubbish. It's always better to have buttons and knobs for basics like seats, windows, heating / aircon, etc. I personally prefer the look of the Polestar but I would be very happy with the BMW.

BMW edrive40 for me. I was a huge Tesla fan for years, but the wife hated their sparseness, and froggy-looking front ends. We already own a 4 Series Gran Coupe, so the i4 was the natural choice. It's like the car we already know and love, but from the future. :)

Great video Richard! Really informative. For me I like the scandi chic of the polestar, and I personally would go for the smaller battery / single motor combo. Some of these new ev’s are getting way to heavy!

The PS2 app allows the following functions: via LTE/4G to the car: - lock and unlock the car with the touch of a button - check the battery level, latest estimated charging end time - change the AC charging speed of the car - turn/off climate control and set timings for them - show the location of the car (both street name and location on a map) Via bluetooth: - digital key to keyless lock/unlock and start the car

It feels to me as if the Tesla is quite a long way ahead in this field on the practical measures. With the model Y's better internal space, efficiency, charging infrastructure, and software, the others have a lot of ground to make up. (Even the Y's firm ride can to some extent be altered through choice of wheels and tyres of that's what people prefer.) The BMW and the Polestar are really addressing niche markets - essentially the long term fans of the stylishness and heritage of the BMW and grown up Volvo brands. It's a job they both do quite well. But in truth, the attempt to be even-handed doesn't reflect where the market is at. As one of the other commenters says, the Model Y represents, on its own, one third of the American BEV market. And it does so for many good reasons. That is a reality that should be reflected.

Ps2 owner. App does the essentials for now. Can act as the key which I use. Can schedule charge, climate. Its evolving as the car receives ota updates.

The June MY delivery owners are reporting a much smoother ride compared to the initial batch. My March MY is a little too firm but every other aspect of the car more than makes up for it. It is the only car I have ever owned that makes me smile driving to the shop to get some milk. If I was going to get an EV, I wanted the experience to be different and not like any other ICE car I’ve owned. The BMW is just a 4 series and the polestar is boring inside IMO. The Model Y is still so unconventional and that made me feel special I suppose. I test drove both the i4 and the polestar (amongst others) and it was only the Tesla that gave me the ‘feeling’. It’s all matter of taste and opinion so buy what you want and enjoy it. No one else will do it for you.

Model Y all day long.. love it’s cabin simplicity look, practical space, top tech.

Glad to hear you’re coming around to liking your M50. Your initial reactions were a bit disconcerting. I test drove an i4 around a month ago, along with model 3 performance & polestar. M50 won me over! It’s being delivered in October.

Model Y for efficiency, i4 for premium quality, Polestar 2 for design. I have a Polestar on order 🤩

Model Y for me ... It just has a very calm interior and very easy to drive, with all it's software, interface etc and a right good old punch when you want it to go.

I opted for the Polestar, thought the Telsa looked like a blancmange. One observation on the 'transmission tunnel' - the Polestars is full of batteries. Which in turn gives proper rear seat leg height, I found on many flat floor EVs your rear seat passengers have their knees up round the ears, not such a problem in the Y though. Incidentally something the Taycan also has for the same reason, they call it a 'foot garage'

I’ve had a long range single motor Polestar since last December, most of my driving is done on the M5 from Exeter to Bristol, I’m averaging about 260w/m driving at 70mph. I put my motorway range at 270m in summer and 250 in winter. Very comfortable ride, better than Tesla (Tesla owner opinion not mine). Recent software update has included Apple CarPlay which is fantastic and makes the car perfect in my opinion, perfect as long as you ignore rear visibility and the cup holders crap play to have the 2nd one under the arm rest. I was nervous about not having the supercharger network but the reality is I rarely charge out and about. Love my EV won’t have another ICE car, doing a long road trip to the Belgium GP in August excited to see what it’s like on a long trip.

