What's the difference?
If you’ve clicked on this thinking, “What’s a Farizon?” you're probably not alone.
Farizon is yet another sub-brand of Chinese giant Geely which owns brands like Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, Smart and Zeekr, among others.
This new brand is an electric commercial vehicle specialist that arrived in Australia earlier this year thanks to Saudi Arabia-based distributor, Jameel Motors. Sales are currently only offered in Queensland through Farizon’s website, though a dealer network is being developed with a priority of the eastern seaboard.
The Farizon SuperVan is the company’s first offering in Australia, alongside an electric light truck called the H9E. This electric mid-size van is a rival to the likes of the LDV eDeliver 7, Peugeot E-Expert and Volkswagen ID. Buzz, as well as the forthcoming Ford E-Transit Custom.
How does it stack up? Read along to find out.
Polestar finally has more than one offering in its Australian model range. Following the Polestar 2 sedan that arrived in late 2021, and the recently launched Polestar 3 large SUV, the Geely-owned marque has just launched the model that is expected to be its top seller.
The Polestar 4 is a medium coupe-style SUV with liftback vibes, and it is set to line up against some of the most popular EVs on the market, including the Tesla Model Y.
Although, as Polestar execs claim, and the price suggests, it’s a more premium offering than the Tesla.
It is loaded with new technology, including a digital rear-view camera that replaces a traditional rear windscreen, which will either appeal to, or alienate buyers. Probably the former given the appeal of new tech to EV buyers.
But can the Polestar 4 snatch attention away from Tesla and the other solid electric SUVs of a similar size? Read on to find out.
You’d think Farizon would be onto a winner given it has created a van with cool looks and the packaging benefits that come with a dedicated EV architecture. However, the SuperVan left a sour taste in my mouth.
There are good bones here, but Farizon has a long way to go with fixing the electric motor whine and safety systems.
It’s great the company is aware of the SuperVan’s shortcomings and is currently working on software updates, but it begs the question, why wasn’t it good in the first place?
Polestar may be a Tesla rival but the Polestar 4 looks and feels much more premium than the Model Y. The brand has taken its time to get the cabin just right and the sustainable materials don’t feel cheap in any way. In fact, this car feels special.
I may not be a fan of some of the tech - the digital rear-view mirror, for example - but many people will be drawn to the car because of these features.
On the road, the Polestar 4 is a cracking EV, with excellent driving range and a fun factor that can’t be denied. That aftersales offer is just the cherry on the cake.
This is Polestar’s best chance yet of being accepted by the masses.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.