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The mince pies have been eaten, the crackers have been cracked, and the times are beginning to get longer. Meaning it is time to look again on the most effective automobiles we examined in 2023. It has been a great 12 months for electrical automobiles, which accounted for nearly one in ten new automobiles offered within the US this 12 months. We have additionally pushed some fairly good hybrids, in addition to a pair of sports activities vehicles that reminded us that there is nonetheless room for fanatic vehicles. Learn on to seek out out which vehicles made the reduce.
1. Polestar 2
You would be hard-pressed to identify the distinction between the 2023 Polestar 2 and the 2024 Polestar 2, however the enhancements are apparent once you drive one. (credit score: Jonathan Gitlin)
Along with claiming the highest spot in 2023, Polestar may also win a prize for probably the most important reengineering job for a midlife refresh. Usually, an automaker would possibly restyle the bumpers or change the headlights and tweak the inside when it offers a mannequin its spruce-up after a couple of years on sale. Not Polestar—it largely left the cosmetics alone however moved the electrical motor within the single-motor Polestar 2 from below the hood, the place it drove the entrance wheels, to the rear, the place it now drives the rear wheels.
Mixed with a little bit of a bump in energy (okay, 29 p.c extra energy and 48 p.c extra torque), the result’s an actual driver’s automobile, with higher steering and dealing with than the front-wheel drive Polestar 2 it replaces. There’s extra normal gear than earlier than, and it is extra environment friendly, too. Solely about 30 p.c of US Polestar prospects have picked the single-motor mannequin up to now, however they’re lacking out. The dual-motor automobile may be sooner, nevertheless it’s much less participating to drive, has much less vary, and prices an entire bunch extra.
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