Family review of the best EVs from BMW, Mercedes-AMG and Polestar

The Mercedes-AMG EQS 53, Polestar 2 and BMW i4 M50 are the latest EV stars to shine, but how do they rate with the family?

Three leading performance EVs, the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 (top), Polestar 2 (left) and BMW i4 M50 (right).

Born as a motorsport tuner, Polestar has morphed into an electric vehicle powerhouse under the Volvo umbrella. Polestar has become an EV sales star, and last month more than 200 ‘2s’ found homes in Australia.

Born as a motorsport tuner, Polestar has morphed into an electric vehicle powerhouse under the Volvo umbrella. Polestar has become an EV sales star, and last month more than 200 ‘2s’ found homes in Australia.

Across the board, availability has been tight, exacerbated by Covid lockdowns in China (where Polestars are produced).

Additional supply has been secured for 2023 and wait times are about four months.

Prices for the Polestar 2 start from just over $60,000 drive-away, but with options and the dual motor long range version it pushes closer to $100,000.

WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS

GRANT: Robust from the outside, I get a hint of Transformers and the American Chevy Camaro muscle car. Yet the Polestar is chiselled athleticism with refinement.

KEL: Sedan popularity has declined, and I know I’m an SUV convert, but the Polestar has an air of exclusivity.

GRANT: Renowned for Scandinavian interior design, I’m a fan of the minimalist styling. The 11.2-inch vertical touchscreen, Google control functionality enables occupants to ask for directions which are linked to the maps, change the music, alter the climate control or manage your calendar – which works with Apple or Android devices.

KEL: Functionality was good in terms of storage and operations, and while it was unique to not turn a key to power on or off, you quickly became accustomed to access points.

Our test car featured the Pilot ($3400), Plus ($6000) and Performance ($8000) packs.

WHAT DID YOU LIKE AND LOATHE?

GRANT: Interior space is excellent and four adults find comfort without issue. Boot space is also impressive.

KEL: The cabin feels expensive and I loved the finishes. It felt like driving around in a high-end homewares shop. The stereo was awesome and I loved the yellow brake calipers as well as the seatbelts.

GRANT: Prices for the long-range dual motor vehicle start from less than $80k, but we had the Pilot ($3400), Plus ($6000) and Performance ($8000) packs which push the price close to $100,000. That’s a rapid rise.

KEL: Wireless phone charging and the four USB-C points were good, although the single cup holder and another hidden in the console was awkward.

Cabin styling in the Polestar 2 is minimalist Scandi.

HOW WAS THE DRIVE?

GRANT: Like most electric vehicles, it’s quick off the mark. Accessing the sport mode delivers the most rapid performance.

KEL: During some winding roads it felt well planted although firm over bumps and lumps.

GRANT: Accomplished without being scintillating, the performance proved adept across rural and metropolitan areas with direct steering. One-pedal driving was at the fore with regeneration settings at the highest level rapidly slowly the Polestar.

KEL: Once you get used to that driving style there is little use for the brake.

The Polestar 2 shows its sporting side with a change of driving mode.

WOULD YOU BUY ONE?

GRANT: After analysing the various packs, I’d have the Polestar on my electric vehicle shortlist. It’s not as dynamic as the other vehicles tested here, but it’s also substantially less expensive.

KEL: The look inside and out ticks my boxes. I’ve quickly become a fan of the brand, although I could survive with a cheaper single motor version as a daily driver even if it isn’t as fast off the line.

Kel and Grant Edwards.

BMW I4 M50

Red, violet and blue means everything to true BMW fans. The colour palette has been the hallmark of the German marque’s performance heroes since the 1960s and in a sign the future has arrived, an electric vehicle now wears the honour.

The i4 shares its underpinnings with the 4 Series Gran Coupe, which itself is an offshoot from the 3 Series sedan.

The 2022 model BMW i4 M50.

WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS?

GRANT: Apart from the ‘EV’ sticker on the number plate and the enclosed kidney grille, most people would struggle to pick the electric tech featured under the metal.

KEL: Our test car was finished with an awesome matt blue paint job. It looked every bit the part of a sporty sedan in my opinion.

GRANT: This is a true rival to the Tesla Model 3 Performance, although Elon Musk’s option is about $45k less expensive. That said there are cheaper visions of the i4 available, close to the $100,000 mark.

KEL: All the Teslas I’ve been inside have left me wondering about their longevity. Whereas the i4 50M felt like a true sports car.

Under the skin of the BMW i4 M50 are dual motors generating 400kW/795Nm sending power to all wheels.

WHAT DID YOU LIKE AND LOATHE?

GRANT: Strong M feature levels come via heated front sports seats, large sunroof, leather-clad steering wheel and an aerodynamic package.

KEL: Crisp high-definition screens look the goods, and the 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system was awesome.

