A proper test drive, in our opinion, isn’t a quick loop around town. It’s loading the car up, heading somewhere beautiful and seeing how it fits into real life. So when we spent time with the Polestar 4, we turned it into a 48-hour North Wales adventure, covering over 500 miles.
There was no rigid plan for this trip, just a chance to put some miles on the car and see how it dealt with long distances, dogs, luggage and winding Welsh roads.
Day one: The drive into Wales
Day one was very much about the journey. Living right down south meant we had a long drive ahead, so the first few hours were simply about getting some miles done and settling into the car. During this time, we had a chance to test out features like adaptive cruise control and automatic lane changing. It was a strange feeling not being fully in control at first. At one point, I even took my hands off the wheel briefly just to see how it behaved, which felt completely mad, but it worked so well, taking a lot of the effort out of long stretches of driving.
We headed west via Hereford, stopping for lunch at The Beefy Boys. It’s not dog-friendly indoors, but it’s been on our list for a while, so it was worth sitting outside for. I have to say, it was bloody good burger and the milkshake was also a solid 9/10.
From there, the scenery slowly began to shift. As we entered mid Wales, the roads opened up and the drive became something to enjoy rather than rush through. Long, quiet stretches and rolling hills made it the perfect place to properly settle in – heated seats on, heated steering wheel doing its thing, and the massage seats, which were genuinely my favourite thing I’ve ever experienced in a car.
By the time we reached Snowdonia (Eryri), we felt completely at home with the Polestar 4.
We stayed at Plas Weunydd, in one of their Llechwedd glamping tents. It was our first time staying in a glamping tent, and overall, we really enjoyed it.
The tent had everything we needed and felt well thought out, but being high up in the mountains it was definitely chilly. There was a small heater and a log burner in the tent, but you’re very much at the mercy of the weather up there. The tent also sits right on the edge of a cliff, so the dogs were on leads at all times – something to be aware of if you’re travelling with pets.
We plugged the Polestar in to charge as soon as we arrived (which was much appreciated) and then went back to the tent to unpack and switch off for the evening. Knowing the car would be fully charged by morning removed any need to think about range at all.
Day two: Villages, lakes and waterfalls
Saturday started in Betws-y-Coed, wandering around the village before heading out for a walk at Llyn Elsi.
The walk took around two and a half hours and loops around a vast, peaceful lake. The elevation is fairly strong at the start, but once you’re up there, the views are completely worth it – wide, dramatic and uninterrupted. It’s one of those walks where you stop far more often than planned just to take it all in. We took a small picnic and stopped for snacks with a view, and I couldn’t resist bringing the camera along too – it felt like one of those places that almost demands a few photos. My only regret… Not taking the drone. Honestly, it’s one of the best walks I have done. Stunning!
On the way out of Betws-y-Coed, we made a short stop at Swallow Falls. Entry costs £2, and although we were only there for about 20 minutes, it’s absolutely worth a look. The falls are beautiful, though I can imagine it gets very busy in peak season. I never realised how many waterfalls there are in Wales, but I am excited to go back and see more.
Dinner was pizza from Hangin Pizzeria, which we ate in the Polestar. We shared a Margherita and a garlic pizza bread (yes, our pizza choice is vanilla, but we enjoyed it). The evening was slow and cosy – games, a glass of wine by the fire, and proper downtime. There was no TV in the tents, but hot water bottles (provided in the tent) and Netflix on a laptop made it feel more than comfortable. The boys may have slept on the bed with us too… You know, for warmth!
Day three: Fog, driving roads & home time
We woke up on Sunday to thick fog, completely changing the atmosphere from the day before. Views from the tent were replaced by a quiet, moody stillness, and after packing up, we began the journey home.
Before leaving North Wales, we tackled the Evo Triangle. I’ll be honest – I’m terrible with directions, so the first attempt didn’t quite go to plan. Once we ignored my dodgy directions, it was a brilliant route. Smooth roads, flowing bends and incredible scenery made it one of the most enjoyable drives of the trip… Albeit keep an eye out for those speed cameras. The Polestar 4 felt planted, quiet and confident throughout.
Our first photo stop was Talybont Reservoir, before heading into Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (the Brecon Beacons) for the Four Waterfalls Walk. We shortened it slightly to take in three waterfalls rather than the full route, and it was one of the highlights of the trip.
There’s plenty of parking, the waterfalls are genuinely beautiful, and it was surprisingly quiet. The elevation isn’t too demanding, making it a really enjoyable walk without feeling like hard work.
After that, it was an easy, scenic drive back through England and finally home to the Isle of Wight.
After more than 500 miles round trip, this didn’t feel like a test drive anymore. It felt like genuinely living with the car. No range anxiety, no compromises on space, and no stress when travelling with dogs.
The boot was more than big enough for travelling with a crate, and Dog Mode was ideal for those stops where the dogs stayed on board – one of those features that quietly removes a lot of worry. Comfort played a huge role too. The massaging seats were, without exaggeration, incredible and going back to my car, I feel like I am missing out by not having a heated steering wheel.
I also loved the large central screen. The design is clean, modern and easy to live with, although I’ll admit I occasionally missed physical buttons. That’s probably me showing my age more than anything else.
Overall, the Polestar 4 handled long distances, mountain roads, dog friendly travel and real-world use with ease. My only real regret is that 48 hours simply isn’t long enough – especially when you’re driving around 250 miles each way to get there. North Wales is the kind of place that rewards slowing down, and it’s already one we’re planning to return to, with more time next time.
If you’d like to see the trip as it actually unfolded – the drives, the walks, the dogs and the scenery – you can watch the vlog below.
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