Compare the2022 BMW 7 SeriesVS 2021 Polestar 1

The BMW 7 Series has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the 7 Series xDrive’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

An active infrared night vision system optional on the 7 Series helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera and near-infrared lights to detect heat, the system then projects the image on the windshield, near the driver’s line of sight and even aims one of the vehicle’s headlights in the direction of the person or object. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the 7 Series and the Polestar 1 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 7 Series for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Polestar doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 1.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the 7 Series has a standard 950-amp battery. The Polestar 1 only offers a 760-amp battery.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the 7 Series’ reliability 21 points higher than the Polestar 1.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 7 Series second among large premium cars in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The Polestar 1 isn’t in the top three in its category.

As tested in Car and Driver the Alpina B7 4.4 turbo V8 is faster than the Polestar 1:

Both the 7 Series and the Polestar 1 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. All 7 Seriess have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The 7 Series’ standard fuel tank has 4.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Polestar 1 (20.6 vs. 15.9 gallons).

The 7 Series stops much shorter than the Polestar 1:

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 7 Series can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The 7 Series offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Polestar 1; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The 7 Series offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the 7 Series uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Polestar 1, which uses coil springs in front and torsion bars in the rear. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The 7 Series offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Polestar doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Polestar 1.

The 7 Series has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The 7 Series’ height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 7 Series’ wheelbase is 18.4 inches longer than on the Polestar 1 (126.4 inches vs. 108 inches).

The Alpina B7 handles at .97 G’s, while the Polestar 1 pulls only .95 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The BMW 7 Series may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 50 to 950 pounds less than the Polestar 1.

The front grille of the 7 Series uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the 7 Series a Large car, while the Polestar 1 is rated a Minicompact.

The 7 Series has standard seating for 5 passengers; the Polestar 1 can only carry 4.

The 7 Series has 42 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Polestar 1 (114 vs. 72).

The 7 Series has 1.9 inches more front headroom, 2.9 inches more front shoulder room, 5.6 inches more rear headroom, 23.5 inches more rear legroom and 8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Polestar 1.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the 7 Series’ available rear seats recline. The Polestar 1’s rear seats don’t recline.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the 7 Series has a standard power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer a power trunk, so its trunk has to be closed manually.

The engine in the 7 Series is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Polestar 1. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The 7 Series’ standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The 7 Series’ instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Polestar 1 has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

The 7 Series’ standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children in the rear seat from operating them, but the driver can still raise and lower all of them with the lock engaged. Polestar does not offer a locking feature on the Polestar 1’s standard power windows.

A power rear sunshade is standard in the 7 Series and power rear side window sunshades are optional to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

Both the 7 Series and the Polestar 1 have standard heated front seats. The 7 Series also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Polestar 1.

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the 7 Series’ passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The 7 Series has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The 7 Series offers optional massaging front and rear seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Polestar 1.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW 7 Series has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The 7 Series’ Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The 7 Series is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW 7 Series, based on reliability, safety and performance.