I recently spent a week test driving the 2024 Polestar 2 Dual Motor electric car around Vancouver while visiting some cafes and restaurants. This updated model for 2024 gives it some oomph with the dual motor to get around the city.
Headed to Kitsilano with my friend Debby for a night of catching up as we visited the The Painted Ship for the first time, this fairly new live music venue is located at 2884 West Broadway and serves up a menu of Mexican dishes and snacks nightly. We shared the Guacamole and chips with popcorn chicken tinga; and then we each one of their Queso Beef birria tacos which was very good.
The next day I visited newly opened La Saison Patisserie in East Vancouver at 3868 Rupert Street where they are making beautiful looking pastries, and have a wide range of baked goods and coffees.
I had a Cortado; along with one of their delicious Double baked Matcha croissants.
The steering wheel offers a great map in the front dash that is bright and colorful.
The motors are doubled for all-wheel-drive models, with a combined output of 416 horsepower and 546 pound-feet of torque.
In the evening I visited recently opened Jamila’s Afghan Kitchen that is located at 2586 Commercial Drive for dinner to try some of their Afghani dishes. Here I had their Mantoo Dumplings that were filled with beef and topped with a tasty sauce, along with a Boulani that was filled with potato.
The power operated rear trunk liftgate is easily found by pressing on the button off the key fob and the trunk offers a good amount of space for grocery shopping or short range travel.
The next day I headed to West Point Grey for dinner at recently opened Chickasta Grill located at 4443 West 10 Ave where they specialize in fusion cuisine. I had a Tandoori chicken rice bowl along with one of their popular Mango Lassi’s.
One key feature that I learned about this car:
When using the Maps app and putting in your destination it then shows the percentage of electric charge the car will have on arrival, this is a very helpful feature.
The next day I headed out to Langley and visited Lieto Café that is located at 20826 72 Ave #120. A bright café on the corner that features a beautiful selection of in-house made pastries and desserts by the owner who has 10 years baking experience. While here I had a Cortado as I admired the pastries that I hope to try on a future visit.
I then headed to downtown Langley to visit one of my favourite Thai restaurants for dinner. Ban Chok Dee is located at 20563 Douglas Cres.
I started off with their refreshing Thai Iced Tea and then had a selection of appetizers, all of which are my favourites here. I had the Golden Wontons that are filled with pork and come with a tasty plum sauce on the side, also had the Seasoned Lettuce Wraps with chicken.
The Shoo Shee Salmon in green curry is another favourite as is the Power Greens in peanut sauce.
One dish that I did not have for a very long time was the Prik-Khing Stir Fry and I had it with chicken, t is such a tasty dish; I also had the Pad Thai with prawns, Panang curry with beef and the Bbq Duck Lychee Curry.
For dessert, I had the house favourite, Mango and Sticky Rice.
The fast charger (CCS) is the way to go but there aren’t that many standalone fast chargers available in Vancouver yet. I got the Plugshare app and did my research finding a great charging station on Boundary Road and Marine Drive and this is where I charged the car a couple of times during the week as it had one of the most reliable chargers and I didn’t have to wait for other cars to finish charging.
Over on the North Shore is another new spot that I visited during the weekend and this one was hidden away and one that you must search for; Cafe C’est si bon is owned by a couple of women Lydia and Rachel who are both chefs who make beautiful looking cakes and pastries. It is a very cute café with a very talented barista who made me a beautiful heart adorned cappuccino. It is located at 1425 Marine Dr Unit 240 in West Vancouver, the entrance is on the side of the building toward the rear. I also had one of their yummy Canele and a Chouquette filled with crème.
In the afternoon I visited recently opened Tommy’s Whole Grain in the Strathcona neighbourhood 338 Powell Street. Here they mill their own flour baking up breads and baked goods that are all whole grain. I tried some of their tasty crackers and one of their Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies.
Late night charging using the fast charger (CCS) at the Shell Recharge station at Boundary Road and Marine Drive worked out great as there were no other cars there and I was able to charge the car to 90% in 50 minutes.
By: Richard Wolak
Disclosure: Polestar Canada provided me with the 2024 Polestar 2 Dual Motor to test drive, and photograph. As always, all opinions and photos are my own.