GRANT: Cabin functionality was typically BMW, although the seat-heater controls within the menu were frustrating.

KEL: I know BMW isn’t alone in that realm, I still find it better to have quick access buttons.

GRANT: Four adults would find ample room inside (although there is still a hump in the floor between rear passengers due to its architectural lineage) while the rear seats fold flat making space for flatpack furniture or sporting equipment.

KEL: The boot was huge and I managed 10 full grocery bags without spilling into the back seat.

Interior styling of the i4 M50 is typically BMW.

HOW WAS THE DRIVE?

GRANT: Drive modes deliver vastly different experiences. Comfort has the i4 rolling as an easy daily cruiser, but select Sport and it’s a savage beast.

KEL: It was super fast. Almost neck-brace-required quick.

GRANT: Like the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53, it can manage the 0-100km/h sprint in less than four seconds.

KEL: I found the ride firm and there were some interesting noises generated.

GRANT: BMW actually had movie musician Hans Zimmer develop the soundtracks for the i4, which dial up and down the effects to accompany the various modes. Sport has the loudest.

KEL: I thought it sounded cool, almost like an engine.

The 0-100km/h time of the BMW i4 M50 is 3.9 seconds.

WOULD YOU BUY ONE?

GRANT: When it comes to meeting expectations, BMW has done a cracking job of living up to the M badge benchmarks. Diehards still won’t be convinced, although it’s a big step toward maintaining the driving excitement of old in a new world.

KEL: Nice to drive with sporty finishes inside and out, I enjoyed the i4 M50. But if I was going electric I’d keen to take the leap with the latest innovation and I’d be chasing something completely different – rather than just an electric version of what’s already available.

The first AMG electric vehicle from Mercedes, the EQS 53 4Matic+.

MERCEDES-AMG EQS 53

The hallow AMG performance brand has been jolted into submission.

Once the domain of big engines and even greater noise, the EQS 53 4Matic+ is the first all-electric vehicle to wear Mercedes’ most athletic badge.

Drive-away pricing for the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4Matic+ starts from about $350,000.

WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS?

KEL: Wow. Externally it certainly attracts attention, but climb inside and I felt like it was entering an IMAX theatre.

GRANT: Stretching across the entire dash is a 1.41m curved display. While it looks like one, the glass panel houses three screens. It’s a technological tour de force.

KEL: I’m not super savvy with a lot of this latest equipment, but I did find it easy to operate. My Apple CarPlay looked super-sized.

GRANT: Using the profiles under the Mercedes user experience, it can learn your habits and preferences.

KEL: Everything is dripping with expense. The massage seats, four-zone aircon, supple leather trim, it’s everything you’d expect for this kind of money.

There is serious wow factor inside the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4Matic+.

WHAT DID YOU LIKE AND LOATHE?

GRANT: It was big. Longer than a Toyota LandCruiser at 5.2m. So basketball centres make yourself at home, front or back.

KEL: The luxury levels were as good as I’ve experienced. Front seats with heating, cooling and massage functions were brilliant. Nothing felt difficult despite the array of technical wizardry within … it was relaxing although I’m always paranoid about other drivers when steering a car worth this kind of money.

GRANT: It generated cool soundtracks just unlocking and charging. Far cooler than beeps and bongs of traditional vehicles. Over the years I’ve developed an attachment to AMGs, the fire-breaking V8s with a soundtrack to raise hell. The EQS 53 is almost too nice.

KEL: I remember those burly C63 and E63 models fondly. But I’ve matured and I really liked the nature of this AMG.

Door handles pop out when the key is detected near the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4Matic+.

HOW WAS THE DRIVE?

GRANT: In standard guise it delivers 484kW/950Nm, but for an extra $7690 a pack bolsters performance to 560kW/1020. It also comes with a special “sound experience” to deliver what you’d expect from an AMG.

KEL: I’m not sure I’d need any additional firepower. Off the line it’s super fast.

GRANT: Reaching 100km/h in less than four seconds (3.8 in standard mode and 3.4 with the extra pack) is always going to feel insanely quick.

KEL: Rarely did it feel too big. Even parking was easy.

GRANT: That was courtesy of the four-wheel steering. Rear-wheel steering makes the long sedan feel like a hatchback in tight spaces.

KEL: In the past some of the performance models were intimidating to drive although I never had that feeling in the EQS.

The Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4Matic+.

WOULD YOU BUY ONE?

GRANT: While I’m on-board the EV revolution, the AMG badge has a special place in my heart. The EQS 53 is spectacular in so many ways with near unrivalled luxury levels, but it doesn’t inspire or excite like AMGs of the past.

KEL: One thing they can’t replicate is that original theatre but AMG has done a good job with the artificial sounds. I really liked the opulence although that price ensures it’s for a lucky few.