Compare the2022 Kia Niro EVVS 2022 Polestar 2

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Niro EV are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Niro EV has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Polestar 2.

Both the Niro EV and the Polestar 2 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available rear parking sensors.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Niro EV the rating of “Top Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 214 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Polestar 2 has not been tested, yet.

The Niro EV comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The 2’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Niro EV 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Polestar covers the 2. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Polestar 2 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 38 times as many Kia dealers as there are Polestar dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Niro EV’s warranty.

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 Niro EV’s reliability 67 points higher than the Polestar 2.

On the EPA test cycle the Niro EV gets better mileage than the Polestar 2:

For better maneuverability, the Niro EV’s turning circle is 2.9 feet tighter than the Polestar 2’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.7 feet).

The Kia Niro EV may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 850 pounds less than the Polestar 2.

The Niro EV is 9.1 inches shorter than the Polestar 2, making the Niro EV easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Niro EV has .5 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 2.1 inches more rear legroom and 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Polestar 2.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Niro EV has a standard rear wiper. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Niro EV has standard extendable sun visors. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Niro EV has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Polestar 2.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Niro EV, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Polestar 2 isn't recommended.