For me gotta be the Polestar! And with the model year 24, it’s more efficient and has more power. Looking to place my order when they become available.

Let’s compare two sedans to an SUV so that the SUV were biased towards looks better than it actually is. 😂 I bet you won’t compare the Polestar 3 and the iX to the Model Y….ya know…the other brands SUV’s to that it’s an apples to apple comparison SMH

I find the ride quality with my Model Y long range with the standard 19" wheels pretty good, but with the bigger wheels it is quite rough, its a complaint heard many times... I have heard the new Model Y's coming from Berlin do have a little softer suspension now (Teslabjorn noticed it in one of his recent video's), because this is a critic heard many times, and Tesla seems to have listened to that. I love my Tesla Model Y, it tows my glider trailer with ease and the storage space makes it a perfect car for camping. You forgot to mention what each car can tow, Tesla can tow a 1600Kg trailer, I do not know what the other cars can tow, quite important bit of information if you need to tow something.

Hello Richard... We have a Tesla Model Y March-2022 -- I really don't think that it is that stiff a ride and find it very comfortable. to each their own I guess. One think that I would have like for your to do was to take all three of these cars and put a small trailer on each of them and driven a 100 miles or so and tested how they each did with the same load and the same distance.. maybe an idea for another video. Thanks very much -- Love the videos -- Keep up the good work. Andrew

Tesla for me. I really value efficiency, and the others just can’t keep up on that front. I like the sense of space and light in the model Y and the simplicity of the interior. The UI is great too. Really exciting products from a really REALLY exciting company. Can’t wait until my M Y arrives in the Autumn!

Model y all the way can beat the super charger network

Tesla looks like an ugly frog and the spaciness feels like driving a bus. It clearly has the best tech and app but I am buying a car in first hand - not a software - and seldom charge outside my house. Also, I dislike looking at and touching a screen beside my line of sight when driving.

I like the BMW the most, but I have a Model Y Long Range on order. Family car, so the Y's practicality dominates in this group.

I have a Model S 75D from 2017 and like it a lot. I took a drive in a Model Y some time ago and was disapointed. To start with im not a fan of the look. But it was not fun at all to drive and the interior is too minimalistic for my taste. My next car will probably be a Polestar 2 or a Nio ET5.

Driven the Polestar single motor and dual motor, both really good cars. Got a test of the i4 in a few weeks and about to order two Model Ys for colleagues. Out of the 3 I’d probably have the Polestar 2, but waiting to see what the 3 is like

Undeniable that the BMW looks bad ass in comparison.

I'd take the BMW. It's the coolest looking in my eyes, I know BMW mastered driving dynamics and I'm just so used to how BMWs are controlled. But tbh, I'd take the M440i over the i4. More disadvantages than with an ICE in my use case. Honestly, it's very refreshing to see how different those three are. Can't remember when an A4, C-class and 3 series were so diverse.

i like the bmw,, strangely the look has grown on me as well especially in the darker black mettalic or dark grey metallic colours(currently deciding between those two for my order) that have less contrast with the grille. I think the shadowline + laserlight combination really do make it stand out more and also help take away focus from the grille lol

Here in Aus, even the lowest spec BMW EV's cost well north of $100K so it really puts it out of reach and not comparable with the other 2. So then you have the Polestar and the Model Y to chose from. It is a personal choice but for me the Tesla styling is just off-putting and their insistence that absolutely everything must work through the centre screen is also off-putting. Makes the choice easy. And ... I have a Polestar on order

The BMW has comfort access as well, and then you just need to have your key with you and the car opens and closes by proximity. It's an option though, but it's available. Depending on the key it loads the right driver profile as well.

