Compare the2022 BMW 330eVS 2021 Polestar 1

The BMW 330e 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.

Both the 330e 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the 330e the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 121 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Polestar 1 has not been tested, yet.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 330e 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.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW 330e higher (7 out of 10) than the Polestar 1 (5). This means the 330e produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Polestar 1 every 15,000 miles.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the 330e 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 front and rear suspension of the 330e uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the Polestar 1, which uses torsion bars in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 330e’s wheelbase is 4.2 inches longer than on the Polestar 1 (112.2 inches vs. 108 inches).

The BMW 330e may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1050 to 1150 pounds less than the Polestar 1.

The 330e is 5.2 inches narrower than the Polestar 1, making the 330e easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the 330e a Compact car, while the Polestar 1 is rated a Minicompact.

The 330e has standard seating for 5 passengers; the Polestar 1 can only carry 4.

The 330e has 22 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Polestar 1 (94 vs. 72).

The 330e has .7 inches more front headroom, 4.3 inches more rear headroom, 14.3 inches more rear legroom and 4.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Polestar 1.

The 330e’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the 330e offers an optional power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or optionally by just 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 330e 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 330e’s 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.

Both the 330e and the Polestar 1 offer available heated front seats. The 330e 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.

The 330e 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 330e’s available Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Polestar 1’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The 330e is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.