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Curiosity for those whom have driven a Polestar 2 for a decent test drive

Pete77a | 2026-03-08 00:05 | 3 views

I drove the 2026 Model 3 Long Range RWD in Australia. It drove well but the one foot driving was a little to get used to. I was ok, but my wife wouldn't be for while if she only drives it occasionally. Tried looking how to turn it down so it wasn't so different than what I'm (and most people) are used to but couldn't find the setting.. I find out the reason why it doesnt exist anymore. The Model 3 has ditched the smarter more complex brake system which starts as regen and then uses brake pads once the motors can't apply enough force. The break pedal is now always using the pads from the get go plus regen. What it means though is the only way Tesla can make regen work without brake pads is now on the throttle, this why regen can't be turned down. Seems the model Y still has the smart more complex brake system though. The byd atto 3 I drove for my wife's demo car (we didn't buy as it wasn't for her) had regen only on brake pedal then combined afterwards, but it was too obvious when it transitioned from regen to brake pads wo I didn't like it anyway. However I have rented a few other evs. Mainly the Cupra Born EV which was ok.. almost not noticeable when the transition occured. The Polestar 2 was great. No signs of when it transitioned from regen to pads and really liked the braking system in it. I know that there are fans of one pedal driving, but now that Tesla have cut down on costs/simplicity on how the brake pedal works on the model 3 there is no option to adjust so it's forced with it. I really liked the Polestar 2 smarter braking system where I could turn down regen on the right pedal, so when I really wanted to break I used the brake pedal lightly and it was just regen brake unless I pushed harder. Backing off throttle meant it coasted which I liked. Has anyone that wasn't a fan of one pedal driving before, actually grown to like it or do you just put up with it? I like the model 3 long range otherwise.. with a few small caveats.

Comments (9)
DueOne1223 2026-03-08 00:40

I'm going to be honest you will get used to one pedal driving very quickly ... I now find it weird going back to an ice car and having to use the breaks so much ... The only thing you need to get used to is not letting go of the accelerator fully.. if you want to slow down you depress the accelerator slightly and it will slow down ... Let go fully and it will start braking for you through regen.. Within about two days of driving you will get so used it.. you won't need to even touch the breaks .. the regens that have smart built into it I have found to be a faff.. Just one setting I would reccomend is change to hold .. so that way regen can come to complete stop for you and the only time the Tesla will use the brakes and blend it with regen is when the battery is above 95% or the battery is too cold to regen .. Tesla's 2021 and above I believe now blend the brakes in automatically so it reacts like regen...

meental 2026-03-08 00:55

I have owned a model 3 and Y, the model 3 has never had regen tied to the brake pedal, it is on the new Y. One pedal and no creep is the easiest thing to get used to as tesla has a very good programming, you'll almost never touch the brake pedal. Other manufacturers have very jerky one pedal/auto hold. I have rented polestar a few times and honest was not impressed. Very cramped inside with the large center console.

TogaPower 2026-03-08 02:02

It does not take long to get used to at all. The human brain is more than capable at adapting to single-pedal driving after a short while. It should absolutely not be a determining factor for the choosing of a car. The wife will be fine too, even if only driving it occasionally. At worst, it’s a bit awkward at first but isn’t dangerous/not-fine

Pete77a 2026-03-08 03:41

Thanks All. I test drive for 20 minutes only and it was fine, pulled up at proper distances after the first stop which I admit caught me by surprise. It was leaving the carpark. As my drive was short it was too hard to get a full idea to be honest. Everything was light breaking and normal traffic and it became familiar for that drive. I was more wondering as I never actually used the brake on the drive I wasn't fully sure. In hindsight.. probably should have found a drive that I could have explored things more.

digitalglu 2026-03-08 06:14

I thought it drove like a row boat compared to a boosted Y or a performance Y. Software and route planning was garbage. Visibility is quite poor compared to a Y. Didn't like the interior design at all. One glaring fault was the arm support. For taller drivers, when the seat is pushed back you lose support on the door arm rest and the center console arm rest at the back. So, your elbows hang off and essentially you're resting your arms on the far edge of both. And by taller I literally mean taller than 5'6", which is about the tallest I imagine would be comfortable, unless you have extremely short legs and don't need the seat back as far.

Pete77a 2026-03-08 06:18

Assume you are referring to the Polestar 2? I'm just a touch over 6 foot and didn't feel that. In saying that it was much more closed in, I do remember that. It didn't have much punch but it was the older 170 kw one. At the time I didn't drive it with the mindset of owning one I'll be honest, it was just a rental and short distance trips. So I didn't have the mindset to look for details. I used Android Auto and that's all I saw in the car infotainment.

Pete77a 2026-03-08 06:21

So how do you find the braking on the new Y. More compared to the model 3. Do you change regen braking settings or do you use one pedal driving anyway?

digitalglu 2026-03-08 06:26

Yes, the 2. I rented one specifically to do a detailed comparison between the it and the Y. The weird road response during acceleration and deceleration was the biggest red flag and was enough for me to actually not want to drive it anymore than I had to. The interior design (especially with the arm rests... which would've bothered the crap out of me on longer trips) was just an indicator that they didn't take human ergonomics as seriously as they should've. And that told me someone made a decision to not adhere to old school Volvo design rules for ergonomics, probably to cut corners, time line, or something. Either way, it was an indicator that poor decisions on major details went into the car, so it wasn't worth my money to discover what they all were.

meental 2026-03-08 06:37

I have always used one pedal, rarely do i use the brakes but I do like the blended regen with the brake pedal if needed.

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