Compare the2022 Audi A7VS 2021 Polestar 1

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi A7 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 A7 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.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the A7 Prestige helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera 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 A7 and the Polestar 1 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all-wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors 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 standard headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the A7 its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 73 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 A7’s warranty.

On the EPA test cycle the A7 55 TFSI e running on electricity gets better mileage than the Polestar 1 running on electricity (66 city/75 hwy vs. 55 city/61 hwy MPGe).

On the EPA test cycle the A7 55 TFSI e running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the Polestar 1 running its gasoline engine (25 city/31 hwy vs. 22 city/31 hwy).

Both the A7 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 A7s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The A7’s standard fuel tank has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Polestar 1 (19.3 vs. 15.9 gallons).

The A7 offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The A7 stops shorter than the Polestar 1:

The A7 has a standard 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 front and rear suspension of the A7 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 A7’s wheelbase is 7.2 inches longer than on the Polestar 1 (115.2 inches vs. 108 inches).

For better maneuverability, the A7’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Polestar 1’s (36.4 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

The Audi A7 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 850 pounds less than the Polestar 1.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the A7 a Mid-size car, while the Polestar 1 is rated a Minicompact.

The A7 has standard seating for 5 passengers; the Polestar 1 can only carry 4.

The A7 has 23 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Polestar 1 (95 vs. 72).

The A7 has .9 inches more front shoulder room, 3.8 inches more rear headroom, 16.1 inches more rear legroom and 6.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Polestar 1.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the A7’s rear seats recline. The Polestar 1’s rear seats don’t recline.

The A7’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 A7 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 A7 has a 3500 lbs. towing capacity. The Polestar 1 has no towing capacity.

The engine in the A7 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 A7’s 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 A7’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 power windows.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the A7 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Both the A7 and the Polestar 1 have standard heated front seats. The A7 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 seats in the A7 keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The A7 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 A7 Prestige offers optional 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 A7 offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.