The best car is a combination of the best aspects of all 3 of these. The Polestar's refined design language, seats and control system, the BMW's ride dynamics and power, and the Tesla's practicality and charging infrastructure. I have opted for the Polestar because I'm a designer and can't live with something that doesn't make look back at it when I walk away (also assuming it's functionality meets my needs). I'm fairly confident the Polestar will have that effect. In black, it's a symphony of menace and has real presence. The BMW is 'just another BMW' with plastic butt cheeks for a grille, and the Tesla looks like a mould for a child's jelly or blancmange. Just couldn't take it seriously despite the clear advantages it has to offer.

I love how the Made in Germany Model Ys deliver a slight to significant improvement in ride quality and in interior quality (door-thump, softly padded lower doorcards and carpeted door pockets, slightly better seats)! To be honest, some of the materials in the BMW i4 I test drove felt worse (and looked worse, damn "piano black" plastic).

Polestar for me the main reason is look and feel inside and out. 6 Years ago we were looking at small SUV's and I had basically decided on a Honda HRV practicality wise it ticked every box. Sat in it gave it a drive and we then drove a Suzuki Vitatra Turbo and there was no way we were getting the HRV it was on paper perfect but not in the real world. For me the Model Y is the HRV on paper it is the choice to get and I sat on the order page and I just could not do it turn around and ordered the Polestar. The BMW is too expensive here it's basically double the price so not in the same contest really.

the BMW i4 was rated 4 stars only on Euro-NCAP's crash tests - unconceivable and really disappointing for an otherwise very appealing car (the Drive 40 as far as I would be concerned, because of comfort and efficiency/range).

In reality the 3 cars aren’t in the same class. The P2 and i4 are fastback sedans based on ICE platforms, the MY is a clean sheet EV Crossover design. The Model 3 is more the competitor for the BMW and Polestar. The MY more like the BMW iX3 and Volvo XC40 recharge maybe? For a family, the MY wins hands down because of the space inside. Likewise if you want the most efficient, the MY wins. As a Model 3 owner I like the airiness of the cabin and the visibility and the slightly higher ride height of the MY adds to that. However, for pure driving pleasure, the i4 wins hands down. It is quieter and more comfortable than the other two but then it is in a different class pricewise.

Model Y for me ... because if I really need to improve the ride I can go after market with the suspension ... you can't change the practically details with aftermarket ... I think you can also go after market with the tow hitch ... though I haven't researched that.

The door closure from the German made Tesla Model Y is SOLID. Try it.

Tesla ... Locks like a guppy fish. BMW... looks like a big beaver. Polestar... actually looks like a car. Case closed.

Polestar does look nice, and has some real character. However model Y ticks the practicality box so no regrets about ordering that

I wish I could have ordered my Tesla with real leather ! (BMW grasp that it’s actually “better” to use the whole cow ! ) … eat the meat and use the skin and bones for “products” ….. a far better idea than manufacturing PVC !

Tesla is the best by far. had mine 4 years ,3 miles cost 7.5 pence ,only pay for windshield washer .

Model y for me, very children friendly. I will start saving.

What happened to the model 3 towbars? Can they still be retrofitted? Love the looks and some of the interior of the polestar, but the Tesla infotainment & efficiency win me over If only they would add a ski hatch on model 3 🤔

Google maps and google assistant works just as well as Teslas software in the latest Polestar 2024. Maybe there has been a software update since this video was made? Now you can use voice control to navigate and it will show you charging stops along the way, with the number of available booths and what facilities is nearby. It accurately predicts your battery level, starts preheating and you can also choose to filter charging stations by brands like Cirkle K, Tesla, Ionity etc. I was surprised how good it is, since I had a Tesla and everyone said Tesla has superior software.

Why are u even comparing different segments even if they only have a tow hitch /hatch back in common. OF COURSE the Model Y will have more room! Its an SUV Crossover,.NOT a Sedan! lol u keep knocking the i4 for this default. A SUV shopper will be different from a Sedan shopper.

The Polestar centre console alone completely ruled it out for us. After the 30minute test drive my knee was legitimately sore for rubbing and bumping against the console constantly. There’s no way I would be comfortable in the car on long drives.

