Compare the2022 Audi e-tron SportbackVS 2021 Polestar 1

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi e-tron Sportback are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Audi e-tron Sportback 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 e-tron Sportback’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 e-tron Sportback 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 displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the e-tron Sportback 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, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available four-wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Audi e-tron Sportback weighs 570 pounds more than the Polestar 1. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the e-tron Sportback its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 76 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Polestar 1 has not been tested, yet.

There are over 15 times as many Audi dealers as there are Polestar dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the e-tron Sportback’s warranty.

On the EPA test cycle the e-tron Sportback gets better mileage than the Polestar 1 running on electricity:

On the EPA test cycle the e-tron Sportback gets better mileage than the Polestar 1 running its gasoline engine:

The e-tron Sportback’s maximum EPA estimated driving range is 185 to 218 miles on a full charge. The Polestar 1 can only travel about 52 miles before it has to start its internal combustion engine.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi e-tron Sportback higher (10 out of 10) than the Polestar 1 (5). This means the e-tron Sportback produces up to 19.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Polestar 1 every 15,000 miles.

The front and rear suspension of the e-tron Sportback 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 e-tron Sportback has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The e-tron Sportback’s 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 e-tron Sportback’s wheelbase is 7 inches longer than on the Polestar 1 (115 inches vs. 108 inches).

The front grille of the e-tron Sportback 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.

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

The e-tron Sportback has .1 inches more front headroom, 2.3 inches more front shoulder room, 4.6 inches more rear headroom, 18.2 inches more rear legroom and 7.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Polestar 1.

The e-tron Sportback’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 e-tron Sportback has a standard power liftgate, 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 e-tron Sportback has a 4000 lbs. towing capacity. The Polestar 1 has no towing capacity.

The e-tron Sportback’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The e-tron Sportback’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.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the e-tron Sportback has a standard rear wiper. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the e-tron Sportback to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Both the e-tron Sportback and the Polestar 1 have standard heated front seats. The e-tron Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Polestar 1.

Standard air conditioned seats in front and rear seats keep the e-tron Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The e-tron Sportback 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 e-tron Sportback Prestige has standard massaging front 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 Audi e-tron Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.