THE times they are a-changin’… and, in it this case, it’s no longer just Bob Dylan who has gone electric. Look through any automotive showroom – or browse these pages for a few minutes – and you’ll see that almost every vehicle manufacturer now has at least some kind of electrified model (hybrid or plug-in hybrid) in its range, while several of them offer battery-electric vehicles. 

Perhaps Dylan should have sung the times they are a-chargin’…

And this isn’t just some fad on which we’re all a-jumpin’. The electric age is now well and truly upon us. With many nations already committing to ban combustion engines entirely by the end of the decade, vehicle manufacturers have moved fast to ensure they’ll be ready to meet the deadline – and it’s Hyundai and Volvo’s sub-brand, Polestar, who’ve moved faster than most.

In this test, we’ll look at the recently launched Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Polestar 2 side by side. With comparable pricing and performance attributes, the two are separated only by their unique body styling, a handful of centimetres, and driving experience. In most respects, this is a very close comparison.

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