Masterful strait dope exposition, thanks. Tesla for me, voted with my feet, awesome car, no regrets but of course nothing is without fault. Slight lack of luxury but I go for sport and practicality. I would have not known much about the BMW or Polestar before this video, it did reinforce my choice of the Musk-mobile.

Can't imagine towing with any EV a very practical proposition. If you needed to recharge it on a journey, you'd have to unhitch your trailer each time? Would be the Model Y, if only for the charging infrastructure.....

The BMW and Polestar looks awesome and have better quality materials and probably tho not sure for the BMW better made than the Tesla. But the Model Y here destroys them both! In terms of practicality frunk and trunk a lot more than the other 2. In terms of inside space for putting things the front storages are much much bigger. Passenger space is a also a lot more and it can physically put more people inside and them being more comfortable. Practicality killed it! Another thing is software. If we juts look at the displays the Tesla's display looks modern and fresh. The other 2 look like at least 10 years older. The software on a whole different level as well as the PC hardware inside. Also things like efficiency and the charging infrastructure. Tesla has way too many advantages even to this day.

The red leather reminds me of my migraines

Having owned both the Tesla Model Y and i4, there are pros and cons. Before the Tesla price drop, it would have been a harder choice. But the Tesla wasn’t work the nearly $70,000 they wanted. So I went with i4 to replace the Tesla.

1 week of a model Y using it as a taxi. Everyone that gets in comments on how much space there is compared to any other taxis in the area. Roof gets lots of comments, 👍 Haven’t had any issues re ride comfort, seems not too dissimilar to the Kia eniro I was using this past year. Love the tech inside, especially when I’m sitting around waiting for a job, or a delayed flight 👍 Downsides - issues getting in & out due to not knowing how the handles/buttons work. My issue is that passengers can easily see the speed I’m going & if I’m over the speed limit! I also find the autopilot compared to the standard lanekeep assist, I’ve had on the Kia & a VW Tiguan, to be very stubborn & whereas the others let me correct slightly any deviation (especially on bends and country lanes). The Tesla autopilot immediately disengages if I dare ‘help’ as I’d refer to it, when it seems to be veering too close to the hedges or centreline 🤷‍♂️. But maybe it’s just not used to me yet, it has only been 11 days since I picked the car up

Difficult to look past the ease of the use of the Tesla for me - the whole charging / routing ecosystem, the app, the features that just make day to day use easy. Main downsides are lights and wipers.

eventhough I'm not an ev guy. I really enjoy your content and comparisons. keep up the great work buddy

I prefer the BMW for the looks, the comfort, the quality. I already drive BMW for more than 30 years and I'm a happy man!

cool. would love to see a video about the fancy laser headlights sometime. What exactly does that mean?

I find it ridiculous to compare an SUV with a sedan, especially if you compare interior spaces or trunk etc. next time, compare a truck with a subcompact to see who has more space.

Jos ihmettelet mitä nuo "muttyvillies" ovat, niin ne on sitten kumpparit paikallisella kielellä. -> [MyddyWellies are rubber boots.]

Bmw i4 everytime best car to drive ,refined comfortable and the best built car there.

Tesla Model Y for me because in my country BMW is double price of Tesla + Polestar does not exist.

Just ordered the i4 M50 in black also 👌 Pan roof, carbon interior and off course the 20” wheels 😎 To go the sport seats also…hmmmm. Trading in my X3M 21 Comp. Think I’ll be saving a bit given I’m 550 a month on fuel 😂. Love the channel

Reviewer missed safety of Polestar; much better safety features than the Y or the I4!!!😢

I4 is stunning. BMWs design language is so good at the moment. They are making Audis look dated.

You didn’t talk about how the vehicles work with a trailer. What does the vehicle tow? And all the ins and outs of trailer control.

If the Tesla had adaptive dampers and an ability to soften the ride quality I would buy one . There unacceptably hard on the road so it’s a deal breaker for me .

