Compare the2022 Porsche TaycanVS 2021 Polestar 1

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Porsche Taycan 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 Porsche Taycan 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 Taycan 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 Taycan 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, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

Porsche pays for scheduled maintenance on the Taycan for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Porsche will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Polestar doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 1.

There are almost 10 times as many Porsche dealers as there are Polestar dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Taycan’s warranty.

The Taycan Turbo S’ standard electric motors produces 131 more horsepower (750 vs. 619) and 36 lbs.-ft. more torque (774 vs. 738) than the Polestar 1’s 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Taycan 4S Performance Plus/Cross Turismo electric motors is faster than the Polestar 1:

The Taycan 4S Performance Plus/Cross Turismo’s maximum EPA estimated driving range is 227 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 Porsche Taycan higher (10 out of 10) than the Polestar 1 (5). This means the Taycan produces up to 19.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Polestar 1 every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Taycan Turbo S’ front brake rotors are larger than those on the Polestar 1:

The Taycan offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The Taycan stops much shorter than the Polestar 1:

The Taycan 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 Taycan 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.

The Taycan 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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Taycan’s wheelbase is 6.2 inches longer than on the Polestar 1 (114.2 inches vs. 108 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Taycan is 2 inches wider in the front and .8 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Polestar 1.

The Taycan 4S handles at 1.03 G’s, while the Polestar 1 pulls only .95 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Taycan w/Rear Axle Steering’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the Polestar 1’s (34.1 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

The Porsche Taycan may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 600 pounds less than the Polestar 1.

The front grille of the Taycan 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 Taycan Sedan a Compact car, while the Polestar 1 is rated a Minicompact.

The Taycan offers optional seating for 5 passengers; the Polestar 1 can only carry 4.

The Taycan has 16 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Polestar 1 (88 vs. 72).

The Taycan has .2 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front shoulder room, 3.5 inches more rear headroom, 11.3 inches more rear legroom and 3.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Polestar 1.

The Taycan has a much larger trunk than the Polestar 1 (17.2 vs. 4.4 cubic feet).

The Taycan has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the Polestar 1 (18.7 vs. 4.4 cubic feet).

The Taycan’s available 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 Taycan 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 Taycan’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Taycan’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 Taycan and the Polestar 1 have standard heated front seats. The Taycan 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 Taycan 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 Taycan 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 Taycan 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 Porsche Taycan has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Polestar 1 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Taycan’s optional Active Parking Support can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist 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 Porsche Taycan comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Polestar 1 isn’t available as a sedan or station wagon.

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