Atlanta woman driving the only Chinese EV allowed in America says 'Tesla feels premium, but this feels luxury'

Driving the Chinese EV Polestar 4 gave one Atlanta driver a new perspective on electric car luxury.

After spending a week behind the wheel, YouTuber Kim Java said the experience completely changed her expectations.

In fact, she summed it up with a blunt comparison: Tesla may feel premium, but the Polestar 4 felt like luxury.

That bold claim was especially interesting given the unusual global story behind the EV itself.

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The Chinese EV came with a ton of high-end features

At first glance, the Polestar 4 already broke one major automotive rule.

Unlike nearly every modern vehicle, it had no rear window at all.

Instead, the view behind the car came from a roof-mounted HD camera that fed directly into a digital rear-view mirror.

According to Kim Java, it sounded strange at first, but adapting didn’t take long at all.

Modern motorists already relied heavily on cameras and parking sensors, so the adjustment period was surprisingly short.

The missing window also improved aerodynamics and gave rear passengers more headroom.

The car itself sat in an interesting position within the EV world.

The Polestar brand was originally spun out of Volvo, which was owned by Chinese automotive giant Geely.

It might not be as famous as brands like BYD and Xiaomi, but Geely is an automotive juggernaut in its home country.

After all, the Geely Xingyuan was actually the best-selling vehicle in China during the first half of 2025.

Under the hood, the Polestar 4 packed a sizable 100-kWh battery.

The rear-wheel-drive version delivered around 310 miles of range, while the dual-motor all-wheel-drive version offered about 280 miles.

Fast charging peaked at roughly 200 kW, allowing the battery to go from 10 percent to 80 percent in about 30 minutes, which placed it squarely in the middle of the EV charging pack.

Where the vehicle really shined, however, was the interior.

The YouTuber described the cabin as distinctly Scandinavian in style, with minimalist lines, eco-friendly materials, and thoughtful design touches.

Features like massaging seats, customizable ambient lighting, and an electrochromic glass roof added to the upscale experience.

Even the audio system was high-end, with a 16-speaker setup that included speakers built directly into the headrests.

The car also came loaded with tech.

Driver assistance included lane centering and adaptive cruise control similar to early versions of Tesla Autopilot.

However, Java noted that the system still felt less refined than Tesla’s latest software, particularly during lane changes and complex road situations.

The Polestar 4 is actually produced in South Korea

Perhaps the most interesting part of the Polestar 4 story was how it ended up in the United States at all.

When the US introduced a 100 percent tariff on Chinese-built EVs, the original China-built version of the car would have instantly doubled in price.

To avoid that problem, Geely shifted production to South Korea, which had a free trade agreement with the US.

As a result, the Polestar 4 made its way to the US, although it didn’t come with the price tag that most associate Chinese EVs with.

It started around $56,000, though heavily optioned versions could climb past $80,000.

For the YouTuber, the verdict was clear.

The Polestar 4 might not have beaten every competitor in range or autonomy, but when it came to design, comfort, and overall driving experience, it delivered something many EV buyers wanted.

As she put it, Tesla still dominated the tech conversation, but this Chinese-born luxury EV might have quietly won the comfort war.

If you want to watch her full review, check out the video below:

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