I feel sorry for the uk market having to put up with such pathetic tow vehicles

whoever design Model Y Rear Seat Cuop Holder need to go Lol

Model y for efficiency and space but would love to have the bmw if I was a bachelor.

Great video Richard , which one of these would be your favourite

I have a model y and an m50 on order. At the moment i think the model y has the edge. However, im tempted by the Polestar BST 270? Any thoughts on it Richard?

Did I miss the towing weights ?

I wouldn’t use the phone to access the BMW, it means having the key on you but using Comfort Access will unlock/lock the car as you approach/leave, much like the Tesla. Plus, I’d never rely on just using a phone to access a car…what if you lost the phone or had it stolen..? Maybe just me, but I’d prefer to have a key in my pocket controlling access. Enjoying the content, Richard, please keep it up!

BMW and Polestar are not on dedicated ev platform for this reason those are small inside 👎

Why doesn’t the American version of bmw i4 have a tow hitch?😢

I ordered a blue model Y with white interior May 1st and expected delivery is September or October. My biggest concern was the suspension but I tried a Performance model with 20" wheels and the suspension was much better than my old Citroën Grand C4 Picasso, I chose the standard wheels since I am a clown to take care of my wheels and I really don't care about the looks. The price in Denmark is £65½K By the way, great thoroughly comparison, but I don't regret my order

I Think the y model is the wrong comparison to the two others.

Who included the Chevy Malibu maxx?

Do a review on the new MG

But the BMW is Rubbis.... All look great. I test drove the BMW and model Y. Ended up going for the Model Y. Love technology in the car, space, speed loverly white, minimal interior and huge glass roof, space is ridiculous, practical but still a beast when you want it to be. The Y by a long way.

Polestar for me. The Model Y just looks awful.

Hi, Richard. I'm working my way through your EV videos; they make for excellent viewing. In the recent past, I've owned a couple of Lotus and a couple of McLarens, so I need quite a lot of persuasion to buy electric. My main reservation is - What happens when the batteries stop charging? I spoke to Jaguar about this with regard to their I-Pace. They quoted £30k+ for replacing the batteries - although I got the impression this was something they didn't want to - maybe couldn't - do. So, as someone I've come to trust in this field, can you shed light on this, please?

How is Model Y boot space (854 litres (seats up)) so much bigger on paper than i4's (470-litre)? It does not seem so much bigger. Model Y: 108 cm deep, 95 cm wide, (height was not measured). i4: 99 deep, 89 wide, 47 cm heigt. Polestar: 100 cm deep, 100 cm wide, 40 cm height Does not seem to be so much difference.

Based on looks alone the Polestar. Not keen on the BMW at all looks very cramped and very expensive. Model Y ? Should’ve been a model 3 as it’s a better match to the competition as the Y only MPV there. Tesla supercharging network can’t be beaten though. Polestar needs it’s own charging network to really compete - other charging companies seem to charge double what Tesla charge ? So it’s got to be 1) Tesla 2) Polestar 3) BMW. Good video - slightly ruined by RU-vid annoying adverts every 5 minutes !

Just a heads up on the Tesla door entry system. Tesla model 3 SR+ 2021 LFP from China. Wife goes to car park late at night to collect car. Opens door with phone as normal. Puts bag on seat, closes door and goes to disconnect from charging. Car locks her out. In the bag is her phone and her key card. Fortunately the car park attendant lets her use his phone to call me so I can remotely unlock the car. Anyone else experience something like this? Obviously moral of the story is not to leave your phone and card in the car with the door closed, but surely this shouldn’t happen.

How would you rate the ride comfort of the model Y compared to the BMW i3?

Tried all 3 on test drive. BMW felt too dark inside, Polestar felt too small inside. Loved the size/space of the tesla. BMW was built incredibly well, felt solid, same for Polestar. Tesla didn't feel as solid. BMW felt like a sports car, Polestar felt like a cruiser. Tesla felt fast and solid but with some body roll when pushed. Overall preferred the minimalist Tesla interior and the bigger space for family, speed was a bonus. Ordered a Model Y LR, But now worried about costs rising on electricity and Insurance!!

BMW has switched to building Beavers. Efficient dynamics seems also gone. How is the Tesla higher and more efficient?

I recently considered all 3. I ruled out the Tesla because I really only like the Model S, the others are just not luxury enough for me. I ordered then cancelled the BMW because I discovered the Polestar and liked the extra room inside and the Android system with a price of 10-20,000 less. So, I happily have a Polestar on order. When BMW comes out with the i5, I may go back to BMW, which is by far the most luxurious.

Suspension on the Model Y is slightly stiff!? A medieval ox cart with wooden wheels would have a plusher ride than this thing. Had one for about 2 weeks now and it's brutal. Do have the 20" wheels, but even so. I reduced the psi from 43 to 40 and it does help a little bit. Some talk online that its eases somewhat over time. Can only hope this is the case. I see quite a few owners in the US are replacing the dampers. Might need to be something I need to consider. Would definitely test drive this car before buying it. Had a M3P before and the ride was fine, so unfortunately I didn't.

My choice is the Tesla Model Y and I currently have one on order at the old UK price. Why? I currently have a Kona EV 64kW Prem SE with head up display etc, which I bought from new and will be 3 years old in Aug. It's a great car, very efficient (I can easily achieve 4.3 mile / kWh in comfort mode if I am not too heavy on the accelerator pedal) and performs well. It also has a brand new 64 kWh traction battery replaced under recall. The downsides are space (based on an ICE model), software (no phone app) and the UK public charging network. I was going to replace it with an IONIQ 5 as it was designed from the ground up as an EV and my local Hyundai dealer is exceptionally good, but it's not as efficient as my old Kona or the Tesla, and it bugged me that the heat pump and battery heater were optional extras but were standard on my Kona. Plus, the UK model at the time of ordering had a smaller long-range battery compared with its Kia EV6 sibling (2023 model now has the same size battery). I've had lots of BMWs. Build quality and handling have always been good, only let down by the local dealer, and I feel i4 is currently overpriced for what you get especially if you want AWD version as I don't like rear wheel only drive cars. I also didn't want a new EV based on an ICE platform, hence ruled out the BMW i4. What really won me over on the Tesla Model Y was space, software, and super charger network. Additionally, we recently got a Tesla Service Centre in Chelmsford, which was another bonus. The Tesla Model Y may initially seem expensive, but when you have finished adding on all the optional extras on other EVs to arrive at an equivalent specification, the IONIQ 5 was more expensive and the BMW i4 significantly more expensive!

Did the brake calliper’s come painted red or did you paint these? Just ordered the MY LR with the 20” wheels but thought the calliper’s were only red on the performance model? (Having seen this video I’m hoping mine comes with the red callipers as they look better imo).

The latest batch of MYs from China don't have the module for the tow bar electrics installed, which I found out whilst a Tesla Service Centre was installing mine. They don't have an ETA on when the part will be available. They said this was due to the chip shortage, and they are just finding this out.

Richard my name is Richard too…I must say your other video led me to buy my merc. Your videos are the best, practical and real world. It just makes all the sense. Good job!! You definitely give the shopper the confidence and answer all the questions.

It’d be the BMW for me. Best looking and quality by a mile. CarPlay and luxury. I would like the Tesla more if it didn’t look like a kitchen appliance, especially in white, and if it had CarPlay and some separate controls for the aircon.

Well model Y is an SUV where both the BMW and PS2 are really sedans with a hatchback intended to challenge the Model 3. A non existent Model 3 with a hatch opening would be a better comparison for interior size. I think the oncoming Polestar 3 or 4 for example is more the Model Y competitor.